DC’s I Saw Ma Hunkel Kissing Santa Claus #1 – Sebastian Bader, Ashley Allen, Dave Baker, Marley Halpern-Graser, Nathan Cayanan, Jadzia Axelrod, Ash Padilla, Steve Orlando, Writers; Scott Kolins, Bruno Adbias, Nicole Goux, Jon Mikel, Michael Shelfer, Hannah Templer, Anthony Marques/J. Bone, Riley Rossmo, Artists; Romulo Fajardo Jr, Eren Angiolini, Bex Glendening, Ian Herring, Rex Lokus, Nick Filardi, Triona Farrell, Colorists
Ray – 9/10
Ray: DC’s holiday anthologies are always something special, combining the wholesome with the offbeat and bringing in a lot of new talents. So are the eight stories within naughty or nice?
“Up on the Rooftops” by Bader and Kolins is a Ma Hunkel story, as Cyclone is celebrating Christmas at the brownstone with her Aunt, who reflects back on a Depression-era Christmas she spent with her mother – the first Red Tornado. Unable to provide the Christmas her daughter deserves due to their financial troubles, she instead takes her to see how the JSA is celebrating the holiday. Timeline hiccups aside, this is a really great story that calls back to the iconic run by Geoff Johns, which had the same family vibe.
“Cuffing Season” by Allen and Abdias is a Shazamily tale that leans heavily into the tone of classic Spider-man tales. Billy and Freddy are equally skeptical about the Winter Formal – until a girl named Annie asks Billy out. He’s looking forward to the dance, but an enterprising reporter wants the Captain to appear at the dance instead for a charity event – and she just happens to be Billy’s date’s mother. Very fun, fast-paced tale with lots of secret identity antics.
“The Holiday Getaway” by Baker and Goux turns the focus on our favorite outlaws-in-love, Harley and Ivy. The two of them are taking a cabin retreat, with Harley being her usual irrepressible self, but Ivy has more serious things in mind. She’s wondering if Harley is even capable about being serious about anything, including their relationship. The argument between the two is interrupted by a random invasion of rampaging sentient plants, and there’s a strong emotional conclusion, but the real highlight here is Goux’s brilliantly expressive art.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” by Halpern-Graser and Mikel turns the focus on Animal Man, as Buddy Baker is alone, fighting crime on Christmas Eve, and reflecting on whether he’s truly made a difference. Phantom Stranger shows up to take him through the events of his life – and then seems to be casually trolling him for most of the issue? It does come around towards the end, showing his more personal impact, but the story mostly seems to be taking the piss at Buddy. Odd one.
“Shine in the Silence” by Cayanan and Shelfer is also unusually jokey, focusing on Doctor Light as she struggles with being disrespected by Guy Gardner on a space mission. As they wrap up the crisis in the Vega Sector and head back to the DC holiday party, she finds a confidant in Ray Palmer, who also feels out place ever since the Jean Loring affair. It’s an intriguing pairing, but the oddly scatological joke they play on Guy feels rather out of place.
“I’ll be Home for Hanukkah” by Axelrod and Templer serves as a bridge between the two Galaxy graphic novels, as Galaxy’s girlfriend Kat is celebrating Hanukkah – which turns out to have some intriguing ties to Galaxy’s past. But Galaxy’s duties with the Justice League keep pulling her away from candle-lighting, night after night. When Galaxy’s twisted ex Stella shows up, giving us hints at some of the adventures we haven’t seen yet, things get very intense, but there’s a great resolution, and Argus is best boy. This is hands down the best story of the issue.
“Holiday Woes” by Padilla and Marques does a good job of following it up, though – a Supergirl story where Kara returns to Smallville for Christmas. Clark and Lois want to take her to the annual festival, and Clark has arranged a date for her with Pete Ross’s son. While there, she meets an eccentric, nerdy guy who she assumes is Jonathan Ross, and the two bond over their challenging roles, their workaholic nature, and their struggles with de-stressing. The twist ending will be a big favorite with old-school Supergirl fans, I think.
“A Martian on 34th Street” by Orlando and Rossmo follows up on the duo’s wildly acclaimed maxiseries for J’onn J’onnz. This story takes us back to a Christmas when J’onn was posing as Santa, learning from children about the world and humans’ fondest wishes. But he came across a city where there was no Christmas spirit, except in one little girl – because Krampus had been feeding on the city, replacing its hope with despair. And so began an epic battle in the mindscape for the fate of Christmas. Great little epilogue to one of J’onn’s best stories.
Overall, there are a few stories that don’t quite land, but the full package is another great DC anthology.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes
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