The holidays are an interesting time for the X-Men, with such a large and diverse membership there are many different beliefs and traditions observed. THE MERRY X-MEN HOLIDAY SPECIAL #1 from Marvel Comics gives you a glimpse into the full month of December with the X-Men, and it is on your local comic shelves now!

THE MERRY X-MEN HOLIDAY SPECIAL #1

Writer: Charlamagne Tha God, Chris Sims, Various
Artist: Marco Failla, Kris Anla, Various
Cover: David Nakayama
Publisher:  Marvel Comics
Release Date: December 5th, 2018
Cover Price: $4.99

Previously in THE MERRY X-MEN HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Marvel has a long tradition of publishing holiday-themed issues and specials. For some time, there was a yearly Marvel Holiday Special and multiple issues where the title would have a holiday theme. While it is always a pleasure to read an individual story with a holiday factor, reading a bunch of them in one volume is a real treat!

WELCOME TO THE HOLIDAYS, X-MEN…

Technically, The Merry X-Men Holiday Special #1 is an anthology, but even among the anthology format, it is unique. Instead of presenting three or four multiple stories which share a theme, this issue had a different story for each day in the month of December, right up to Christmas Day! That’s right, we are presented with twenty 1 page stories with a holiday theme, and one ten page story which weaves through the whole month. Due to the sheer number of stories, I won’t be discussing every one of them individually, but I do want to talk about some of the most entertaining ones.

On the first day of December, we come across a jubilant Jubilation Lee as she and her son Shogo prepare to leave for a month-long Christmas vacation in Hawaii! This is the long story, a ten-pager which is written by Chris Sims (X-Men ’92, Down Set Fight) and Chad Bowers (Youngblood, Swordquest) with art by Marco Failla (Master of the Universe, Spider-Man and the X-Men) and Israel Silva (Wolverine and the X-Men, Thunderbolts). Looking forward to treating herself and her young charge to fun in the sun, she gleefully packs her bags. She even finds a little gift for Shogo in the closet, Illyana’s old Bampf stuffed doll! As she exits the X-Men grounds, she is abducted with a SFLANG! Over the course of the month, of which we get to check in Jubilee and Shogo on the 6th, the 11th, the 20th and the 25th of the month. Over the course of those days, we see her as she tries to navigate the holiday shopping season in Arcade’s MURDERMALL! The short vignettes are excellent and we get some very fun panels as the pair try and survive the holidays. Sims and Bowers have a good feel for the characters, and Failla and Silva make an excellent art team. Great work all the way around.

On Day 2, Kitty Pryde stars in “Never Again” by Chris Claremont (Uncanny X-Men, The New Mutants) with art by Terry and Rachel Dodson (Generation X, Harley Quinn) and Chris Sotomayor (Ms, Marvel, Captain Marvel). If you want a glimpse into a possible future X-Men storyline, this is the page to check out. Kitty goes to Genosha to remember the twelve million people killed by the Mega-Sentinel, and make a history proclamation.

On Day 7, Gambit endeavors to make children of New York’s dreams come true by striking out against a mutant-hating billionaire, in “The Chiche Who Stole Christmas” from rappers Styles P & Poobs with art by Luciani Vecchio (Beware the Batman, Sentinels) and Carlos Lopez (Old Man Logan, Warlord of Mars: Dejah Thoris). It is a feel-good story, and gives you another reason to love the ragin’ Cajun.

… HOPE YOU SURVIVE THE EXPERIENCE!

The remainder of the stories run the range of comical to serious to heartbreaking. Nature Girl tells why she hates Christmas. A #hotclaws Wolverine saves Hanukkah for a family. Children remind Magneto why someone must always remember the past. Ororo exacts comical revenge on a mutant hater. Domino gives a young girl and herself a special gift. Mindee hunts down her Secret Santa. In perhaps the most heartbreaking, Hank McCoy goes home and overhears his parent’s conversation about him as everyone prepares to go to church. Rainbow Rowell (The Runaways) knocked that one out of the park.

There are more. You really do get a feel of time passing as you read a little slice of each X-Man’s life during this month of December. A well thought out concept and works much better than it has a right to.

BOTTOM LINE: A LITTLE CONFUSING AT FIRST, BUT A SOLID HOLIDAY ISSUE

When I picked this one up, I had no idea it was actually one of my beloved anthology issues in disguise. Are they all great? No, some are just mediocre. But on the whole you get a lot of story and a lot of feels for your money. Are they in continuity? Some… maybe… I dunno, but that does not really matter. What matters is these stories, for good or bad, really a feeling about the holiday season. If the tales contained within are good or bad is based on your experiences. The average reader’s mileage may vary.

THE MERRY X-MEN HOLIDAY SPECIAL #1 is a wonderful excursion into one month in the lives of the X-Men. It combines the spirit of the holidays, a message, tears and laughs all in one package that nearly everyone should enjoy.