It's undeniable: Marvel's X-Men I love the holidays. When they spend their lives protecting mutants from unimaginable dangers, these heroes rarely have time for themselves. Fortunately, even evil sometimes takes a break during the festive season. The X-Men really embraced vacation during the Chris Claremont era.
Claremont clearly loves Christmas and has always made room for the X-Men's Jewish heroes to celebrate Hanukkah alongside their teammates. From deeply devout characters like Nightcrawler and Kate Pryde to others who simply enjoy the joy of the season, the winter holidays are a time when the X-Men relax and spend time together as a family. Of course, with the current rivalry between Cyclops and Rogue, the X-Men may not have the chance to celebrate this year, but luckily, readers will be able to catch up on holiday stories from the X Family's past.
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Marvel Holiday Tales to Surprise #1 (2024): “Fight Festival”
By Daniel Kibblesmith, Pat Olliffe, John Kalisz and Ariana Maher
The 2024 Holiday Special Celebrates an Era when the X-Men were still united in the X-Mansion. Marvel Holiday stories to surprise is a new anthology that features several stories from the vacation adventures of Marvel heroes. In “Festival of Fights,” the X-Men are working together to decorate for Christmas. Meanwhile, Kitty Pryde is excited to celebrate Hanukkah with her new mutant family for the first time.
The story ends with a rare look of surprise and joy from Logan, excited to teach one of his favorite students.
While Kitty tries to break Wolverine's Scrooge nature, Nightcrawler presents his ally with a menorah for Hanukkah. For the next nine days, the X-Men will not be able to celebrate the season, as the crime never stops. At the end of her adventures, Kitty distributes several gifts to her teammates, including the still stingy Wolverine. Instead of a physical gift that Logan would simply discard, Kitty asks the clawed hero to train her. The story ends with a rare look of surprise and joy from Loganexcited to teach one of his favorite students.
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The X-Men #98 (1975)
By Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, Sam Grainer, Janice Cohen and Joe Rosen
At Marvel first Christmas special involving the X-Men“Merry Christmas, X-Men…,” the mutant family celebrates the season at Rockefeller Center. The team is grateful to be able to enjoy a snowy Christmas at the perfect time while taking some well-deserved time to relax. Shaking off the cold, Cyclops and Jean Gray planned a beautiful dinner at a rooftop restaurant at the top of the Rockefeller. While Scott and Jean kiss on vacation, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby make a surprise appearance, joking that readers would never catch heroes kissing in their comics.
However, the celebration is interrupted when, shockingly and comically, sentries invade the restaurant, attacking Scott and Jean. For the rest of the issue, the X-Men are on full alert after the sudden appearance of the mutant assassins. Naturally, things only get more complicated for the team when Jean, Logan and Banshee are kidnapped by Steven Lang and taken into space. Naturally, the mutants escape, but end up being sucked into the void of space as the issue ends. While it may not have ended with as much merriment as one would hope, it's still the X-Men's first Christmas celebration.
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Marvel Holiday Special (1991): “A miracle just a few blocks from 32nd Street”
By Scott Lobdell, Dave Cockrum, Joe Rubinstein, Patty Cockrum and Roxanne Starr
Very similar Marvel holiday tales to surprise, This story comes from anthology collections of festive stories featuring your favorite Marvel heroes. In this introductory story to the Christmas collection, the X-Men decide to spend the holiday at Rockefeller Center once again. While assembling the Christmas tree, it is revealed that This is Storm's first Christmas. However, when the team leaves for the Rockefeller ice rink, they have a surprise encounter with the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.
Opposing sides clash, causing chaos in the streets as the Brotherhood is searching for an incredibly powerful mutant that has been recorded as being nearby. However, the only mutant present is... Kris Kringle. Yes, that's right: Santa Claus is a mutant and one of the most powerful at the Omega level mutants of all time. To put an end to the violence, Santa turns the Brotherhood into action figures before teleporting the X-Men away without their memories of the encounter. Now, the X-Men finally have the chance to celebrate a white Christmas thanks to Ol' Saint Nick.
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Gen X Holiday Special #1 (1998)
By Joseph Harris, Adam Pollina, Rob Leigh, Paul Tutrone and Richard Starkings
In “Yes, Jubilee, There Is a Santa Claus,” Generation X prepares for Christmas time at the mall. While most of the team anxiously waits in line to see Santa, Jubilee is in a bad mood to do some shopping. After losing his parents, Jubilee began to hate Christmas, feeling especially alone. Soon, the young mutants are attacked by Orphan-Maker, a mutant who kidnaps mutant children to keep them safe from villains. Jubilee tracks down Orphan-Maker, tracking him to the home of an incredibly powerful mutant child.
Upon entering the house, Jubilee discovers not only the boy, but also Santa Claus. Santa Claus, the ever-loving patriarch of joy, does his best to reach everyone's heart, even the Orphan Maker's. After the mutant-hunting villain escapes, Santa takes time to comfort Jubilee and calm her frustrations about the holiday. He apologizes for never being able to fulfill his greatest wish, to have his parents back. But Jubilee sees genuine care from Kris Kringle, softening his resolve. The edition ends with a moving celebration of Christmas morning joy as Jubilee is surrounded by her found mutant family.
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Dead Pool #7 (2018)
By Skottie Young, Nic Klein and Jeff Eckleberry
While Deadpool isn't technically a mutant, Santa Claus is. In this incredibly absurd comic only fit for Deadpool, Christmas has come and gone, leaving a group of angry children who never received presents requesting Deadpool's help. The kids throw a pile of money at Deadpool's table, hoping to hire the mercenary to kill Santa Claus. Of course, Deadpool accepts and decides to walk to the North Pole. When Mercenary Mouth arrives, he finds Santa's house in disrepair. After a violent interaction with Mrs. Claus, she admits that Santa is drunk.
This holiday season, Deadpool decided to deliver the presents.
Deadpool finds Santa Claus, savagely beating the old man. The festive but troubled couple tell the Merc that the elves have gone on strike, choosing to work for Roxxon Toys. Deadpool decides to change targets heading for a slaying festival of elven proportions. After killing the last elf and stealing Roxxon's toys, Deadpool finishes the job by giving Santa some much-needed rest. This holiday season, Deadpool decided to deliver the presents.
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Merry X-Men Holiday Special #1 (2018)
Including 25 stories from top Marvel talent; Cover art by David Nakayama
Another artistically styled holiday special, this anthology is comprised of twenty-five different one-page stories featuring the X-Men. The concept is fun and clever, challenging the book's various writers and artists to create engaging short-term plots and comedic gags. While every story is worth reading, there are some that especially adhere to the magic of the holiday. On the 14th, Nightcrawler presents Old Man Logan with a photo of himself, a long-running joke between Kurt and Logan. The 17th features a clip of the Braddock family's lives spending Christmas together.
However, the 19th, “Secret Santa,” is a real highlight. This story begins with Laura and Gabby Kinney wrapping Christmas presents together. It's already moving to see Laura momentarily at peacehappily spending time with his sister. After opening a gift from Secret Santa, Gabby excitedly visits some of the X-Men to see who bought her the gift. Using her Wolverine sense, Gabby finally realizes that Mindee Cuckoo gave her the gift, as the two hug, wishing each other a "Merry Christmas.”
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Generation X #60-61 (2000)
By Jay Faerber, Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson, Kevin Tinsley and Saida Temofonte
Although “Christmas Fear” takes place at Christmas, it is admittedly one of the less joyful and more action-packed additions to the list. When Emma Frost's younger sister, Cordelia Frost, unexpectedly flies through the Massachusetts Academy window, Banshee, Jubilee, Skin and Chamber team up to face the villains attacking Cordelia. Leading the charge is Banshee's cousin Black Tom Cassidy, and alongside him is Juggernaut.
The fight turns into an all-out brawl when Emma Frost's students team up and defeat Cain Marko and Tom Cassidy. Meanwhile, a subplot with M is happening in the background. In short, M's mutant school is infiltrated by a vampire who systematically kills the students. Overall, the issue isn't as festive as other Christmas-themed X-Men stories, but that's probably why it’s titled “Fear of Christmas” - because there is little joy in sight.
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Mysterious X-Men #230 (1988)
By Chris Claremont, Marc Silvestri, Joe Rubinstein, Glynis Oliver and Tom Orzechowski
During an era of the X-Men popularly known as the “Outback X-Men,” the mutants established a temporary base in Australia. The base belonged to the Reavers, a private military group financed by the Hellfire Club. Beneath your confiscated temporary home, Longshot stumbles upon a huge treasurehaunted by the psychic impressions of its previous owners. Thanks to the help of a new ally, Gateway, the X-Men travel the world, delivering the treasures the Reavers stole. For some it is a Christmas miracle, for others it is an opportunity to rediscover lost family heirlooms.
The story ends with a touching interaction between Rogue and Gateway. Throughout the issue, Rogue has visited the Nonverbal Portal, bringing him food and spending time with him. Despite never having spoken, Rogue still spoke to him, wanting him to feel welcomed by the team. At the end of the issue, Rogue gifts Gateway with a flute as he invites her to sit with him and listen to some music.
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Marvel Holiday Special (2004): “An X-Men Christmas”
By Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Roger Cruz, Victor Olazaba, Chris Solomayor and Clem Robins
This story is by far one of the most touching X-Men holiday stories. The holidays are approaching and the Xavier Institute is out of classes. However, while all the other students have a place to go for vacation, Kevin Ford, aka Wither, is left behind with no home to return to. Meanwhile, Cyclops and Emma Frost are packing for their vacation. However, after realizing how lonely Kevin feels, Emma cancels the vacation and decides to give Kevin the most magical Christmas possible.
Together, Scott, Emma and Kevin visit the mall, the cinema and even try ice skating together. Kevin seems especially happy, although the weight of his terrible power still weighs heavily on him. Any organic material Kevin touches rots to death. As the trio sets up the tree and places presents, Kevin sits alone again. Emma approaches the boy, activating her diamond skin, explaining to Kevin that this way she couldn't rot. This touching X-Men the story ends with a scene of the three of them in front of the fire while Kevin and Emma hold hands.