Christmas is nigh! And one of the well beloved and upheld traditions of this most joyous of seasons is the watching of Christmas movies and TV specials. If your like me you may want to take this further. After all, why stop at watching Christmas themed Movies and mostly old (but oh so fun) TV specials? Luckily for us there are myriad Christmas episodes from some of our favorite TV series. “Of course everybody knows that” you may say. And true enough holiday themed episodes of TV series have a long and cherished history. But what you may not have given much thought to is Christmas anime episodes and comic book issues.
Anime
Episode 64 Christmas at Tiffany’s
While on Christmas Vacation in New York Lupin and his friends are enlisted to rob a store by it owner as publicity stunt. While initially not interested circumstances force Lupin to attempt a theft that will be broadcast live. These will appeal most to fans of the series as Christmas is more a part of the setting tan a major theme but they are fun.
Episode 12 The Sleight Before Christmas
At Christmas Lupin intends to steal Bordeaux wine that belonged to Napoleon that is being gifted to the American President by the French Government.
Ah My Goddess; Flights of Fancy (season 2)
Episode 2 Ah! The Beleaguered Queen of Vengeance and Episode 3 Ah! I Offer These Feelings on Christmas Eve!
Both these episodes tie together (but not to much to watch them singly ) And involve the trials and tribulations of Keniichi and Belldandy’s holiday season as they attempt to find the perfect gift and deal with a jealous “rival”. All and all its all really sweet and feel good making it a very pleasant option for the holidays.
Episode 18 The Sweet Trap of Work, The Sweet Trap of the Classroom, The Sweet Trap of Celebrity and episode 19 Here, There and Everywhere, Christmas! A Dash for Christmas! A Shattered Christmas!
The first episode is compilation of short comedic stories touching on various charters from the series extensive cast and showing what they are up to during the holidays. The second more directly deals with the main plot of the series and manages to be absurd, hilarious, intentionally over dramatic and sincere in a way that only School Rumble could manage.
Episode 10 A Christmas Carol
A bit more serious than some of the others on the list this episode tells about how Michelle and Maggie found Anita starving in a abandoned church at Christmas and took her in. Its kind of a mix of feel good and sad at the same time.
Episode 37 Christmas 24 Hours
Nothing says Christmas like a expressionless cold blooded killer. (warning violence and nudity)
Episode 12 and 13 File 5: Silent Christmas Part 1 and 2
If you though you could not find a less fitting Christmas episode than Golo 13’s Christmas 24 Hours Ghost Hunt is here to deliver a depressing dose of feel bad Christmas episodes …its a two-parter to boot. Ghost Hunt is a charming show that takes grim premises and handles them lightly and with enough humor to keep it fun, But in this story involving investigations of child possessions at a Church at Christmas Eve is surprisingly dark. Its a good one if your having too much Holiday cheer.
Comics
Writer Paul Dini Artist Alex Ross Publisher Dc Comics
In Peace on Earth Superman encounters a homeless woman during the holiday season and tries to take action to alleviate world hunger. Well wrote and beautifully drawn this is one of the best and more under known Superman tales, exemplifying why Superman is more than a simple villain fighting demigod in spandex.
Writer and Artist Lee Bermejo Publisher Dc Comics
Batman Noel takes pretty odd idea, take Batman and put him in Ebenezer Scrooges role from A Christmas Carol, and plays it straight. Oddly enough it works very well. Supported by fantastic art and creative use of Dc characters its a perfect example of how a Christmas themed comic does not need to be a goofy one shot.
Writer Grant Morrision Dan Mora Artist Publisher BOOM! Studios
Grant Morrison is a odd man tending toward the hyperbolic and bizarre. He has a hit and miss record turning out messy and strange works as well as full blown-master pieces like Allstar Superman. With Klaus Morrison aimed to tell a superhero style origin for Santa Clause. In it he takes elements from Norse myth and Siberian shamanism. The plot seems like it was taken straight from a 60s Christmas special. Klaus enters the town of Grimsvig, in which Christmas is canceled, simple things like wishing are forbidden and all toys are given to the lords ungrateful child. Its weird and a odd perhaps random concept but its fun.
Marvel Holiday Special #2
Writer Jim Starlin Artist Ron Lim (Multiple other Writers and Artists) Published by Marvel Comics
This one is somewhat harder to find than the others so much so I cant find a sale listing. And honestly I only recommend it for Yule Memory the Thanos story. Its gotten somewhat popular to mention as a odd bit of Thanos trivia “why does Thanos celebrate Christmas?”. But really its a nice story showing that for all the horrors Thanos is responsible for he tried to raise Gamora well and that he regrets the way things ended between them.
The Punisher: Very Special Holidays
Writers Published by Marvel Comics
Oddly enough there have been many Punisher Christmas specials. And most the time they play out the same way Frank ends up dressed as Santa killing some sort of criminal. This trade paperback collects some of the more recent ones…its pretty hit and miss, but if you want a less feel good and something a tad more twisted in your Christmas special this may be for you.
