The Great Treasury of Christmas Comic Book Stories HCPublisher: IDW Publishing
Release Date: November 2010
Price: $34.99
Creator(s): Edited by Craig Yoe; Stories by John Stanley, Walt Kelly, Dan Noona and many more
Format: 176 pgs.; Black & White; Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-6001-0773-3
Age Rating: All Ages
ICv2 Rating: 5 Stars out of 5
The Great Treasury of Christmas Comic Book Stories collects Golden and Silver Age comics that have a Christmas theme, most of which are funny fantasies featuring elves, reindeer and Santa Claus. But also included are adaptations of traditional holiday favorites such as The Night Before Christmas, A Christmas Carol and The Christmas Story.
But there isn’t a single superhero in the lineup, not even Will Eisner’s The Spirit (and if ever there was a mystery man who knew how to keep Christmas it was him). In fact the biggest ‘name’ comic book characters in it are Charlton’s L’il Tomboy and Atomic Mouse, but it does have work by top-notch creators including John Stanley, children’s book artist Richard Scarry and Walt Kelly.
They’re all good but clearly it’s Kelly’s contributions, which include “How Santa Got His Red Suit,” “A Mouse In The House” and “Christmas Comes to the Wood Land”--these are the standouts. Sweet but never cloying, they’re timeless stories that could be read to or by children but can be appreciated by anyone that loves a good story.
All of Craig Yoe’s recent books from IDW have been things of beauty but the design work on this one is particularly good. Its beautiful endpapers and attractive green and gold cover will make you think of a holiday themed book from your childhood.
“Makes a great Christmas gift” is a terrible cliche which is applied to everything, no matter how grotesquely inappropriate, but it’s hard to imagine anyone who wouldn’t be happy to receive this. In particular it’s definitely something that parents and grandparents should consider getting for their children, grandchildren and themselves.
--Steve Bennett: Writer and retail services consultant.