With the holidays rolling around, many are excited to revisit Christmas classics across the medium of movies, television, and music. Yet less well-known are the multitude of wonderful Christmas comics that the likes of Marvel, DC, and others have put out over the years.
While there are always at least a few new Christmas comics to grace audiences in a given year (such as Leonide the Vampyr: A Christmas for Crows by Mike Mignola), it's usually safer for new audiences to comb through older releases. It can be a daunting task to determine what to read, but Reddit always has a guide for which Christmas comics are a must-read at this time of the year.
Klaus and the Crying Snowman
Written by the incomparable Grant Morrison, Klaus and the Crying Snowman sees the titular wildman of the winter help an absentee dad-turned-snowman make amends with his family before he melts. Along the way, they must face off against a vindictive pantheon of Norse Gods.
While the Klaus comics have never been tonally in line with Christmas, "Klaus and the Crying Snowman is a completely perfect one-shot and captures the Christmas spirit" according to one Reddit . It's a story that balances action with wholesome pathos, hence the reason the series has become a holiday favorite.
Hawkeye Vol. 4 #17
From Matt Fraction and David Aja's acclaimed run on Hawkeye, "The MBC Wintertime Winter Friends Winter Fun Special" finds Clint Barton falling asleep in front of the TV watching "Winter Friends" and dreaming that he and his allies are dogs who must save Christmas. It's bonkers, yet "easily one of the most enjoyable [holiday] reads" according to xkjeku.
What makes the story so endearing is that it offers an examination of Clint as a character through the lens of a fictional children's cartoon. It's because of this audacious goal that the story stands out as one of the best Hawkeye comic book issues.
A Christmas Underground
The very first Hellboy holiday special, "A Christmas Underground" finds the world's greatest paranormal investigator visiting a dying woman on her deathbed and performing a Christmas miracle by freeing her daughter from the hold of a demonic mouse creature. It's an off-kilter story, but Cshelton002's "personal favorite Christmas comic."
Though "A Christmas Underground" doesn't evoke the usual sense of warmth that permeates most Christmas stories, the comic does adhere to the spirit of the season. Hellboy performs an altruistic act for a woman he doesn't know, in an attempt to give her comfort in her final moments, and that sense of comion is why it's one Mike Mignola's best Hellboy comics.
Hitman #22
From acclaimed comic writer Garth Ennis, Hitman #22 finds Tommy and Nat attempting to kill a Santa suit-wearing nuclear power plant worker who happens to be going on a rampage with his disintegration powers. It's a dark and ridiculous comic, and one that Reddit s have called great because of the "John Woo & Sergio Leone references."
Despite being a bleak comic about murder, Hitman #22 still indulges itself in the joy of Christmas thanks to the story narrated in the style of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." It's a deliberately cheeky choice and one that lends to the comic's wonderful comedic punch.
Green Lantern: Larfleeze Christmas Special
According to MarkOnHistory73, "Larfleeze Christmas Special is fun." The story finds the sole member of the orange lantern corps, Larfleeze, learning about Santa Claus and attempts to attain all his desires by writing them out on a Christmas list.
In contrast to most Christmas comics which read as light fluff pieces, the "Larfleeze Christmas Special" is a genuine attempt from Geoff Johns to develop one of the most enigmatic Green Lantern villains. The entity isn't redeemed by his actions in the story, but he does become a more enlightened being because of his with Christmas.
The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 2 #27
Written by comics veteran Paul Jenkins, "Spectacular Spider-Man #27 (2003) is the best christmas comic" Reddit Fiti99 has ever read. The story finds Peter Parker visiting Uncle Ben's grave on Christmas Day and attempting to find comfort as he explains to his deceased relative the struggle of his day-to-day life as Spider-Man.
While not an adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, The Spectacular Spider-Man #27 lifts a bit from the holiday classic in using Uncle Ben as a ghost of Christmas past who take Peter through his memories. It's an effective decision on Jenkins' part and one that cuts right to the core of why the comic is a tearjerker.
The Transformers Holiday Special
Released in 2015, The Transformers Holiday Special contains "Three fun and charming holiday short stories from the three main Transformers creative teams at the time" according to jrgolden42. The first of the stories find Starscream declare a new Cybertronian holiday, the second focuses on the crew of the Lost Light as they attempt to take care of a baby, and the last one details Thundercracker's attempts at screenwriting.
Though none of the three stories connect, they all explore different facets of Christmas. "Choose Me" is an ironic story about selflessness, "Silent Light" is a light-hearted romp that details the importance of companionship, and "The Thirteenth Day of Christmas" is a joyful farce at its finest.
A Christmas For Shacktown
"A Christmas for Shacktwon by Carl Barks is one of the best and most well-known Donald Duck stories ever written" writes TypingLobster. The comic finds Donald Duck attempting to raise money for the children of Shacktown after his nephews inform him of how impoverished the province is.
What makes "A Christmas for Shacktown" such an endearing comic is that it celebrates the altruism of the season while also condemning the greed and materialism that tarnishes Christmas. It's perhaps fitting then that the resolution to the story rests in Scrooge McDuck losing all his money.
Daredevil Vol 3. #7
An Eisner-award winning single issue comic, "Issue #7 of Mark Waid's Daredevil run is an excellent Christmas-themed standalone issue" according to Malcolmhm12. It's a tale that finds Matt Murdock feigning Christmas joy as he escorts a group of blind school children through the snow following their bus crashing.
The story is powerful due to how the spirit of the season is utilized throughout. It's juxtaposed greatly with Daredevil's dour mood, yet Matt Murdock eventually finds his optimism restored by the faith the kids show in him by pulling him to safety after he collapses. It's no wonder it's considered one of the best Daredevil comics.
Batman: Noel
Written and illustrated by Lee Bermejo, Batman: Noel is narrated by Bob the Goon and sees Batman attempting to locate the Joker on Christmas Eve at the cost of his relationship with his friends. "It's basically a Batman version of "A Christmas Carol" in the eyes of BeatNDeadbeat.
While the allusions to A Christmas Carol can be a bit on the nose (the goon Batman wants to throw in jail for having a disabled son named Tim), the story does wonders in adapting the classic novella to the world of comics. Batman works as a great analog to scrooge given his lack of care for the people he tosses around in his pursuit of justice, and the lesson he learns as a result of his encounters feels fitting for the character.