Marvel Holiday Special was an anthology comic book series published by Marvel Comics featuring several of its characters in Christmas or holiday-themed stories.
The first Marvel Holiday Special from 1991 is notable for establishing that Santa Claus exists as a mutant character within the Marvel Universe. Santa has since made several appearances in other Marvel titles. Other notable stories include a story by Kurt Busiek in the 1994 issue which filled out the details of a solicited but never-published story from the 1960s X-Men series in which Iceman and Beast fought Metoxo and the Lava Men, closing a continuity gap that fans had wondered about for 25 years.
The Marvel Holiday Special has featured several stories that focus on Jewish characters like The Thing and Shadowcat celebrating Hannukah, as well as other Jewish characters whose religion isn't often clearly depicted in stories. Notably, Thing creator Stan Lee, who is also Jewish, wrote his first story in which Thing discussed his Jewish faith in the 2009 Marvel Holiday Special, 48 years after Thing made his comics debut.
Publication history Marvel Holiday Special was first published in 1991, with additional specials followed annually until 1996, with the 1995 special being a trade paperback reprinting earlier holiday stories. The title was revived in 2004 and published annually until 2007. Additionally, a trade paperback collecting several holiday stories was published under the name Marvel Holiday Special in 2004. From 2008 to 2010, Marvel published a Digital Holiday Special only on its Marvel Unlimited service. In 2011, Marvel once again published a Marvel Holiday Special. In 2021 and 2022, Marvel published a series of holiday-themed "Infinity Comics" on its Marvel Unlimited Service.
Stories published in Marvel holiday specials Year A story B story C story D story E story F story G story H story I Story1991X-Men
Scott Lobdell and Dave Cockrum
Collected in X-Men: X-Tinction Agenda OmnibusFantastic Four Walter Simonson and Art Adams
Collected in Marvel Universe by Arthur Adams Omnibus and Fantastic Four Epic Collection Vol 21Punisher
Steven Grant and Klaus JansonThor
Tom DeFalco and Sal BuscemaCaptain America
Len Kaminski and Ron LimGhost Rider
Howard Mackie and John Hebert
Collected in Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch Omnibus Vol 1 and Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch Epic Collection Vol 2: Bad to the BoneCaptain Ultra
Scott Lobdell and Dennis JensenSpider-Man
Danny Fingeroth and Ron Garney1992Wolverine
Larry Hama and Michael Golden
Collected in Wolverine Omnibus Vol 4New Warriors
Fabian Nicieza and Darick Robertson
Collected in New Warriors Omnibus Vol 2Spider-Man
Stan Lee, Richard Howell, and Steve LightlePunisher
Carl Potts and Rick LevinsDoc Samson/Hulk
Peter David, John Hebert
Collected in Incredible Hulk by Peter David Omnibus Vol 2 and Hulk Epic Collection Vol 19Thanos
Jim Starlin and Ron Lim
Collected in Silver Surfer: Rebirth of Thanos (1993 printing)Iron Man
Sholly Fish and Tom Morgan
Collected in Iron Man Epic Collection Vol 17Daredevil
Ann Nocenti and Tom Grindberg
Collected in Daredevil Epic Collection Vol 16 and Daredevil by Nocenti and Romita Jr Omnibus Vol 21993Spider-Man
Steven Grant and Pat BroderickNick Fury
Howard ChaykinMarvel Bullpen
Barry Dutter and Marie SeverinCaptain Ultra
Scott Lobdell and Dennis JensenGhost Rider
Ann Nocenti and Tom Grindberg
Collected in Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch Omnibus Vol 2Hulk
Peter David and Ron Lim
Collected in Incredible Hulk by Peter David Omnibus Vol 3 and Hulk Epic Collection Vol 201994X-Men
Kurt Busiek and James FryCaptain America
John Ostrander and Tom MandrakeThing/FF
Gregory Wright and Mike ManleySilver Surfer
JM DeMattias, Mindy Newell, and Rick LeonardiSpider-Man
Karl Bollers and Gray MorrowX-Men
Karl Bollers and Sal Buscema1995Spider-Man
Danny Fingeroth and Ron Garney
Reprinted from Marvel Holiday Special 1991X-Men
Scott Lobdell and Dave Cockrum
Reprinted from Marvel Holiday Special 1991Spider-Man Reprint of Amazing Spider-Man #314Wolverine
Larry Hama and Michael Golden
Reprinted from Marvel Holiday Special 1992Spider-Man
Steven Grant and Pat Broderick
Reprinted from Marvel Holiday Special 1993Hulk
Peter David and Ron Lim
Reprinted from Marvel Holiday Special 1993Spider-Man
Karl Bollers and Gray Morrow
Reprinted from Marvel Holiday Special 1994Punisher
Carl Potts and Rick Levins
Reprinted from Marvel Holiday Special 1992Spider-Man
Stan Lee, Richard Howell, and Steve Lightle
Reprinted from Marvel Holiday Special 19921996Spider-Man
Mark Waid and Pat OlliffeShadowcat (Excalibur)
Evan Skolnick and Josh Hood
Collected in Excalibur Omnibus Vol 3Silver Surfer
George Perez, Stan Lee, and Rick LeonardiRawhide Kid
Karl Kesel and Patrick ZircherWolverine/X-Men
Tom DeFalco and Josh Hood
Collected in X-Men: Onslaught Aftermath Omnibus2004JJ Jameson/ Spider-Man
Tom DeFalco and Takeshi MiyazawaX-Men
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Roger CruzFranklin Richards/FF
Robert Aguirre-Sacasa and Duncan Rouleau2005Fantastic Four
Shaenon Garrity and Roger LangridgeNew Avengers
Jeff Parker and Reilly BrownFantastic Four
Mike Carey and Mike Perkins2006AIM/Hulk
Andrew Farrago, Shaenon Gerrity and Ron LimFin Fang Foom/Dr. Strange
Scott Gray and Roger LangridgeFantastic Four
Mike Carey and Mike PerkinsSanta Claus
Jeff Christiansen2007Spider-Man/ Wolverine
Andrew Farrago, Shaenon Gerrity and Lou KangLoners
CB Cebulski and Alin UrusovFantastic Four
Mike Carey and NelsonReprint of Marvel Age #25 (2nd Story)2008 Digital Holiday SpecialX-Men
Jim McCann and Todd NauckSkrull
Ryan Penagos and Juan DoeWerewolf by Night
Ben Morse and Stephanie BuscemaIlluminati
Brian Reed and Val Semekis2009 Digital Holiday SpecialBlack Cat, Hellcat, Firestar, Photon
Abby Densen and Sara PichelliDeadpool
Fred Van Lente and Sanford Greene
Collected in Deadpool Classic Vol 14, Deadpool: The Dead-Head Redemption, and Marvel Holiday Magazine #1Fantastic Four
Stan Lee and Nick Dragotta
Collected in Marvel Holiday Magazine #12009 Holiday SpectacularIlluminati Reprint of the D story from the 2008 Digital Holiday SpecialX-Men Reprint of the A story from the 2008 Digital Holiday SpecialSkrull Reprint of the B story from the 2008 Digital Holiday SpecialWerewolf by Night Reprint of the C story from the 2008 Digital Holiday SpecialHulk Doug Roberts and Jack KirbyDeadpool Jess Harold and Reilly BrownWolverine Reprint of the A story from the 1992 Marvel Holiday SpecialX-Men Reprint of the A story from the 1994 Marvel Holiday SpecialReprints of Uncanny X-Men #365; Amazing Spider-Man #166; E story from Franklin Richards: Happy Franksgiving #12010 Digital Holiday Special #1Dr. Doom/ Fantastic Four
Victor Carungi and Chris Uminga2010 Digital Holiday Special #2Thor
Joelle Sellner and Mike Henderson2010 Digital Holiday Special #3Hulk
Randall P. Girdner and Manolo Carot2011Spider-Man
Miljenko Horvatic and Andrew TrabboldWolverine and the X-Men
Kurtis J. Wiebe and Patrick ScherbergerNick Fury
Aaron Shaps and Sebastian PirizThing, Shadowcat (X-Men)
Jamie Rich and Paco Diaz2018 Season's BeatingDeadpool Jason Latour and Greg HinkleSpider-Man Jason Latour and Chris BrunnerSquirrel Girl and Dr. Doom Jason Latour and Marco Del PenninoWest Coast Avengers (Hawkeye and Kid Omega) Jason Latour and Veronica Fish
Other Holiday Specials Published by Marvel Comics Marvel Comics has also published a number of holiday-themed one-shots starring Marvel Comics characters and other licensed characters. These include:
Power Pack Holiday Special – 1991 Punisher Holiday Special #1-3 – 1992-94 Sleepwalker Holiday Special – 1992 Spider-Man Holiday Special – 1995 Howard the Duck Holiday Special – 1996 Generation X Holiday Special -- 1998 Punisher: Red X-Mas – 2004 Punisher: Silent Night – 2005 Franklin Richards: Happy Franksgiving – 2006 Punisher: X-Mas Special – 2006 GLX-Mas – 2006 Wolverine: Flies to a Spider – 2008 Punisher MAX X-Mas Special – 2008 Deadpool MAX X-Mas Special – 2011 Gwenpool Special – 2015 Gwenpool Holiday Special: Merry Mix Up – 2016 Power Man & Iron Fist Sweet Christmas Annual – 2016 Merry X-Men Holiday Special – 2018
Holiday specials featuring licensed characters include:
ALF Holiday Special #1-2 – 1988-89 Clive Barker's Hellraiser Dark Holiday Special – 1992 Star Wars: Life Day – 2021
Digital-only holiday specials include:
Ghost Rider X-Mas Special Infinite Comic – 2016 Season’s Beatings (Deadpool) – 2018 Halloween with the Rhino Infinity Comic – 2021 Iceman's New Year's Resolutions Infinity Comic – 2021 Happy Holidays, Mr. Howlett Infinity Comic – 2021 TEST Kitchen Holiday Special – 2022 Year of the Wong Infinity Comic – 2022
Marvel characters have also celebrated the holidays in regular issues of their ongoing series. Some notable holiday-themed issues of ongoing Marvel Comics series include:
Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD #10 (1969) Son of Satan #8 (1975) Uncanny X-Men #98 (1976) Marvel Two-in-One #33 (1977) Uncanny X-Men #119 (1978) Uncanny X-Men #143 (1980) Uncanny X-Men #168 (1982) Uncanny X-Men #180 (1983) Uncanny X-Men #192-193 (1984) Uncanny X-Men #205 (1985) New Mutants #38 (1985) Vision and the Scarlet Witch #7 (1986) Psi-Force #6 (1987) The ‘Nam #23 (1988) X-Factor #27 (1988) Uncanny X-Men #230 (1988) Daredevil #253 (1988) Marvel Comics Presents #18 (She-Hulk story only) (1988) Amazing Spider-Man #314 (1989) X-Factor #52 (1989) Punisher #43 (1990) She-Hulk #36 (1992) Generation X #4 (1994) Uncanny X-Men #341 (1996) Amazing Spider-Man #420 (1997) Generation X #24 (1997) X-Men Vol 2 #73 (1997) Uncanny X-Men #365 (1998) Generation X #60-61 (1999) Captain Marvel #26 (2002) Spider-Man’s Tangled Web #21 (2003) X-Men Vol 2 #165 (2004) Wolverine #49 (2006) Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #46 (2008) Fantastic Four #564 (2009) Super-Hero Squad #12 (2010) Marvel Zombies Christmas Carol #1-5 (2011) Avengers Annual #1 (2013) Deadpool Killustrated #3 (2013) Captain Marvel #11 (2015) Spider-Man/Deadpool #12 (2016) Marvel Universe Guardians of the Galaxy #15 (2016) Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #37 (2018) Daughters of the Dragon Marvel Digital Original #3 (2019) Spider-Bot Infinity Comic #11 (2022) Avengers Unlimited Infinity Comic #25 (2022) Spider-Man Unlimited Infinity Comic #13-18 (2023) Spider-Verse Unlimited Infinity Comic #30 (2022) X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #118-120 (2023) Marvel Comics has also published two anthology one-shots celebrating Valentine's Day:
Marvel Valentine Special #1 (1997), featuring stories starring Spider-Man, Daredevil, Venus, Absorbing Man and Titania, and Cyclops and Phoenix. I (heart) Marvel: My Mutant Heart #1 (2006), featuring stories starring Wolverine, Doop, and Cannonball
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