Bethlehem or Bust!

Of all the superhero Christmas covers I've come across (some of which can be seen here and here), the DC Super-Star Holiday Special (a.k.a. DC Special Series #21, 1980) stands apart as one of the most surreal. While the other covers focus on predictable secular imagery (stockings, presents, Santa Claus, etc), this one depicts a disparate band of DC characters following a blazing star to, presumably, the ancient city of Bethlehem...in other words, indisputably religious territory!

Illustrated by Garcia Lopez, the unusual traveling companions included (from top to bottom) four teen heroes from the 30th century, Superboy from the 20th, deformed western anti-hero Jonah Hex, an anonymous witch, horror mag hosts Cain and Abel (seated on the camel), WWII hero Sgt. Rock, and an uncharacteristically cheery Batman beckoning us to join them on their spiritual pilgrimage!

Though I don't actually own this issue (yet!), I'm reasonably sure the stories inside don't depict the Merry Band arriving in Bethlehem to visit the newly-born Christ Child.  However...I couldn't resist visualizing what that incredibly bizarre Nativity scene might have looked like if they did!

(click on the Nativity scene for a more glorious view)

I should note that the three tiny Legionnaires in the foreground are part of DC's line of "Pocket Super Heroes", all of which feature the original uniforms of Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, and Saturn Girl (unlike the groovier mid-70's versions depicted on the cover). Wildfire (behind Batman) was actually a custom figure someone made (man, that guy was hard to find), while Cain and Abel were actually taken from a set of DC Direct bookends. The others were all "official" action figures from DC Direct (except for the witch...I didn't bother looking for the witch).

So there you have it.  A Nativity scene like no other....and a ticket straight to Hell for Yours Truly!

Comments

[Blake]

Although I don't have that issue either, I have read the Superboy and the Legion story (which was reprinted in 1988's "Christmas With the Super-Heroes #1"), and I can confirm they were, in fact, looking for the star of Bethlehem. Not for Big J himself, but for the star.

[googum]

Excellent. There should be full-scale recreations of this every year.

I thought I had read this one, but I was thinking of the Legion story too. And why there isn't a Wildfire (or Dawnstar) figure, I have no idea.

[Mark Engblom]

"Excellent. There should be full-scale recreations of this every year."

Maybe those children's Christmas programs at churches can now begin including kids dressed in Batman, Saturn Girl, and Jonah Hex costumes to stand around the manger.

"And why there isn't a Wildfire (or Dawnstar) figure, I have no idea."

Well, there are Wildfire figures, but with his more modern costumes. This was the only image I could find of the classic 1970's version.

[meng]

i always loved these grab bag/anthology specials. This issue and 5-star Hero Spectacular are two of my favorites.

this issue was also notable for Frank Miller's first Batman tale...

[Comic Coverage]

Yeah, which is why it's surprisingly expensive to buy from certain sellers.

[The Groovy Agent]

Check out the Diversions tomorrow (or after your long winter's nap), Mark, if you wanna read the whole issue. Just Ol' Groove's way of saying Merry Christmas!

[John Trumbull]

I'm pretty sure the witch was another host of one of DC's horror anthology books.

[Andy]

That would have been quite a scene!