It’s the holiday season and we’re running Batman-themed toy auctions over on ProxiBid. Naturally, that got us thinking about the many, many Christmas tales that the Dark Knight has appeared in over the decades. Without further ado, here’s our top five!
5) “Christmas”, Batman #9 (1941)
A Christmas flick released in Summer – just like Miracle on 34th Street!
The original Batman Christmas story! As Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson drop off their annual donation of presents at a Gotham City orphanage, they overhear an argument among of the boys. A tiny boy named Timmy Cratchit maintains that his father Bob isn’t a murderer! As Batman & Robin, they question Bob and find out he walked in on a Christmas Eve robbery/murder the year before. The crook responsible knocked him out and left him to be found by the cops alongside the burglary tools and dead body. A yuletide adventure involving gangsters, a crooked Santa, and a happy holiday reunion follows. Though a tad dated, “Christmas” is still a heart-warmer.
4) Batman Returns (1992)
Everybody talks about Die Hard as the definitive Christmas action movie, but for our money Batman Returns has it beat. Batman squares off villains representing the dark roads not traveled during the season of hope and joy! There’s The Penguin, a mutant sociopath abandoned by his wealthy parents and mad at the world. He’s partnered with Max Schreck, a Gotham City elite who seeks to subvert the city’s government for his own enrichment. And against them all is Catwoman, a meek Gothamite who becomes a brutal vigilante after her life is nearly destroyed by crime. The flick’s seasonal setting underlines the never ending battle against anger, hopelessness, and greed that Bruce Wayne is fighting both within himself and in his city as Batman. To quote Alfred: “Come what may, Merry Christmas Mr. Wayne.”
3) “The Night The Mob Stole Xmas!”, The Brave & The Bold #148 (1979)
It’s the Christmas season and two of DC’s greatest detectives are on cases in Gotham City. Batman is investigating a gang making money by smuggling untaxed cigarettes into the city. Plastic Man is investigating a plot to steal the city’s holiday decorations. When the two cases intersect down in Florida, The Dark Knight Detective and the Pliable Paladin will have to join forces to make the season merry and bright! This straight-ahead bit of superhero action lacks the emotional punch of most stories on this list but makes up for it by being a rollicking good time.
2) “White Christmas”, The Batman Adventures Holiday Special #1 (1995)
Scripted by BTAS producer Paul Dini, drawn by BTAS animator Glenn Murakami.
This special has five stories and they’re all worth checking out. In fact, four of them were adapted into “Holiday Knights”, a 1997 episode of Batman: The Animated Series. It’s a seasonal must-watch, but “White Christmas” had to be cut for time. It’s Christmas Eve and Mr. Freeze, usually Arkham Asylum’s only model prisoner, has broken out. Batman hunts him across Gotham City as Freeze’s devices assault it with blizzards. But like most BTAS Mr. Freeze stories, there’s a core of regret and humanity that tugs at your heart strings. It didn’t fit into the show, but the comic is absolutely worth tracking down for this tale alone.
1) “Invasion of the Secret Santas”, Batman: The Brave and The Bold (2008)
This episode doesn’t actually open with Batman. No, it opens with the android hero Red Tornado discovering the concept of “Christmas Spirit”. He indulges in several seasonal activities to no avail, ceasing his efforts to repel an attack of flying saucers. He’s joined by Batman, who’s being his usual workaholic self this Christmas. Together, they track the saucers to the super-villain Fun Haus and work together to prevent the evil toymaker from ruining Gotham City’s Christmas morning! But throughout the episode, we get flashbacks to why Batman doesn’t like to pause and celebrate. In doing so, Batman’s most irreverent animated series unexpectedly delivers the most devastating version of his origin. And in its Christmas episode, no less! The fourth episode aired, “Invasion of the Secret Santas” won over adult DC fans who were skeptical of the show’s general Silver Age vibe.
Want More?
For more Christmas-y superhero tales, you can check out our list of superhero Christmas episodes from last year right here. And if the influx of new stuff (or outflow of cash) this holiday season has got you thinking of downsizing, drop us a line! We’re taking on new collections all year ’round and do all the hard work of getting top dollar for your collection. You just sit back and wait for the proceeds to roll in!
Did we leave out your favorite Yuletide Batman tale? Hit us up on social media @b2pcollect and let us know!
