Five Comics That Subvert Christmas Clichés
Artribune presents five comics that offer cynical, ironic, or terrifying takes on Christmas, countering saccharine holiday narratives. The list includes: 'A Babbo Morto' by Zerocalcare (BAO Publishing, 2020), a cynical fable about exploited elves and striking Befana riders; 'Chi ha ucciso Babbo Natale?' by Pasquale Ruju and Giampiero Casertano (Sergio Bonelli Editore, 2002), a Dylan Dog story featuring a Scandinavian warrior disguised as Santa; 'Superman's Christmas Adventure' by Jerry Siegel and Jack Burnley (DC Comics, 1940), where Superman prioritizes poor children for gift delivery; 'Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special' by Keith Giffen, Alan Grant, and Simon Bisley (DC Comics, 1991), in which the Easter Bunny hires Lobo to kill Santa; and 'A Christmas Underground' by Mike Mignola (Dark Horse, 2011), a Hellboy tale about a mother's gift to her daughter in Hell. Zerocalcare recently drew controversy for his stance against the Israeli Embassy at Lucca Comics 2023.
Key facts
- Zerocalcare's 'A Babbo Morto' was published in 2020 by BAO Publishing.
- Zerocalcare opposed the Israeli Embassy at Lucca Comics 2023.
- 'Chi ha ucciso Babbo Natale?' is a Dylan Dog comic from 2002.
- Pasquale Ruju wrote and Giampiero Casertano illustrated 'Chi ha ucciso Babbo Natale?'.
- Superman's Christmas Adventure was published in 1940 by DC Comics.
- Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special was released in 1991 by DC Comics.
- Hellboy: A Christmas Underground was published by Dark Horse in 2011.
- The article was published on Artribune in December 2023.
Entities
Artists
- Zerocalcare
- Pasquale Ruju
- Giampiero Casertano
- Jerry Siegel
- Jack Burnley
- Keith Giffen
- Alan Grant
- Simon Bisley
- Mike Mignola
- Alberto Madrigal
- Angelo Stano
Institutions
- Artribune
- BAO Publishing
- Sergio Bonelli Editore
- DC Comics
- Play Press Publishing
- Dark Horse
- MagicPress
- Lucca Comics
Locations
- Italy
- Rome
- Lapponia
- Snowmouth
- Polo Nord