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Post by Icctrombone on Dec 22, 2019 10:41:38 GMT -5
In the TDOCC the Deadman story with Kara is getting a lot of play. What are you top Christmas comic stories ?
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Post by codystarbuck on Dec 22, 2019 12:33:15 GMT -5
Leaving aside the obvious favorites from the world of the long underwear brigade, two of my favorites come from the world of indie comics.... First is Bone: Holiday Special, with Fone Bone celebrating the Winter Solstice (the reason for the season) and presenting some quiche to the rat creatures...  Next is the Patty Cake Christmas Special, from Scott Roberts.  In the story, Patty Cake is fixated on getting a monkey treehouse playset, a very expensive toy. Despite her mother telling her its too expensive and it isn't happening, Patty just knows Santa is bringing it. In Christmas morning their is a big present for Patty and she tears it open to find............ a wooden rocking chair. Patty throws a fit. She rants and raves and screams and her mother sends her to her room. Later, she comes in and explains the gift. her father, a shop teacher, built that chair with his own two hands. He picked out the wood, sanded it, shaped it and fitted the pieces together, bit by bit, in his spare time. He painted and decorated it and poured his love for his child into it. Patty's mother tells her that she has only seen Patty's father cry twice: once was the day Patty was born and the other was that day, when Patty threw a fit and said the chair was stupid. Patty feels lower than a snake's belly. Later, you see her father sitting in the living room, in darkness, listening to Christmas music. There is a squeaking sound and he looks down and sees Patty, beside him, rocking her chair. She looks up and says, "Thank you daddy." The story was inspired by a wooden Popeye toy that Scott Roberts' father made for him. It reminds me of my own father, a science teacher, who once researched, cut and built a wooden aircraft carrier for me, when he heard that I was fascinated with them, after seeing a movie. He took our encyclopedia set and sketched out the basic shape, cut the pieces and assembled it and painted it, complete with landing lines. So many Christmas stories are gimmicks or just an excuse for a Christmas themed fight; but, Patty Cake had true heart and an honesty that captures real life, in an amusing and touching way. I'd also throw out Ty Templeton's little piece from Christmas with the Superheroes, with Darkseid, as he turns all of Apokolips' weapons onto one target, only for Santa to survive and deliver him a lump of coal...  |
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Post by Icctrombone on Dec 22, 2019 12:47:13 GMT -5
That Darkseid page is all kinds of awesome.
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Post by beccabear67 on Dec 22, 2019 13:26:13 GMT -5
I'd love to have some of those DC Rudolph comics, either the '50s Rube Grossman ones, or the big tabloid issues of the '70s. I used to see them but never found one in my stocking...   I'm not much a fan of Christmas themed anything, but I loved the Rudolph tv specials. Other than these the only X-Mas themed comic story I really remember was X-Men #143 with Kitty Pryde/Sprite alone as Sigourney Weaver Jr. vs. an alien wannabe. |
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Post by DubipR on Dec 22, 2019 13:36:44 GMT -5
I love the Disney Winter Parade comics
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Post by Icctrombone on Dec 23, 2019 7:00:46 GMT -5
I think I had this years ago, I remember it being a decent story.  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2019 11:41:52 GMT -5
The "P" words come to mind: pathos, poignant, etc. To what comic am I referring? This one:  I got to see this in A4 thanks to a glossy UK reprint! I love the story: woman is mugged on Xmas Eve then takes an overdose at home. She rings the police station (perhaps a cry for help) and Batman is there. They get to her place, but she is gone. She is wandering around, ill. Enter Blockbuster. He knows not how to help, only that he must help. But having had some rather negative experiences in hospital-like environments, he refuses to take her to hospital. This brings him into conflict with the Dark Knight. It's a touching tale. |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Dec 23, 2019 11:50:54 GMT -5
Panic was generally a step below Mad. But "The Night Before Christmas" from Panic #1 was brilliant.  |
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Post by Mister Spaceman on Dec 23, 2019 12:14:14 GMT -5
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Post by Mister Spaceman on Dec 23, 2019 12:22:39 GMT -5
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Post by brutalis on Dec 24, 2019 7:51:46 GMT -5
Don't know if these would be top 10 to anyone else, but for me they are standout stories!
Unknown Soldier issue 237 has a back up story titles Christmas Dinner where 2 G. I.'s are on patrol complaining all the while about the K-rations when they manage to catch a chicken. While trying to figure out some way to cook the clucker a German tank rolls in and the chicken escapes running in front of the tank which momentarily stops. The G. I.'s stuff a pair of hand grenades into the tank treads and blow them off so a bazooka man can get a well placed shot destroying the tank. They recover the chicken and then decide to NOT cook it since the chicken helped to save their lives. Their reward for letting the chicken live? The hen lays 2 eggs and the G. I.'s celebrate Christmas stating they would trade hungry for being alive any day of the week. A bit simple and silly but inventive and slyly humorous and touching.
The 2nd story is from Blackhawk #268 and is a solitary Olaf plot called A Blackhawk Christmas tale. Olaf is shot down and injured and he limps his way across barren fields finding a small cabin filled with Jewish refugees. They take him in and while dressing his wounded leg the German's arrive having followed Olaf's tracks. Olaf grabs 2 Jewish children and the rest of the family follows into stormy blizzard in hopes of escaping. The Nazi's catch the full fury of the freezing storm while nearby a warm and windless spot Olaf and the family watch as the German's fall and freeze. The family and Olaf return to the cabin where they celebrate Chanukah while teaching Olaf of the traditions. It is all in verse with no word balloons with expressive and gorgeous art from the pen of Dan Spiegle in illustrating this quiet little Mark Evanier Christmas story.
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Post by Mister Spaceman on Dec 24, 2019 15:08:21 GMT -5
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Post by chadwilliam on Dec 25, 2019 17:37:25 GMT -5
This one has to be a contender. www.cbr.com/a-very-batman-christmas-yes-tyrone-there-is-a-santa-claus/#leave-commentBasically, Superman is out impersonating Santa to restore a child's Christmas spirit when Batman interrupts him to argue that what he's doing is silly for a man of his powers and responsibilities. "You've got to take yourself seriously! You're the hero! Any calamity, any disaster, any great wrong and people look to the sky. For you. The idea that you could take a night off to play dress up for some kid? It's patently ridiculous!" Superman agrees and flies off abandoning his plans. A little later, he decides to visit the child anyway as Superman with a few gifts. He arrives to find...  ...Batman dressed up as Santa handing out presents. From Infinite Holiday Special #1 (2006). |
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Post by Icctrombone on Dec 25, 2019 18:42:47 GMT -5
If I remember correctly, Dragon takes over for Santa when he's injured on a landing near his home. He delivers presents until a recurring villain attacks them.  |
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Post by Icctrombone on Dec 25, 2019 18:48:05 GMT -5
A destitute Rhino works as Santa and gets into a fight with the Hulk.  |
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