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They’re cheesy, predictable, and at their worse, sappy. They are known as the holiday special. They happen every year at around the same time and comics aren’t immune to them either. While I’ve not read every single holiday special issue ever printed I know they all contain a happy ending.
After battling evil I think heroes warrant a break. Superman spends all year fighting villains, Batman doesn’t like to take a day off, and the X-men are always being attacked. After a year of this I think an easy issue is a good break or a good relaxing point for any hero. What a better time to do this than during the holiday season. They get to hang out with family and save the day all in one issue.

The basic premise to a holiday issue involves a solvable problem. Our hero, or heroes, dash in to solve it. In true holiday fashion it will involve a misunderstanding. They solve the problem and get the holiday lesson and everyone is happier in the end.  Now how many stories can do something like that in one issue? Okay the plot is not “Kingdom Come” but it still goes well for a holiday issue.

Holiday issues do not smash selling records and they’re not great turning points for the characters. They exist to do what other holiday specials do, they make readers feel good. They make us enjoy our heroes in situations where super powers aren’t necessary to save the day or make a difference. If we’re lucky we might even see our heroes in a snowball fight, which is something I enjoy. Who wouldn’t like to see an X-man hit in the face with a snowball?

It’s the time of the year where we all feel good and comics do their best to reflect that feeling. Simple stories with a good message are entertaining and there’s nothing wrong with that. For a year with complex stories and complex characters it’s good to know a simple story can be told and also have some holiday cheer. Holiday specials will always be around and they’ll always be good for a laugh. If heroes couldn’t be a part of holiday specials then how can that be considered a holiday? Heroes need a holiday just like everyone else and as this season rolls around I’m happy to get mine in comic form at the same time.
Until next time have a safe and happy holiday