DC Comics shares holiday cheer with new, old stories

WORD BALLOONS

Tulsa-born writer Sterling Gates gets into the holiday spirit this year with a story in “DC Holiday Special 2009.”

This 80-page special features stories by Scott Kolins, Fred Van Lente, Jay Faerber, Beau Smith and others.

Gates’ story features Beast Boy and the Doom Patrol, and is a tale about finding family. Jonboy Meyers is the artist.

Another fun story in this year’s holiday special is Amy Wolfram’s tale of the Flash facing hustle and bustle at Christmastime, proving that no matter how fast you are, there’s still too much to get done in the holiday season.

Fred Van Lente, known for his work with Marvel, including “Incredible Hercules,” contributes a Martian Manhunter story to this special. Billy Tucci, who recently wrote and drew “Sgt Rock: The Lost Battalion” adds a Sgt. Rock Christmas tale. In total, the special contains 16 holiday-themed tales with characters including B’Wana Beast, Red Tornado and Adam Strange.

Readers can also revisit Christmas past with the collection “A DC Universe Christmas,” featuring 17 of DC’s Christmas-themed stories from 1940 to 2000. This 160-page trade paperback retails for $19.95.

“DC Universe Christmas” leads off with a story written by Denny O’Neil, the longtime editor of the Batman line of comics, and drawn by Frank Miller, the best-selling writer-artist of “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.” In “Wanted: Santa Claus – Dead or Alive!,” from “Super-Star Holiday Special (DC Special Series)” No. 21 from the 1979 Christmas season, an ex-convict finds a new perspective on life after playing Santa Claus in a department store. Also included, and similar to the Batman tale, is Jack Kirby’s 1940s tale from the pages of “Sandman,” in which a wrestler hired by mobsters reforms when he understands the spirit of Christmas.

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