Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Saturday, December 14, 2013
"'Twas the Fright Before Christmas"
Continuing my holiday comic reviews this week we look at "DC Comics Presents #67 Superman and Santa Claus" written by Len Wein* and E. Nelson Bridwell with art by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson...and let's not ignore the great cover by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (pbhn**)
Superman is a little confused. How could Santa's workshop be this close to the Fortress of Solitude without him seeing it? Santa explains, "My workshop is top secret! Nobody sees it...unless I wish it to be seen." The master of the naughty and nice list already has Toyman under surveillance (apparently he really DOES see you when you're sleeping and know if you've been bad or good...so you better be good for goodness sake!). The jolly man in red talks toys with the big man in blue, including a holographic thought projector Supes had as a baby on Krypton, before they agree...it's time to do something about Toyman. All they need to do is get Winslow's records so they can track down, and deactivate, the terrible toys. Santa also let's Superman know, that since it's Christmas Eve, no one, not even Superman is faster than him! With that they pile into a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer and head off on their mission.
Toyman's not taking things lying down though and has an army of toys waiting to attack. Supes fights them off, but realizes he's still not 100% recovered from the earlier energy blast...so St. Nick brings in reinforcements, his own toy army! It's a close fight, and just when things appear bad for the Man of Steel, Santa tosses some marbles on the floor and puts Toyman down.
And there you have it...a little slice of Christmas cheese! The goofiness of this story is part of what makes it fun for me. Was it real? Was it a dream? Does it matter? It's like an old holiday special on tv, just good old fashioned fun. And the reveal of the holo-toy at the end, like that knowing wink George Reeves would give to the camera on "The Adventures Of Superman", is the icing on the gingerbread! Hope you enjoyed, and see you next week!
* Len's written our beloved Ted Kord, so we're not too far removed from our usual topic...in fact it makes me wonder if there's such a thing as 6 degrees of Blue Beetle, like the way you can connect actor Kevin Bacon to just about anyone?
** our friends Rob and Shagg of the Aquaman Shrine, Firestorm Fan, and the Fire and Water podcast, always refer to Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez with the monicker "praise be his name" (pbhn)...it's now embedded itself in my brain, lol
The story opens with Superman spotting a boy with a toy gun and spaceship trying to hold up a street corner Santa. The kid pulls the trigger, hitting St. Nick in the nose with a suction cup dart just as Supes steps in. He spotted a mechanism in the gun, with his X-ray vision, that appears to be dosing the boy with radiation. The boy, Timmy Dickens, has been hypnotized into committing the crime! But why? And by who? Leaving the faux Santa behind, Kal-El and Timmy head to the Fortress of Solitude to find some answers.
Superman has Timmy tell him about the mysterious toys. It seems they were found in a closet, and not believing in Santa anymore (he's too old) the kid decided to play with them. There was a blinding flash and next thing he knows he's with Supes at the Fortress. He doesn't even remember holding up the fake Santa. Big Blue suggests hypnotizing the kid to see if they can find more clues, and finds a big one! Timmy was programmed to bring all the money he stole to the local Big Schott Toy Store...Winslow Schott, aka Toyman is behind this! Superman, responsibly, decides to take Timmy home before chasing down Toyman. As they leave the fortress, flying across the tundra, though Supes gets blasted by a ray from the toy spaceship and falls to the ground unconscious.
Superman has Timmy tell him about the mysterious toys. It seems they were found in a closet, and not believing in Santa anymore (he's too old) the kid decided to play with them. There was a blinding flash and next thing he knows he's with Supes at the Fortress. He doesn't even remember holding up the fake Santa. Big Blue suggests hypnotizing the kid to see if they can find more clues, and finds a big one! Timmy was programmed to bring all the money he stole to the local Big Schott Toy Store...Winslow Schott, aka Toyman is behind this! Superman, responsibly, decides to take Timmy home before chasing down Toyman. As they leave the fortress, flying across the tundra, though Supes gets blasted by a ray from the toy spaceship and falls to the ground unconscious.
Back at a Big Schott Toy Store, Toyman watches a tv screen and bemoans the fact that the snow is hindering his view of Superman's demise. What he missed though was a group of little people who dragged Supes and Timmy to safety. Not just any little people...elves...and not just any elves, Santa's elves!
Superman is a little confused. How could Santa's workshop be this close to the Fortress of Solitude without him seeing it? Santa explains, "My workshop is top secret! Nobody sees it...unless I wish it to be seen." The master of the naughty and nice list already has Toyman under surveillance (apparently he really DOES see you when you're sleeping and know if you've been bad or good...so you better be good for goodness sake!). The jolly man in red talks toys with the big man in blue, including a holographic thought projector Supes had as a baby on Krypton, before they agree...it's time to do something about Toyman. All they need to do is get Winslow's records so they can track down, and deactivate, the terrible toys. Santa also let's Superman know, that since it's Christmas Eve, no one, not even Superman is faster than him! With that they pile into a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer and head off on their mission.
Toyman's not taking things lying down though and has an army of toys waiting to attack. Supes fights them off, but realizes he's still not 100% recovered from the earlier energy blast...so St. Nick brings in reinforcements, his own toy army! It's a close fight, and just when things appear bad for the Man of Steel, Santa tosses some marbles on the floor and puts Toyman down.
Our heroes get the upper hand, and Big Blue uses his "super-ventriloquism" to call the police. All that's left is to replace the bad toys with good ones and get Timmy home safely. Unfortunately, there's one toy they forgot about...Timmy's spaceship, which zaps Superman again. As he comes around this time Kal-El finds himself laying in the snow, Timmy by his side, remembering a strange dream. "...there were reindeer...and elves...and...and...and believe it or not, there was Santa Claus!" Timmy has had a life changing experience, because the boy who said he was too old 20 pages ago now says, "Of course I believe in Santa Claus, Superman...don't you?" Supes isn't quite sure...until, back at Clark Kent's apartment, he finds a holo-toy, just like the one he had on Krypton in the secret pocket of his cape, with a special message...
And there you have it...a little slice of Christmas cheese! The goofiness of this story is part of what makes it fun for me. Was it real? Was it a dream? Does it matter? It's like an old holiday special on tv, just good old fashioned fun. And the reveal of the holo-toy at the end, like that knowing wink George Reeves would give to the camera on "The Adventures Of Superman", is the icing on the gingerbread! Hope you enjoyed, and see you next week!
* Len's written our beloved Ted Kord, so we're not too far removed from our usual topic...in fact it makes me wonder if there's such a thing as 6 degrees of Blue Beetle, like the way you can connect actor Kevin Bacon to just about anyone?
** our friends Rob and Shagg of the Aquaman Shrine, Firestorm Fan, and the Fire and Water podcast, always refer to Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez with the monicker "praise be his name" (pbhn)...it's now embedded itself in my brain, lol
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Saturday, December 7, 2013
"A Christmas Underground"
A doctor, a priest and a demon meet in an old mansion on Christmas Eve...no, not the set up to a joke...it's the first of 4 comics I want to talk a little about this holiday season! That's right, as my gift to you...or lump of coal depending on your perspective...I'll be reviewing one holiday comic a week for the next 4 weeks. To quote an old Father Guido Sarducci bit, "I hope you enjoy it, as much as I enjoy doin' it to you!"
When you think Christmas comics Hellboy is probably not the first character to come to mind. That said, in 1997 creator Mike Mignola and publisher Dark Horse Comics brought us the "Hellboy Christmas Special"...and it was pretty cool!
After giving the priest some directions on what to do if he doesn't return, Hellboy heads off into the old cemetery. He soon finds an open crypt with a long winding path that leads underground...and to Annie Hatch, the missing daughter. Annie tells of how she followed a silver eyed mouse down a hole where "the second son of a king" offered her all her heart's desires if she stayed. She also says that afterward, she would visit her family at night until they came to live underground too...in fact, they're gathering for dinner now. Hellboy tells Annie that it's Christmas Eve, which seems to surprise her, and that he has a gift from her mother. A crucifix! And then, things get crazy! The family turn into monsters, ghouls, that descend on Big Red who drops them with his big right hand. The dark prince steps from the shadows and begins trading blows with Hellboy, while back at the manor, the priest begins performing last rites for Mrs. Hatch. And as the church bells toll for midnight mass, Annie and her mother are reunited, and the monster is defeated. This brings to the end, and the second moment. The priest says, "Poor woman." And Hellboy replies, "Yeah, she was a nice old lady...she saved her little girl, and she thought I was Santa Claus." These Hellboy as Santa moments are oddly touching to me, and make this a great holiday horror story!
When you think Christmas comics Hellboy is probably not the first character to come to mind. That said, in 1997 creator Mike Mignola and publisher Dark Horse Comics brought us the "Hellboy Christmas Special"...and it was pretty cool!
Hellboy shows up at an English manor on Christmas Eve and is told by a doctor that the lady of the house, Mrs. Hatch, sadly, won't make it through the night. Big Red sends the doc on his way and consults with the family priest. The priest explains that Mrs. Hatch moved here with her husband, brother, and her three children...and Mrs. Hatch is the last one left. The others began wasting away after Annie, the favorite daughter, disappeared five years ago while strolling alone through an old cemetery after midnight.
Hellboy excuses himself and visits Mrs. Hatch in her room. She knows she's dying, and asks for a favor. She wants Hellboy to deliver a small gift to her missing daughter...who has been visiting her late at night! Before he leaves though, the old woman says she recognizes Big Red...one of two moments that really get me in this story..."You're Father Christmas."
Hellboy excuses himself and visits Mrs. Hatch in her room. She knows she's dying, and asks for a favor. She wants Hellboy to deliver a small gift to her missing daughter...who has been visiting her late at night! Before he leaves though, the old woman says she recognizes Big Red...one of two moments that really get me in this story..."You're Father Christmas."
After giving the priest some directions on what to do if he doesn't return, Hellboy heads off into the old cemetery. He soon finds an open crypt with a long winding path that leads underground...and to Annie Hatch, the missing daughter. Annie tells of how she followed a silver eyed mouse down a hole where "the second son of a king" offered her all her heart's desires if she stayed. She also says that afterward, she would visit her family at night until they came to live underground too...in fact, they're gathering for dinner now. Hellboy tells Annie that it's Christmas Eve, which seems to surprise her, and that he has a gift from her mother. A crucifix! And then, things get crazy! The family turn into monsters, ghouls, that descend on Big Red who drops them with his big right hand. The dark prince steps from the shadows and begins trading blows with Hellboy, while back at the manor, the priest begins performing last rites for Mrs. Hatch. And as the church bells toll for midnight mass, Annie and her mother are reunited, and the monster is defeated. This brings to the end, and the second moment. The priest says, "Poor woman." And Hellboy replies, "Yeah, she was a nice old lady...she saved her little girl, and she thought I was Santa Claus." These Hellboy as Santa moments are oddly touching to me, and make this a great holiday horror story!
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)