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It’s undeniable: Marvel’s X-Men love the holidays. When their lives are spent protecting mutantkind from unimaginable dangers, these heroes rarely have time to themselves. Fortunately, even evil sometimes takes a break for the festive season. The X-Men really came to embrace the holidays during the Chris Claremont era.
Claremont clearly loves Christmas and always made space for the X-Men’s Jewish heroes to celebrate Hanukkah alongside their teammates. From deeply devout characters like Nightcrawler and Kate Pryde to others who simply enjoy the merriment of the season, the winter holidays are a time when the X-Men get to relax and spend time together as a family. Of course, with Cyclops and Rogue’s current rivalry, the X-Men may not get a chance to celebrate this year, but luckily, readers get to catch up with holiday stories from the X-Family’s past.
1
Marvel Holiday Tales to Astonish #1 (2024): “Festival of Fights”
By Daniel Kibblesmith, Pat Olliffe, John Kalisz, and Ariana Maher
2024’s holiday special celebrates a time when the X-Men were still united at the X-Mansion. Marvel’s Holiday Tales to Astonish is a new anthology that showcases various stories of Marvel’s heroes’ holiday adventures. In “Festival of Fights,” the X-Men are working together to decorate for Christmas. Meanwhile, Kitty Pryde is excited to celebrate Hanukkah with her new mutant family for the first time.
The story ends with a rare look of surprise and joy from Logan, excited about teaching one of his favorite students.
While Kitty tries to crack through Wolverine’s Scrooge nature, Nightcrawler gifts his ally a menorah for Hanukkah. For the next nine days, the X-Men find themselves unable to celebrate the season, as crime never ceases. At the end of their adventures, Kitty passes out a number of gifts to her teammates, including the still-curmudgeon, Wolverine. Instead of a physical gift that Logan would just junk, Kitty asks the clawed hero to train her. The story ends with a rare look of surprise and joy from Logan, excited about teaching one of his favorite students.
2
The X-Men #98 (1975)
By Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, Sam Grainer, Janice Cohen, and Joe Rosen
In Marvel’s first Christmas special involving the X-Men, “Merry Christmas, X-Men…,” the mutant family celebrates the season at Rockefeller Center. The team is thankful that they get to enjoy a perfectly timed snowy Christmas while taking much-deserved time to relax. Shaking off the cold, Cyclops and Jean Grey have planned a beautiful dinner in a penthouse restaurant at the top of the Rockefeller. As Scott and Jean share a holiday smooch, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby make a surprise appearance, jesting that readers would never catch heroes kissing in their comics.
However, the celebration is cut short when, both shockingly and comedically, sentinels smash through the restaurant, attacking Scott and Jean. The rest of the issue, the X-Men go on full alert after the mutant-killers’ sudden appearance. Naturally, things only get more complicated for the team when Jean, Logan, and Banshee are kidnapped by Steven Lang and taken to space. Naturally, the mutants make their escape but end up being sucked into the void of space as the issue ends. While it may not have ended with as much cheer as one would hope, it’s still the X-Men’s first Christmas celebration.
3
Marvel Holiday Special (1991): “A Miracle a Few Blocks Down from 32nd Street”
By Scott Lobdell, Dave Cockrum, Joe Rubinstein, Patty Cockrum, and Roxanne Starr
Much like Marvel Holiday Tales to Astonish, this story comes from anthology collections of festive stories featuring Marvel’s favorite heroes. In this introductory story of the Christmas collection, the X-Men decide to spend the holiday around the Rockefeller Center once more. While putting up their Christmas tree, it’s revealed that this is Storm’s very first Christmas. However, when the team departs for the Rockefeller ice rink, they have a surprise encounter with the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.
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The opposing sides clash, causing chaos in the streets, as it turns out that the Brotherhood is looking for an incredibly powerful mutant that was registered to be nearby. However, the only mutant present is… Kris Kringle. Yes, that’s right: Santa Claus is a mutant and one of the most powerful Omega-level mutants of all time. To end the violence, Santa turns the Brotherhood into action figures before teleporting the X-Men away without their memories of the encounter. Now, the X-Men finally have a chance to celebrate a white Christmas thanks to Ol’ Saint Nick.
4
Generation X Holiday Special #1 (1998)
By Joseph Harris, Adam Pollina, Rob Leigh, Paul Tutrone, and Richard Starkings
In “Yes Jubilee, There Is a Santa Claus,” Generation X prepares for the Christmas season at the mall. While most of the team excitedly waits in line to see Santa, Jubilee sulks away to do some shopping. After losing her parents, Jubilee has come to hate Christmas, feeling especially alone. Soon, the young mutants are attacked by Orphan-Maker, a mutant who kidnaps mutant children to keep them safe from villains. Jubilee tracks down Orphan-Maker, tracing him to the home of an incredibly powerful mutant child.
The cover art for Generation X Holiday Special #1 is by Adam Pollina.
Upon entering the home, Jubilee discovers not just the boy but Santa Claus as well. Santa, the ever-loving patriarch of merriness, does his best to reach everyone’s heart, even Orphan-Maker’s. After the mutant-hunting villain flees, Santa takes time to console Jubilee and calm her frustrations with the holiday. He apologizes that he could never grant her biggest wish, to have her parents back. But Jubilee sees genuine care from Kris Kringle, softening her resolve. The issue ends with a touching celebration of Christmas morning joy as Jubilee is surrounded by her found mutant family.
5
Deadpool #7 (2018)
By Skottie Young, Nic Klein, and Jeff Eckleberry
While Deadpool isn’t technically a mutant, Santa Claus is. In this incredibly absurd comic, only fitting for Deadpool, Christmas has come and gone, leaving a group of angry children who never received presents requesting Deadpool’s aid. The kids dump a pile of cash on Deadpool’s desk, hoping to hire the mercenary to kill Santa Claus. Of course, Deadpool accepts and decides to walk all the way to the North Pole. When the Merc with a Mouth arrives, he finds Santa’s house in disrepair. After a violent interaction with Mrs. Claus, she admits that Santa is in a drunken stupor.
This holiday season, Deadpool has decided to deliver the gifts.
Deadpool finds Santa, violently beating the old man down. The festive-yet-problematic couple tells the Merc that the elves staged a strike, instead choosing to work for Roxxon Toys. Deadpool decides to change targets, instead going on a slaughter-fest of elvish proportions. After killing off the last of the elves and stealing Roxxon’s toys, Deadpool finishes the job by giving Santa some much-needed rest. This holiday season, Deadpool has decided to deliver the gifts.
6
The Merry X-Men Holiday Special #1 (2018)
Including 25 Stories by Marvel’s Top Talent; Cover Art by David Nakayama
Another artistically styled holiday special, this anthology is composed of twenty-five different one-page stories featuring the X-Men. The concept is fun and clever, challenging the book’s various writers and artists to come up with engaging short-term plots and comedic gags. While every story is worth a read, there are some that especially adhere to the holiday’s magic. On Day 14, Nightcrawler gifts Old Man Logan a picture of himself, a long-running gag between Kurt and Logan. Day 17 features a slice-of-life clip of the Braddock family spending Christmas together.
However, Day 19, “Secret Santa,” is a real standout. This story starts with Laura and Gabby Kinney wrapping Christmas presents together. It’s already touching to see Laura momentarily at peace, joyfully spending time with her sister. After opening a Secret Santa gift, Gabby excitedly visits some of the X-Men to see who got her the present. Using her Wolverine’s sense, Gabby finally realizes that Mindee Cuckoo got her the gift, as the two share a hug, wishing each other a “Happy X-Mas.”
7
Generation X #60-61 (2000)
By Jay Faerber, Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson, Kevin Tinsley, and Saida Temofonte
While “Christmas Fear” does take place on Christmas, it is admittedly one of the least cheery and more action-packed additions to the list. When Emma Frost’s younger sister, Cordelia Frost, unexpectedly flies through the Massachusetts Academy’s window, Banshee, Jubilee, Skin, and Chamber team up to face the villains attacking Cordelia. Leading the charge is Banshee’s cousin, Black Tom Cassidy, and beside him stands Juggernaut.
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The fight turns into an all-out brawl as Emma Frost’s students gang up and defeat Cain Marko and Tom Cassidy. Meanwhile, a secondary plot featuring M has been going on in the background. In short, M’s school for mutants is infiltrated by a vampire who is systematically killing the students. Overall, the issue isn’t as festive as other holiday-themed X-Men stories, but that’s probably why it’s titled “Christmas Fear” – because there is little cheer in sight.
8
Uncanny X-Men #230 (1988)
By Chris Claremont, Marc Silvestri, Joe Rubinstein, Glynis Oliver, and Tom Orzechowski
During an era of the X-Men popularly referred to as the “Outback X-Men,” the mutants made a temporary base in Australia. The base used to belong to the Reavers, a private military group funded by the Hellfire Club. Below their confiscated temporary home, Longshot stumbles upon an enormous treasure trove, haunted by the psychic imprints of its previous owners. Thanks to the aid of a new ally, Gateway, the X-Men travel across the world, delivering the treasures that the Reavers had stolen. For some it is a Christmas miracle, to others it’s a chance to reunite with lost family heirlooms.
The story ends with a touching interaction between Rogue and Gateway. Throughout the issue, Rogue had been visiting the non-verbal Gateway, bringing him food and spending time with him. Despite never talking, Rogue still talked to him, wanting him to feel welcomed by the team. At the end of the issue, Rogue gifts Gateway a flute as he invites her to sit with him and listen to a song.
9
Marvel Holiday Special (2004): “An X-Men X-Mas”
By Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Roger Cruz, Victor Olazaba, Chris Solomayor, and Clem Robins
This story is by far one of the most touching X-Men holiday stories. The holidays are approaching, and the Xavier Institute is out of school. However, while every other student has somewhere to go for the holiday, Kevin Ford, also known as Wither, is left behind with no home to return to. Meanwhile, Cyclops and Emma Frost are packing for their vacation. However, after realizing how lonely Kevin feels, Emma calls off the vacation and decides to give Kevin the most magical Christmas possible.
Together, Scott, Emma, and Kevin visit the mall, the movies, and even try out some ice skating together. Kevin looks especially overjoyed, although the weight of his horrific power still weights heavily on him. Any organic material that Kevin touches rots to death. As the trio set up their tree and place their presents, Kevin sits alone again. Emma comes up to the boy, activating her diamond skin, explaining to Kevin that in this form, she could not rot. This touching X-Men story ends with a scene of all three in front of the fire while Kevin and Emma hold hands.
“}]] ‘Tis the season for some merry X-Men fables. Read More