My question for this post is: What are your favorite Christmas stories (movies, books, comic books, TV episodes, etc.)? When you think of Christmas entertainment, what comes to mind? What do you re-watch or re-read at this time of year?
I’ll cite a few examples of my favorites, then hand it off to you in the comment threads.
Out of all the major franchises I’ve loved through the years, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” is the one I most associate with Christmas. One of the earliest major arcs from the Mirage comic book — Shredder’s return from the dead — takes place at Christmastime, in the December 1986 Leonardo one-shot.
Don and April are decorating the tree, Mike’s in the kitchen, Raph’s sneaking a peek at his presents and Splinter is overseeing everything. Leo, out for a stroll, runs into an army of Foot soldiers. Eventually, in “TMNT” Issue No. 10 and beyond, the battle comes to April’s apartment/antique shop, which burns to the ground, and everyone flees to an old cabin. (This sequence was copied in the 1990 movie, except that it’s Raph who is beaten within an inch of his life by the Foot, not Leo.)
Although they were strong storytellers (especially in these early issues, before they got distracted by running the “TMNT” empire), “TMNT” creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird really excelled with the artwork. They knew how to draw a snowscape, especially as it covered downtown New York during the Christmas shopping season. It’s remarkable that they achieved all this is in black and white (at least on the initial printing; it looks good in the colorized version, too).
Another Christmas issue I love is the December 1990 Michaelangelo special (actually December 1985, but I didn’t discover it till a later printing), which tells how the most upbeat of the Turtles meets his pet cat, Klunk, and how he delivers a truckload of toys to an orphanage. It’s pure holiday schmaltz in a lot of ways — Mikey tries his hand at sledding, then plays with toys in a store — but as entertainment consumers, we let Christmas stories get away with this sort of thing. It’s the one time of year when cynicism is not allowed.
This issue (which, by the way, delivers a lot more for $1.75 than many of today’s glossy color comics do for $3 or $4) wraps up with Raphael starring in “A Christmas Carol.” Jim Lawson’s tale finds the moody Turtle flipping through the channels, disgusted that “There’s nothing on but Christmas crap!” He storms out, saying, “This time of year just reminds me of what hypocrites people are! I hate kissing and smiling and false sentiment! And I HATE Christmas!”
After Raph injures himself in a fall and holes up under a stairwell, it segues into a straight-ahead “Christmas Carol” adaptation. The Ghost of Christmas Future shows Raph his future self living in a swamp, clothed in filthy rags and living like a savage. Raph’s not exactly the type for group hugs, so befitting his personality, the final panel shows him on a rooftop looking through the window at his happy family. “Merry Christmas, guys,” he says.
Now, when it comes to the best Christmas TV episodes, I’d vote for the two “Buffy” Season 3 episodes that aired just before the midseason break in 1998: “The Wish,” which has nothing to do with Christmas except that it’s a reverse, inside-out version of the holiday classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” (Cordelia — and we — see what Sunnydale would be like without Buffy); and “Amends,” where Angel is unable to commit suicide-by-sunrise when a snow shower blocks the sun (a weather phenomenon that makes no sense, but like I say, we forgive stuff like that at this time of year).
But my all-time No. 1 Christmas TV episode the tear-jerker “My So-Called Life” entry that aired 15 years ago today, where the homeless teen that Angela tries to help turns out to be an actual angel. Technically, that’s a completely out-of-left-field, out-of-genre move for the teen drama, but nonetheless, it’s totally earned.
I could go on an on — I remember the Season 1 “Simpsons” Christmas episode being wonderful, for example — but I want to leave some stuff for you in the comment thread.
To some degree, Christmas used to mean getting new “TMNT” toys. Now it means reflecting on, and re-reading, great (or maybe not-so-great, but that’s not the point) old comic books. In the intro to the Michaelangelo special, Eastman and Laird sum up the season:
“Don’t give in to the pressure exerted by those who say, ‘I hate Christmas!’ Rise above it, because Christmas is truly what you make it.”
It’s cheesy, but I like that positive sentiment. It seems like we need it in late December more than any other time of year. Maybe it’s because of the cold weather; maybe it’s because so much seems to shut down (schools, scheduled entertainment events, new TV episodes). At any rate, I like the seasonal spirit, and I’m a sucker for a good Christmas yarn.
Among other things, Christmas is a time to share, so now it’s your turn to share your favorite Christmas movies, TV episodes and stories.