So, today we will check out some festive covers. Now, the insides may not have anything to do with the cover content- we are only talking visuals today, not the stories. And, we may venture a bit earlier (and later) than our Bronze Age parameters would normally allow, but after all, 'tis the season'.
Christmas covers could be a genre all to themselves. It would be difficult to find many titles over the years that, at some point, had not featured at least one holiday-themed cover. From the Golden Age to today's books, holiday covers are one thing that has remained a constant throughout comics history. And as they are so plentiful, we will not even attempt a comprehensive review of them. Rather, I'll present a few of my favorites, with a few comments:
Sugar and Spike 25: The great Sheldon Mayer devoted the covers to his beloved "Sugar and Spike" to holidays very frequently. This one perfectly captures the charm and innocence of Christmas for tots, which of course we all once were.
Amazing Spider-Man 166: What says 'festive' more than Stegron, the Lizard and Spidey framed by holly boughs? And, it's Romita. Nuff' said.
Marvel Two-in-One 8: Just emblematic of Bronze Age lunacy- the skull cycle roaring down on the denizens of ancient Judea.
Batman 239: Neal Adams gives us a visual gift here, full of sentimentality and melodrama. We even get Batman with a beard. All that's missing is Jimmy Stewart.
Archie: A company and a character with an extensive list of holiday cover. Indeed, each year there were several specific Christmas books published. And the covers were bright, joyful and celebratory; I always loved the traditional style typeface they used for "Christmas", and the frequent use of decorative borders. Look at the colors on the "Betty and Veronica" cover- like a newsprint candy cane...
The Spirit 12: Even though the cover was assembled from panels taken from the interior stories, it still shows Will Eisner at his masterful best. Nobody could tell a story through pictures better, holiday or otherwise.
Donald Duck: Carl Barks is another master at illustration and storytelling. Here his Donald (and nephews) joyfully show the spirit of the season. There are as many striking Disney holiday covers as there are Archie; perhaps more.
Hot Wheels 6: Adams again, with an incredibly dramatic black background, effectively highlighting the Poinsettia Red logo and sleigh. Yes, it's rather odd to see Santa barrelling down on an injured skier. Great composition, though...
Marvel Treasury Special 1974: A personal sentimental fave. It looked like, and was, an ideal Christmas gift from Marvel to their readers.
Superman, vol.2, 165: Absolutely love this cover. Ed McGuinness and Cam Smith imagine a wonderful nod to Lois, Clark and the JLA. Also love the somewhat Bruce Timm rendering style. Oh,and I want those ornaments.
Batman 309: Jim Aparo give us Bats in wintry peril, framed in holly and bells. I'm a sucker for decorative edging.
Richie Rich 8: Here you go, Edo! From the red -and-green logo to the jeweled tree, this is a holiday cover defined. Simple, brightly colored, festive, and lightly humorous. Wonderful.
Christmas With the Super-Heroes 1: Ah, now we get John Byrne's take on the season. And it's a good one. Fabulous wraparound cover; the boots on the mantle are a witty touch. Nice attention to each character's personality here, check out Batman analyzing his gift.
Well, I'm certainly in the spirit now. These covers were, and are, a part of the whole holiday experience for me. Their design, coloration, sentiment, and humor highlight some of the most memorable facets of the holidays, and are the elements that make these covers tree-toppers in my opinion. Now let's consider what it takes to make a favorite holiday cover from your viewpoint- surely there must be more than the inclusion of Old St. Nicholas somewhere...what are your favorites, and why?