Christmas Comics Day 01 - JUDGE DREDD #6 - reprints several classic festive Dredd stories. Art by mike McMahon, Carlos Ezquerra, Steve Dillon

Also includes a non- Christmassy story with fantastic art by Colin Wilson. This is an early Quality Comics series, a significant step down in quality (the irony!) from the Eagle Comics editions but way better than what they would become.

Christmas Comics Day 02 - CHRISTMAS WITH THE SUPERHEROES #1 (1988) - another reprint compilation, this time DC stories and it a pretty stellar affair: Frank Miller, Jose Luis Garcia Lopez, Neal Adams, Curt Swan, Nick Cardy, Dick Dillin...

...it’s a pretty neat collection of a half dozen worthy Christmas comics in their own right

Christmas Comics Day 03 - BATMAN & ROBIN ADVENTURES #3 - one of several Christmas themed BTAS-universe comics, and a superior Riddler story too - in this the Riddler thinks he’s solved the riddle of Batman’s identity...

Christmas Comics Day 04 - BATMAN ADVENTURES HOLIDAY SPECIAL #1 - a real beaut, this, a portmanteau of new seasonal shorts, that was ultimately adapted into a fine episode of the series itself - there was no room sadly for the Mr Freeze story...

There creative team almost entirely creators from the tv show - a lovely bit of cross-media synergy

Christmas Comics Day 05 - HELLBOY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (1997) - stories by Mignola, Gary Gianni, and Steve Purcell (do join in with the chorus)
I’m never sure if Mignola creates new folktales or reinvents old ones, but they’re wonderful either way

And a bonus centre spread by Geof Darrow

Christmas Comics Day 06 - HELLBOY: KRAMPUSNACHT - the HELLBOY Winter Specials have become something of a tradition, this is one from last year, beautifully illustrated by Adam Hughes (a rare treat these days I think)
By complete coincidence last night was Krampusnacht

Just realised I rewatched this last night - INSIDE No9: THE DEVIL OF CHRISTMAS - not realising it was Krampusnacht https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b086zcd6/inside-no-9-series-3-1-the-devil-of-christmas

Christmas Comics Day 07 - BONE HOLIDAY SPECIAL - a very early, very charming but very short story (which, it turned out, appears in a very significant place in the wider saga, plus a lengthy interview with Jeff Smith and some fascinating early Bone strips

1993, goddamn! 27 years ago! Jesus, I was only 23... and I still think of Bond as a “recent” comic.

Christmas Comics Day 08 - COMMANDO #5096 “And Everywhere That Casey Went...”
Written by Gerry Finlay-Day, drawn by Aguilar, cover by Penalva - given how long Commando has been going Christmas stories are rather thin on the ground. This one isn’t very festive, but there is snow...

Christmas Comics Day 09 - SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL 1980 - Reprints Amazing Spider-Man #165-166 by Len Wein, Ross Andru, and Mike Esposito - Lizard, Stegron, resurrected dinosaurs and snow. What’s not to love?

The annual cuts the final page however - one of my favourite Spidey pages, and the most festive moment of the story

Christmas Comics Day 10 - GRANDVILLE: NOËL by Bryan Talbot - just stunning, and this reminds me I’ve had the final book, Force Majeure, on my shelf unread for how long now? Two years?

Christmas Comics Day 11 - UNEXPECTED #220 - “Santa Claus Is A Killer”, written by Robin Snyder & Sarah Gregory; art by Ernie Colon

Only the one story is Christmas-themed but the other three are pretty groovy too - nice art by Vic Catan, Nestor Malgapo, and Paris Collins/Gary Martin. (Cover by Joe Kubert)

Christmas Comics Day 12 - MICKEY AND DONALD #9 - cover by Daan Jippes; two festive stories: Mickey Mouse by Bill Wright; and Donald Duck by Carl Barks (who also painted the back cover). Back cover gag strip by Bob Foster & Frank Smith...

This issue published in 1989 by Gladstone, better known by me for their EC horror comics reprints around the same time.

Christmas Comics Day 13 - THE X-Files #1 “Not To Be Opened Until X-Mas” - Stefan Petrucha, writer; Charles Adlard, art; John Workman, letters; George Freeman, colour; Miran Kim, cover.
This was such a big comic at the time - the tv show was at the peak of its popularity.

It was a good solid series too - though I disliked Adlard’s art at the time, but later when he left and was replaced by an artist with a more conventional style the comic lost a lot of its atmosphere and appeal.

Christmas Comics Day 14 - HAWK & DOVE #20, “A Babe In Toyland”, writers: Barbara & Karl Kesey; art: Kevin Maguire & Dick Giordano; letters: Gaspar Saladino; colour: Tom McCraw.
Dove finds herself in a toy store Die Hard scenario. See I told you Die Hard is a Christmas movie...

I think I just stumbled across this on a market stall and picket it up because it was a Christmas comic - the fact it’s a Maguire guest-issue was a super festive bonus.

Christmas Comics Day 15 - ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #462
Writer: Roger Stern
Art: Dan Jurgens & Art Thibert

Christmas Comics Day 16 - SPIDER-MAN’S TANGLED WEB #21 - from the great Darwyn Cooke, Jay Bone, and Matt Hollingsworth.
Never knew this existed until last Christmas. Simply beautiful (though Spidey is a tad too bobbleheaded for my taste)...

Just had to show a few more pages - glorious stuff.

Christmas Comics Day 17 - ANT-MAN’S BIG CHRISTMAS by Bob (Back To The Future) Gale and Phil Winslade. Part-Christmas Carol, part-Christmas Vacation, part-Honey I Shrunk The Kids.

Christmas Comics Day 18 - THE YATTERING AND JACK - adapted from Clive Barker’s short story by Steve Niles and John Bolton...

A few more pages...

Christmas Comics Day 19 - COMICO CHRISTMAS SPECIAL a splendid little anthology this...

Helluva creative team - all stories written by Doug Wheeler and illustrated by the likes of Steve Rude/Al Williamson, Tim Sale, Bernie Mireault, Bill Willingham/Chris Warner, Ken Holesczynski. Cover by Dave Stevens

Christmas Comics Day 20 - STARMAN #27 “Christmas Knight”, writer: James Robinson, art: Steve Yeowell & Wade Von Grawbadger; cover: Tony Harris