The Ghost of Christmas Cards Past

Happy Holidays!

As the 25th is nearly upon us, I’d like to send Season’s Greetings, wish you all Happy Holidays, and thank you for tuning in to Secret Oranges this past year. For something particularly festive, I thought it might be interesting to post some of the Comics related Christmas cards I’ve hung onto over the years. These have been commissioned and designed by Comic book publishers to send out to their contributors and licensees. For starters, here's a great Frank Miller card from Dark Horse, circa 1996.

Front of Card

Next up…

This 2000 AD Christmas card is from 2001, the period when Andy Diggle was the editor. We were now working for Rebellion after moving out of the Egmont offices, and the whole editorial team (all three of us), were working upstairs in a small creaky Dickensian office in London Bridge. Cards for contributors had long since been abandoned by Egmont (the previous publishers) and Andy thought it was high time we brought back the spirit of Tharg’s Christmas, to which Matt Smith, the associate editor and I wholeheartedly agreed. Kev Walker did the wonderfully amusing artwork.

This was sent out when I was working for Marvel UK back in 1984 and I believe, though I'm not 100% certain, that this was illustrated by Barry Kitson. There were no art credits on this one, unfortunately.

A Silent Night in Mega-City One. A 2000 AD, specially commissioned Christmas card by Arthur Ranson. Lettering by Tom Frame, 1992.

From the plan chest, another Seasonal card. With apologies to Lee & Romita, here is an (ever-so-slightly!) modified title page, originally from Amazing Spider-Man #84 - The Kingpin Strikes Back! This was used at Marvel UK in 1986 as an internal office Christmas card.

Back in 1983, the year I started working for Marvel UK, Jerry Paris was commissioned for this rather wonderful card. Jerry did some amazing work for Marvel at the time, including The Amazing Spider-Man and a strip called the Freefall Warriors, created by Steve Parkhouse and Dave Gibbons.

Another 2000 AD Christmas card, but this time by Richard Dolan. This was also used as the cover art for Prog #658 in December, 1989. I remember Richard turning in some fabulous covers for us back in the day.

He's making a list, checking it twice. Gonna find out who's naughty or nice! A fun 2000 AD Christmas card by Colin MacNeil in 1990. This was also used as the cover for prog #710. 

Shazam! Captain Marvel gets the guest spot on this 'Happy Holidays' card from DC Comics, with a guest appearance from Alfred E. (What, me worry?) Neuman, plus Superman and Batman. Illustrated by Jeff Smith, 2003.

Before moving to California and going on staff, I was freelancing for DC at this time, and it was always a joy to receive these fabulously fun, festive cards. This one is from 2005. Inside it reads, "Happy Holidays! from your friends at DC, Vertigo, Wildstorm and Mad". Illustration by Cameron Stewart.

From DC Comics in 2006. They really knew how to tap into the festive spirit! Illustration by Travis and Jordan Kotzebue.

From DC Comics, 2009. This one starring Jonah Hex. Illustrated by José Luis Garcia-Lopez, Kevin Nowlan and Matt Hollingsworth.

Another great 'Happy Holidays' card in 2011, and the company are now signing cards as DC Entertainment. Concept by Andy Price and Artwork by Sean Galloway.

And lastly, a bit of rummaging around in my plan chest produced not a card, but a seasonally relevant 2000 AD Chromalin proof from 1993. Artist, Colin MacNeil's fabulously festive painting of Tharg as the Spirit of Christmas Future, co-starring the Command Module Droids. Asleep on the floor is the Burt droid (Richard Burton). The one with the glasses is the Bish-Op droid (David Bishop). Then left to right Mac-2 (Alan McKenzie), with the 'Danger' sign is Automo-Tomlinson, (John Tomlinson), Mac-1 (Steve MacManus), Cyb-Aud (Audrey Wong) and peeking over the ledge at the top, that's me, Robo-Cook… Merry Christmas!!!