Anthology holiday specials can be hit-or-miss, but DC’s I Saw Ma Hunkel Kissing Santa Claus is a solid entry that delivers more charm than not. Across eight stories, ranging from earnest to deeply goofy to surprisingly introspective, the issue mixes superhero spectacle with the emotional textures that make holiday comics land: warmth, nostalgia, awkward romance, and, in some cases, an undercurrent of melancholy. Not every tale rewrites the North Pole, but the best of them sparkle just enough to feel like gifts worth unwrapping.
Credit: DC Comics
The Stories
The issue opens with “Up on the Rooftops!”, a Ma Hunkel/Cyclone story that’s really a love letter to the sprawling Golden Age corners of the JSA. Sebastian Bader and Scott Kolins craft an earnest tale of a young Amelia learning what makes a holiday “normal” when you live in a world with Dr. Fate, Limbo Town, and giant-sized battles between the Spectre and the Gentleman Ghost. Kolins’ art is packed with delightful cameos like Hawkman and Hawkgirl embracing under a full moon and Thunderbolt materializing mountains of toys, that sell the idea of a magical, if unconventional, Christmas.
From there, the anthology pivots into teen rom-com territory with the Captain Marvel story “Cuffing Season.” Ashley Allen and Bruno Abdias lean hard into an Archie-esque aesthetic as Billy Batson tries (and fails) to juggle a winter formal date with the dual pressures of being a superhero and pleasing a very insistent reporter…who happens to be his date’s mom. The art thrives on expressive faces showing Billy’s embarrassment, Freddie’s relentless amusement and the story lands with a sweet gazebo-set kiss that feels perfectly YA.
Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy’s “The Holiday Getaway” goes smaller and more intimate, using a snowy-cabin weekend to probe whether Harley is truly ready for commitment. Nicole Goux’s cartoony style captures the manic edges of Harley while still supporting the story’s more vulnerable beats. The killer vines popping up as a manifestation of Ivy’s emotional turmoil is a clever touch, and the ending strikes a nice balance between sincerity and the pair’s usual chaos.
The anthology’s emotional high point comes with “It’s a Wonderful Life,” an Animal Man riff on the classic film. Marley Halpern-Graser and Jon Mikel turn the premise into a metatextual meditation on Animal Man’s place among DC’s other animal-themed heroes. The Phantom Stranger shows him a world where Beast Boy, Vixen and others seamlessly slot in to replace him on every mission. The one exception of course, is when he’s at home with his family. Mikel’s stylistic shifts between eras and animal-powered heroes feel lovingly crafted, reinforcing a message that hits surprisingly hard for a ten-page holiday short.
Dr. Light’s “Shine in the Silence” is a classic Justice League tale of overlooked heroes proving themselves, complete with a satisfying spark of budding romance with the Atom. Michael Shelfer’s clean storytelling gives the mission clarity, and the petty, perfectly in-character Guy Gardner gag at the end delivers a nice jolt of humor.
Galaxy’s Hanukkah tale, “I’ll Be Home for Hanukkah,” has some lovely beats, especially its final page of Metropolis skyscrapers lit like a menorah. The story benefits from Hannah Templer’s stylish character designs. Even without deep prior knowledge of Galaxy, the emotional through-line of wanting to make it home for the last candle rings true, and the ex-girlfriend turned pocket-dimension villain adds a fun wrinkle.
Supergirl’s “Holiday Woes” leans into mid-century aesthetics to tell a grounded story about burnout and the difficulty of maintaining balance during the holidays (or, really, any time). Clark setting her up on a blind date at a winter fair is exactly the kind of corny cousin energy Superman should have, and the story’s small-town warmth hits the mark.
The Anthology closes strong with Steve Orlando and Riley Rossmo’s “A Martian on 34th Street.” Rossmo’s signature surrealist art style is a perfect match for a story about J’onn J’onzz moonlighting as a mall Santa across multiple cities. Krampus is the best designed villain of the issue, and the conclusion, hinging on memories of brotherhood and joy, is a tender way to wrap things up.
Credit: DC Comics
Final Thoughts
Holiday anthologies can be uneven, but DC’s I Saw Ma Hunkel Kissing Santa Claus manages a steady tone across its eclectic lineup. The standouts include the Ma Hunkel/JSA opener, the Animal Man tale, and the Rossmo-illustrated Martian Manhunter piece. They anchor the issue, while the lighter romance and humor stories fill in the gaps with warmth and personality. The weaker entries never feel like filler. The book reads like a curated sampler of what DC’s characters can offer when allowed to explore something gentler, stranger, or more heartfelt. It’s a festive, lively, and occasionally poignant holiday collection that captures the spirit of the season.
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