It’s that time of year again when the Big Two offer up holiday anthologies to warm the heart and ramp up the holiday cheer. This week, Marvel Comics has three tales in Marvel Holiday Tales to Astonish #1 featuring the Fantastic Four, X-Men, and Spider-Men! All in all, it’s a good mix of holiday fun with a nod to classic tales and new ones.
Kicking things off is “Twas the Fight Before Christmas” by Gerry Duggan and Phil Noto, focusing on the Fantastic Four. From the very start, it’s clear Doctor Doom is robbing kiddos of their presents all across New York City. This has thrown a bit of a wrench in the FF holiday party, but the Fantastic Family is on the case!
Noto captures all the emotions of the Fantastic Four, who are being dragged into the night, while Duggan offers up a clever spin on a common Dr. Doom influence. I’ll say no more to avoid spoilers, but it’s a cute tale done up with a fun spin on ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. The story is so wholesome I was frankly shocked nobody has done it before.
What a Grinch!
Credit: Marvel
Next is “Festival of Fights” by Daniel Kibblesmith and Olliffe, which will please Chris Claremont fans. This story takes place in the early days of the X-Men as Kitty Pryde is still a young X-Man. Kibblesmith masterfully captures the quirky and unique personalities of the team at the time while invigorating the story with Kitty’s hopeful optimism. Olliffe captures the era well through the visuals.
The story builds around Hanukkah and the eight days of lighting the menorah. This gives it a fun pace with a montage-style scene of Kitty doing different missions. This builds towards a wholesome gift-giving sequence that will please folks who care about these classic characters. Extra props go to Kibblesmith for tying in some classic things like Colossus’s favorite band.
The anthology closes with “Resolutions” by Gene Luen Yang and Dylan Burnett. A Miles Morales-centric story, Burnett’s art gives it a modern cartoony feel that aligns with the higher tempo. The sentiment it ends on is emotional and may even bring a tear to your eye. While Peter Parker is in the story, it’s more about Miles and what he goes through and what that means to Peter, who is always his supporter. The story is short, but it does feel like it takes a while to get going.
Marvel Holiday Tales to Astonish #1 delivers a delightful collection of festive stories that highlight the charm and humanity of Marvel’s iconic characters. With a mix of humor, heart, and holiday spirit, this anthology is a warm and nostalgic read for fans of all ages.
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