Dell Giants #26

The cover is touted as 'Walt Disney's Christmas Parade'* and the entire amount of over sized content does not disappoint. I didn't count pages. But I would estimate that this was either an 86 or 100-pager. Every story was Christmas themed from a team-up with Pluto and Grandma Duck against those tricky crows from Dumbo to a Goofy and Mickey caper involving a ton of stuffed moose heads. Then Donald and his nephews learn about Christmas in other lands from friends Tinkerbell, Jiminy Cricket and others. Uncle Scrooge gets in over his head in anticipation for a winter ball thanks to his desire to save money... Man- it was just an awesome issue from 1959. 

I was lucky to find this issue is really decent shape. There's a bunch of games and puzzles. A page to color. And no less than 3 opportunities to cut up this beauty with do-it-yourself holiday crafts. But other than a small nick on a corner on the front cover, there's not a page missing or fun page filled in. 

True, the pages have yellowed some. But the colors inside are vibrant. Especially the yellows! Those hues look almost like the printers used highlighters, those yellows are that full and bright.

The only thing that might have aged poorly was the Br'er Rabbit story. The cultural value of the Uncle Remus stories, especially in regards to the Disney film, Song of the South, has warranted a lengthy debate over whether such stories should be cancelled. If this issue was reprinted today, there's a very good chance that the Br'er Rabbit tale might have been censored if not omitted all together. I thought it was a charming story about a Americanized version of the classic trickster god character seen in stories about Loki and Anansi otherwise But yes, I did wonder if it was wrong of me to enjoy it or not.

As a whole, this was a timeless collection of Christmas stories. The art was crisp and clean. The jokes were fresh and plots delightful. This Christmas Parade was a welcomed diversion from a holiday season that was anything but normal. And heck yes- I'd read the entire thing again from cover to cover!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

* Despite what the cover says, this was a part of the Dell Giants series. Leaving off that 'S' can make database searches quite difficult as I learned the hard way. 

Marvel Classics Comics Series #36

The Marvel Bullpen of 1978 presents Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. 

Marvel Classics Comics Series ran for 36 issues. I've been trying to collect this entire series. So finding out that this finale was Christmas related was a double bonus.

I love the story of Scrooge, a trio of seasonal ghosts and Tiny Tim. I make it a point to read at least one version of the story every year. And this version from the House of Ideas was the one I selected. This adaptation felt fresh to me. There were a few aspects of the Dickens tale that I have never noticed before. As the dialogue seemed to be almost directly taken from the original script, I am not sure if those aspects are due to artistic license or just things I've never noticed before. 

One thing that still sticks in my crawl is the whole idea of the 3 ghosts visiting Scrooge. If you read over Marley's account of how Scrooge will be visited by them spectors, it seems like the whole story will take place over 3 nights. So Ebeneezer shouldn't get into the holiday until at least December 28th- morning time. Yet without fail- and without explanation- the whole event occurs on Christmas Eve night going into Christmas morn. 

Maybe I just don't understand Victorian Era time. 

Lastly, I want to mention the introduction. It was an enlightening account of Charles Dickens' life. However, the year given in which Dickens divorces his wife is listed as earlier than the year they get married. This series was recently released as a deluxe omnibus. I wonder if the 42 year old typo was caught during the remastering process or not...

A great adaptation. It's got some flaws. But I really enjoyed this version. It was quite festive. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Santas From Around The World: The U.S. of A.- The Coca-Cola Santa (Advent 2020, Day 25)

It’s December 25th! Christmas! We made it through another Advent.

To finish everything up, we take a look at the most well-known Santa of them all- the Santa Claus of the Coca-Cola Corporation. 

Santa Claus had been in existence way before Coca-Cola left their mark on the Christmas icon. Mostly, how America and other parts of the world viewed Kris Kringle was based on Clement Moore’s 1823 poem ‘A Visit From St. Nicolas’ AKA: Twas The Night Before Christmas. But as we’ve seen, some parts of the world view Santa as this terrifying figure. 

In 1931, Coca-Cola decided that it was time to make Coke the official beverage of Christmas. To do that, the company decided to modernize Santa and they built an entire advertising campaign around this new version of a classic. Thus Coke hired Haddon Sundblom to commission a series of paintings in which Santa enjoys a cold refreshing bottle of cola instead of the traditional milk and cookies. 

Taking inspiration from Moore’s poem, Sundblom turned Santa into the ultimate vessel of happiness and joy with his rosy cheeks, twinkling eyes and infectious smile. The red robe was replaced with a sleek red fur suit. His clunky boots were replaced with galoshes that offered more traction on icy roofs and inside those pesky chimneys. Perhaps the most lasting detail Sundblom added to the modern Santa was replacing the bishop like crown with a red stocking cap tipped with a fluffy white puff. 

Coke’s campaign worked. Sales of the fizzy stuff sky-rocketed. To this day, Coke manages to outsell just about all other beverages (except alcohol) for the holidays. And yes, there are still some families that will leave Santa an unopened classic green bottle of Coke with his cookies. Hopefully, they remember to leave out a bottle opener. 

Of course, I am going to share with you a cookie recipe made from Coke. My favorite version is Cherry. So enjoy my last Advent present for 2020 with this recipe for chocolate Cherry Coke cookies.

Until next year- Enjoy!

The New Adventures of Superboy #39

The Kents have a visitor for the holidays. A fellow classmate of Clark's is having to stay with Jonathan and Martha as the lad's parents are traveling without him. This puts the student in a foul mood. In response, Clark decides to become Superboy and show him an alternate earth that doesn't celebrate Christmas. 

The planet Superboy travels to is a polluted, war torn mess. Townsfolk prey upon the meek- such as this earth's Clark Kent! Can Superboy and his classmate restore the Christmas spirit to this world's Smallville. Or is peace on earth completely doomed?

I enjoyed a large chunk of this story. I wonder if a return story was ever done to this multiverse realm. I liked the twist ending. But as much as I am a fan of Paul Kupperberg, I have one issue with this story. Why is Clark Kent on this troubled earth such a weenie? Why isn't he super-powered? Is the sun for this planet the wrong color and thus Clark can't become Superboy? This oversight is really overlooked. Thus another reason why I feel that there's was more to this world than what was published in this tiny issue.

I wasn't such a fan of the secondary story. It was another chapter in the Dial H for Hero saga. I always liked the creativity of this story. But so much plot was wasted on a bus accident that if it was scraped, we wouldn't have had to deal with a stinking cliffhanger. 

An unusual type of festive story. But once again, there's a story included that doesn't give me closure. At least it wasn't the cover story that enticed me to buy this one.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Santas From Around The World: France- Papa Noel (Advent 2020, Day 24)

After a brief visit to Italy, we head directly Southwest to France. When it comes to Santas from around the world, Pere Noel/Papa Noel is the one I think of the most. (Well, besides the obvious, of course.) Maybe it's because in the third grade I was Pere Noel for that year's holiday program at my school.

There's really only a few subtle differences between Papa Noel and Santa Claus. Both wear red. But Noel's outfit is topped off with a red robe. Instead of reindeer, Pere Noel's WAGON is led by a donkey named Gui- which means mistletoe in French. 

Instead of cookies, the children of France leave out carrots and oats for Gui to snack on while Papa Noel distributes his presents. The children put the donkey nums in their shoe. So most gifts given by Papa Noel are small; things such as candy, fruit and coin money. If you were really good, Papa will also bring you a small tree for your household to decorate!

I did think it was notable to mention Louisiana's Santa. With Cajun country being influenced highly by French culture, the people of the bayou are also visited by Pere Noel. But instead of a wagon lead by a donkey, when this Santa heads to the Pelican State, he rides a sleek boat pulled by 8 massive alligators!

There are tons of cookie recipes from culinary heavy France. But I don't think I could truly cover cookies from around the world without sharing with you a recipe of that countries most iconic cookies- macarons!

Enjoy!

Santas From Around The World: Italy- La Befana (Advent 2020, Day 23)

Thus far in our Advent, it’s been quite misogynistic. Today’s chapter seeks to add a little estrogen to this Madman’s countdown to Chirstmas. We head to Italy for today’s version of Santa. Though our story actually takes place in Israel on the cusp of the very first Christmas.

Our main character is known as La Befana. And she’s got 2 origin stories. One sweet and one rather tragic. 

In the happier tale, La Befana is an old lady who one night while sweeping her house is approached by the three Wise Men for directions to the Christ child. She points them in the right direction and takes up sweeping again; but not before forgoing the chance to visit Baby Jesus with the Magi. Later on, La Befana changes her mind and with broom in hand, she heads out to find the Christ child. But she is unable to find the babe. So La Befana wanders the world in search of Jesus while leaving good little children toys and fruit. (The brats get coal, garlic or possibly onions.)

Now for the tragic version. La Befana is a beautiful young woman with a young son whom she loves very much. One day, the child up and dies causing La Befana to become maddened with grief. La Befana grows old just constantly sweeping as the act reminds her of rocking her child to sleep. 

On the night of the first Noel, La Befana hears of the birth of the Savior. In a delusional state, La Befana believes that the baby is her missing child. So, La Befana goes to the manger, but Jesus and his family have moved on. La Befana later finds Jesus as an infant and realizes that it’s really the son of God instead of her child. Jesus takes pity on her and bestows a blessing of being the godmother of all. 

Why La Befana decided to relocate to Italy for her gift giving is unclear. In fact, the legend of La Befana is a relatively new tradition, having only really been universally adopted by the boot shaped nation around the turn of the 20th Century. Some do speculate that La Befana is based on ancient Roman legend. Yet why it took almost 2000 years to morph into a story about an old woman is anyone’s guess. But what I do know is that it’s best not to try to stay up to watch her dropping off your gifts. Sneaky little Italians will get a swift bump on the noggin with her broom.

For today’s cookie, I am sharing with you a sugar cookie recipe with a twist. Made with ricotta cheese and lemon, this classic from Betty Crocker offers up 2 traditional tastes of Italy. Enjoy!

Santas From Around The World: Guam- Operation Christmas Drop (Advent 2020, Day 22)

Today's Santa doesn't wear red. Instead, he wears camo and green fatigues. 

 Our featured Santa also doesn't fly in a sleigh lead by 8 tiny reindeer. Instead, he flies in a C-130!

Technically, this day's Santa isn't really an individual but more of a Force. The U.S. Air Force to be exact. But to the people of Guam's Kapingamarangi atoll, they are as much a traditional Santa if not more than the jolly fat man.

Operation Christmas Drop began in 1952. A routine training mission right before Christmas became a holiday tradition when the islanders ran out of their huts to wave at the passing plane. The air crew noticed and quickly, they foraged around with enough supplies to fill a small crate. They attached a parachute and the first ever Christmas by cargo took place.

The tiny island is often besieged by typhoons. At the time of the first drop, it was without electricity. So the supplies offered were considered a major blessing. Now nearly 70 years later, the entire island of Guam takes part; donating valuable items such as fishing nets, canned goods, rice, building materials and clothing for the islanders. Each container is filled with about 400lbs of supplies. And for the kiddies of Kapingamarangi, toys, candy and school supplies are loaded into each box. 

It is said that for the natives, part of the fun is scouting for locations where the supplies feel as cargo drops aren't an exact science. Sadly a few cratesfall into the Pacific. But that often means a later surprise as items will wash ashore well into March and April.

The drop is the U.S. military's oldest continuing full mission. Other nearby units have gotten into the given spirit with donations and supply runs. Even the air forces of Japan and Australia have participated. Though the nation of Micronesia has decided to opt out of this year's drop due to COVID-19, the United States has promised to continue on with mission #69- just with some added safety precautions.

Operation Christmas Drop has become such a widespread tradition, a Netflix movie of the same name was recently produced. Debuting in November, the fictionalized account stars 17 Again's Kat Graham and The Hunger Games' Alexander Ludwig. From what I can tell, it appears that Netflix is attempting to encroach into Hallmark holiday movie territory...

For today's Advent gift, I bet you thought I couldn't find a cookie recipe from Guam. Well, you lose! Today's recipe is a traditional Guam treat that has undergone some slight variation due to U.S. occupation of the region since World War II. 

Enjoy!