The holiday season is here and it's the perfect time to look back at some of the best holiday deals released by DC Comics. Although the Justice League spends most of their time trying to save the day, even they slow down to enjoy their vacation.
DC Comics fans have no doubt seen the publisher's seasonal anthologies, filled with tales celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year's. But it also published full stories to give fans a better look at how their favorite heroes spend their holidays. Read on to discover ten Christmas-themed stories that are sure to put any reader in a festive mood.
10
Tommy Monaghan kept Gotham safe from a radioactive Santa
As seen in: Hitman #22 (1998)
hitman it's not a conventional comic book and it doesn't stop for a second, even for a special Christmas edition. Garth Ennis and John McCrea Assassin #22 follows a scoundrel named Bob Smurd, a janitor who transforms into a radioactive monster and uses his new powers to terrorize Gotham during the holidays in a Santa Claus costume. With Bob on the loose, the owner of the atomic plant hires Tommy Monaghan and his friend Natt to eliminate radioactive Santa Claus.
As you would expect hitmanthe story is hilariously dark. But what really puts this issue over the top is the way it commits to the theme of Christmas. It's even narrated in a similar way to How the Grinch Stole Christmas. This is not a Christmas story for everyone, but For DC fans who like a little more edginess, this is a great Christmas read.
9
The Flash family came together during Wally's early years as the Scarlet Speedster
As seen in: The Flash#73 (1993)
Sometimes the best holiday stories aren't flashy scenes, but simple mid-race stories. The Flash #73 by Mark Waid and Greg LaRoque shows a Christmas early in Wally West's Flash career as he spends Christmas Eve with Jay Garrickthe Flash of the Golden Age. Together, the two travel around the city doing as many good deeds as they can.
It's a simple story, as there are no big risks or partnerships with Santa Claus. But it's a charming story about spending time with family and doing good works during the holidays. MoreAs any Flash fan will confirm, speedsters are better when they're togetherso seeing them spend the holidays together is a truly welcome sight.
8
The Joker and Robin go on a Christmas adventure from Hell
As seen in: Detective Comics #826 (2006)
You can't imagine Christmas being very merry in Gotham City and nothing showed why better than Paul Dini, Don Kramer and Wayne Faucher. Detective Comics #826. Robin Tim Drake is on a night patrol during the holidays when he is overpowered by a gang and retreats to the car of who he believes to be a helpful passerby. Unfortunately for Tim, the driver is actually the Joker, who gasses Tim and forces him to join him for a not-so-festive ride..
Although this story takes place in winter, don't think this is about the Joker learning the true meaning of Christmas from the Boy Wonder. It's a tense and emotional little story about one of Robin's first encounters with the Joker. However, it has some great character work. If Die Hard could be a Christmas classic, This question of Detective comics!
7
Harley Quinn Proved She Could Spread Christmas Joy
As seen in: Harley Quinn Holiday Special #1 (2014)
The New 52 was an exciting time for Harley Quinn, filled with many opportunities for her, including her first festive one-shot Harley Quinn Holiday Special #1. The book was an anthology and consisted of three short stories. In one of them, she makes a girl's Christmas by pretending to be a toy after breaking into a family's house. In another, Harley Quinn gets a bug stuck in her ear that repeats Christmas music ad infinitum.
It's a crazy collection of short stories that, in addition to the hilarious writing of Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, also features great artists like Alain Mauricet, Brandt Peters and Darwyn Cooke, each bringing something special to their respective stories. Anyone who loves Harley Quinn and Christmas are sure to love this cute collection.
6
DC heroes came together during one of the most difficult years
As seen in: 52#33 (2006)
52 was a weekly series set after the events of Infinite Crisisand this marked the beginning of many great changes. The Trinity was gone and other heroes had to step up during the off period. But it is clear that a year cannot go by without analyzing holidays, which can be seen in 52 #33 by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Keith Giffen, Tom Derenick and Joe Prado.
The issue has many touching moments, especially a scene between Nightwing and Batwoman when he gives her a gift to officially welcome her into the Bat-Family. It's not the most moving story, and honestly, it's a little sad in spots. But there's something special about it seeing a handful of heroes coming together to overcome the difficult year the DC Universe is going through.
5
Superman and Lois celebrated New Year around the world
As seen in: Action Comics #810 (2003)
The holidays are not just about Christmas, but also about welcoming the new year. So how does the Man of Steel spend New Year's Eve? Action Comics by Joe Kelly, Pascal Ferry, Kano, Dave Bullock, Duncan Rouleau and Renato Guedes responded with Action Comics #810. Instead of simply celebrating the New Year in one part of the world, Superman visits every time zoneand in this issue, he brings Lois along for the ride.
But of course, it's not just about celebrating with the woman you love. Superman starts his year the only way he knows how, by visiting people from all over the world who have written him letters. It's an incredibly moving story that embodies the best of Supermanfrom his enormous love for Lois to his never-ending commitment to humanity.
4
Santa Claus became a true superhero in his first Canon adventure
As seen in: Batman/Santa Claus Silent Knight (2023)
Santa Claus has appeared in many non-canon stories, but the heroes of the DC Prime Universe actually met the jolly elf himself in Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight by Jeff Parker and Michele Bandini. A wave of monsters descended upon the world, led by Santa's twisted sidekick Krampus. Fortunately, the heroes are not alone, as they receive help from Santa Claus who, in addition to being a great gift giver, is as devastating as any hero.
This series is incredibly fun and serious. He embraces the weirdness of the Justice League's partnership with Santa Claus and runs with it. It also adds fun new pieces to DC continuity (Image: Disclosure)like Santa Claus being one of Batman's former mentors). This is a book that any DC reader is sure to love.
3
Wolf had a bloody and hilarious fight with Santa Claus
As seen in: Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special #1 (1992)
Years before Tommy Monaghan's encounter with a radioactive Santa Claus, the Main Man had his own Christmas battle in the fan-favorite story, Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special #1 by Keith Giffen, Alan Grant and Simon Bisley. Wolf is hired by the Easter Bunny (seriously), who wants to attack Santa for upstaging the 'lesser' holiday mascots (again, seriously). Wolf doesn't need to have his arm twistedand he eagerly leaves to take care of Kris Kringle.
Very similar hitmanthis book is no for everyone. But it's so exaggerated, both in violence and bad taste, that it simply can't stop being fun. Of course, it's not It's a wonderful life. But this story knows exactly what it is, and gives DC readers a delightfully disturbing holiday experience.
2
Green Lantern taught his greediest enemy what Christmas means
As seen in: Green Lantern: Larfleeze Christmas Special #1 (2010)
All Green Lantern fans know the Emotional Spectrum. But do you remember the greediest Lantern of all? Larfleeze, the only Orange Lantern in the DC Universe, first rose to prominence with Green Lantern: Larfleeze Christmas Special #1 by Geoff Johns and Brett Booth. Unfortunately for Earth, Larfleeze traveled the planet and became obsessed with Christmas and its iconic Santa Claus. But when Santa doesn't deliver what Larfleeze wants for the holiday, he goes to hell to find Saint Nicholas.
While Green Lantern fans will definitely have the most fun with this story, It's still a hilarious episode of Johns' epic run Green Lantern. Not only is it funny, but it also has some truly touching moments that flesh out Larfleeze, which, until this special, was largely a joke.
1
Batman lived'A Christmas song' in a moving story
As seen in: Batman: Noël (2011)
Iconic comic book creator Lee Bermejo is no stranger to Batman, and in 2011 he wrote and drew the comic Batman: Noël. Inspired by the classic story of Charles' Dickens A Christmas songBatman spends Christmas Eve tracking down the Joker. Involved in this story is a henchman named Bob, who is just trying to support his sick son, Tim. And as you would expect, Batman is visited by several people, who give him glimpses of past, present, and future vacations..
Batman: Noël is more than just a remake of A Christmas song or a Christmas-themed Batman story. It's an incredible work that simply shows Bermejo at his best, both in terms of writing and art. This is a story that reminds everyone of what is important during the holidays, and although it is inspired by Dickens, has enough originality to really feel like its own DC story.