Reviewer: Paul Sebert
Story Title: The Moleman’s Christmas
Writer: Shaenon Garrity
Penciler: Roger Langridge
Colorist: Sotocolor’s J. Brown
Inker: Al Gordon
Letters: Artmonkey’s Dave Lanpear
Editors: John Barber, Ralph Macchio, & Joe Quesada
Story Title: Yes Virginia There Is a Santatron
Story: Jeff Parker
Pencils: Reilly Brown
Colors: Christiana Strain
Inks: Pat Davidson
Letters: Dave Lanphear
Editors: John Barber, Ralph Macchio, & Joe Quesada
Story Title: Christmas Day in Manhattan
Story: Mike Carey
Artists: Mike Perkins
Colorist: Laura Perkins
Letterer: Dave Lanphear
Editor: John Barber, Joe Quesada
Publisher: The Merry Marvel Marching Society
Just like crowded shopping malls, eggnog lattes, and the late season self-destruction of Virginia Tech the Marvel Holliday Special has come to be an early December tradition to be cherished. This year packs three stories into a yummy virtual Hickory Farms cheese and meat set of yuletide joy.
Our first story is “The Mole Man’s Christmas” written Shaneon Garrity who you might know from the popular web comic Narbonic and Roger Langridge who penciled October’s hilarious Fing Fang Four 1-shot. The story revolves around the Mole Man’s minions kidnapping shopping mall Santas, apparently believing that the “Real” Santa will somehow find their missing boss. These shenanigans attract the attention of the Fantastic Four who have vowed to deal with these Santa-napping rogues. Langridge’s whimsical art is a real joy here particularly his Kirby-esc take on The Thing, and the amusingly cartoonishly exaggerated body language of the little moilids. It’s a very entertaining little story and a great start to the anthology.
Our second story is the real stand-out of this year’s collection as in “Yes Virginia There Is a Santron” by Jeff Parker and Reilly Brown. As our story opens Avengers both Old and New are settling down for their annual Christmas Party, which is hosted this year in none other than Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum. Hijinks ensue revolving around mistletoe, newcomer Gravity’s attempt at crashing the party, and Doctor Strange’s dubious choice for a tannenbaum. But nothing can prepare them for the awesome menace of SANTRON. Yes Santron. He’s Half Santa! Half Ultron! All Deadly! If that’s not reason enough to pick up this issue, well then Reilly Brown’s art is simply gorgeous.
Our final story is “Christmas Day in Manhattan” a holiday poem about a recently freed petty villain Albert Potter AKA Hurricane who’s trying to make good for his family on Christmas Day. Of course being a super criminal he’s going about it the wrong way and has attracted the attention of the Fantastic Four. Mike Perkins’ art has a nice old fashion storybook look to it, but a number of Mike Carrey’s rhymes in the poem feel a bit forced and sound awkward when read out loud. Not bad, but the weakest of the lot.
Overall this year’s Holiday Special is a very fun little package which should appeal to both readers young and old.
