The year is nearly over and the ho-ho-holidays are upon us. For many, this can be a season of joy, but it can also be very stressful, especially leading up to Christmas Day. So it’s important to take some time for yourself to decompress and practice self-care. If you’re looking for some reading material to help get you into the Christmas spirit, it can be a bit of a challenge to find things for the comic and graphic novel readers out there.
Unlike children’s books and prose novels, which have gaggles of seasonal items to choose from, the selection’s a little more sparse when it comes to comics. With that being said, I’ve put together a list of recommendations with something for everyone on it (hopefully). Read on to find some picks for young readers, single issue comic specials featuring your faves, standalone graphic novels, and even some webcomics.
Young Readers:
Starting with young readers, I’ve got a few titles for their (or your) enjoyment.
Captain Underpants: The Xtreme Xploits of the Xplosive Xmas by Meredith Rusu
Captain Underpants is a staple in many households because of the laughs these characters and stories bring. This comic is based on the “Mega Blissmas” holiday special of the Netflix series, so if your kiddos enjoy that, they’ll definitely enjoy this. It’s a silly story that imagines what would happen if we got rid of the old holiday traditions and brought in brand-new ones, as the characters reimagine Christmas as Blissmas.
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #37 by Brandon Montclare, Gustavo Duarte, Tamra Bonvillain, Vc Travis Lanham
Even though this is a few years old, it’s still a fun time. Santa Claus makes an appearance alongside Lunella Lafayette and Devil Dinosaur as they try to help the children of Yancy St. find some holiday spirit…even though Lunella has more in common with the Grinch than Santa. It’s a delight and I highly recommend it.
My Little Pony: Holiday Memories by Katie Cook, James Asmus, Brenda Hickey, Agnes Garbowska, and Andy Price
I think we all know by now that anything My Little Pony is a sure winner. In this holiday adventure, we get acquainted with a few Equestrian holiday classics as Twilight Sparkle shares some insight into their Hearth’s Warming traditions. The stories are funny and sweet, each with MLPs signature cutesy art to bring smiles to readers’ faces.
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by Natalie Andrewson
This is a timeless, classic story that many of us grew up with. There have been countless adaptations over the years but to the best of my knowledge, it hadn’t been brought to graphic novel before this 2020 release. While the original story is by E.T.A. Hoffmann, Natalie Andrewson adapts and illustrates it here in a beautiful and fantastical way. If the original story or ballet is up your alley, this will for sure be a winner for you!
Reindeer Boy by Cassandra Jean
An absolutely wonderful and heartwarming story about a teenage girl who has a recurring dream every Christmas Eve about a boy with antlers. When she goes back to school, she discovers a new transfer student has arrived named Cupid. Well worth checking out, especially if you’re wanting something a little more lighthearted. While this story is still aimed at a younger audience, unlike the previous kid-friendly tales, this one is more for the teen crowd, with a 13+ age recommendation for it.
Holiday Specials:
Onto some more holiday books for you to check out. This time, it’s a collection of holiday specials from some of your favorite series and franchises.
A Very Archie Christmas by Various
This is a collection of Archie Digest stories that all revolve around the holidays. Join Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, and other Riverdale faves as they get up to their regular hijinx…but make it festive!
Deadpool #7 (2018) by Skottie Young and Nic Klein
In typical Deadpool fashion, this is a bonkers holiday adventure revolving around our anti-hero taking on…wait for it…Santa Claus! Because of course. A regular length one-shot special that’s a lot of fun if Deadpool is your cup of mayhem-flavored tea.
Giant Days Holiday Special (2016) by John Allison, Lissa Treiman, Max Sarin
There are a couple of Giant Days holiday specials but this one is a What If… look at a parallel universe where Susan, Esther, and Daisy don’t become friends on their first day of school. While you definitely need context for the characters to enjoy this story, if you’re a Giant Days reader, you’ll have fun seeing what could’ve been in this oversized special.
Hellboy: Krampusnacht (2017) by Mike Mignola and Adam Hughes
While there’s also the Hellboy Christmas Special, I ultimately chose this story to highlight since it’s a little easier to find. The story takes place in 1975 and brings Hellboy to Austria for the B.P.R.D., where he comes across someone claiming to be the Krampus. I love Hellboy and this is a really fun one-shot that’s perfect for a bit of spooky holiday action.
James Bond: Solstice (2017) by Ibrahim Moustafa
If, like me, you’re a big James Bond fan, one special you might want to get your hands on is Solstice. It’s a one-shot adventure anyone can enjoy, whether you’re a long-time fan or this is your first adventure with Agent 007. Bond goes on an unofficial mission and winds up in Paris for the holidays. What could be better than making merry and murder?!
Stranger Things Winter Special (2021) by Chris Roberson, ABEL, Nate Piekos
It’s clear by now that Stranger Things is a pop culture franchise here to stay. And since expanding into comics, the franchise has delved into the holiday spirit. The kids teach Eleven all about Christmas with short stories exploring each of their Christmases’ Past. It’s an oversized special that’s perfect for fans of the Netflix series.
Graphic Novels & Standalones:
And now we have holiday graphic novels and trade paperbacks you might enjoy. Plus a bonus webcomic for you to check out. These are mostly all standalones and generally little longer than the stories in the Holiday Specials category.
Batman: Noël by Lee Bermejo
Loosely inspired by Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Bermejo weaves it into Gotham as we see Batman throughout the years in his past, present, and future. What are the holidays without a little Batman in it? Related: Batman Returns is and always will be a solid Christmas movie choice, if you need a cinematic follow-up after reading Noël.
Klaus by Grant Morrison and Dan Mora
Everyone needs an origin story these days and it’s no different for the man, the legend, the Santa Claus. Or Klaus, if you’re Grant Morrison. Myth, magic, and mayhem as one man rises up against a great and ancient evil and starts it all.
Mother Christmas: Vol: 1: The Muse by Valya Dudycz Lupescu and Victória Terra
Okay I know I just shared a Santa Claus origin story rec but this is very different from the Morrison take. This graphic novel takes a look at Santa’s origin from the perspective of Amara, a legendary muse who sees something special in a young priest named Nicholas. These are two very different takes on his story that are both worth checking out.
Krampus is my Boyfriend by S.M. Beiko
You might recognize the name S.M. Beiko from projects such as Gothic Tales of Haunted Futures, an anthology that she curated and crowdfunded with a lot of success. Beiko is also a webcomics creator. Her series Krampus is my Boyfriend is a holiday fantasy romance that revolves around a protagonist who summons Krampus as a last-ditch way of dealing with her school bullies…only to get a little more than she bargained for in their pact. You can read it over on Webtoon.
