We here at Multiversity get pretty excited about the holidays, and this year we’re sharing that excitement with the rest of you as we celebrate that wonder of wonders: THE HOLIDAY COMIC!
Each day for the next twenty-five days, and in no particular order, we’ll be featuring one yuletide yarn set to the tune of tidings of comfort and joy, and today’s entry is a Christmas special that stars a thirteen-year-old Jew.
Hit the jump and decide for yourself if demons are anti-semitic.
Day #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #2, #21, #22
Who Did It?: This would indeed be one of those famous Chris Claremont/John Byrne collaborations you’re always hearing about.
What Is It About?: Many moons ago, the X-Men had a recurring foe in the form a race of demons created by Chthon, called the N’Garai. The N’Garai themselves seem, if anything, like a more functional version of the Brood, except they aren’t space insects and they don’t use our bodies to breed. Instead, they swarm, they attack, and they murder mercilessly. They were, essentially, a “go-to” villain when something somewhat undefeatable was needed. They first appeared in X-Men #96, in which Storm fought and defeated the beasts … or so she thought!
So Christmas rolls around, and everyone is off to do their favorite Christmas things. That is, except for Kitty. Why? Because Kitty is Jewish, and she celebrates Hannukah. There is no time to celebrate Christmas when you are celebrating Hannukah. And unfortunately for her, she is the lone Jew of the X-Men, and so she spends her holiday alone. Plus, she still has to study how to use the Blackbird and train for a bit, in conjunction with the X-Men’s steady exercise regiment.
Or rather, she would’ve spent her holiday alone if not for that one stray N’Garai that wasn’t killed years ago coming to the mansion and trying to murder her whilst the beast looks for Storm to murder Storm, assumedly as some sort of weird revenge (the N’Garai never really seem to show emotion or anything like that, so revenge seems somewhat unlikely).
The beast chases an untrained Kitty Pryde all throughout the X-Mansion, tearing up walls and stairs as it tries to destroy her very being.
Kitty, however, being a trained X-Men and being rather clever, manages to remembers the #1 rule of how to deal with problems: KILL IT WITH FIRE! So she runs to the Blackbird uses the skills she learned earlier in the issue tricks the demon to come up behind the Blackbird, and she kills it with fire.
And then Professor Xavier shows up with Kitty’s parents, who he has brought to the mansion for Hannukah on Christmas. Hooray!
Is It Holiday Friendly?: It certainly is holiday friendly, although it does seem confused as to which holiday it is actually celebrating. The book takes place during Hannukah, but the cover references Christmas (as well as other aspects).
I guess, in a way, that makes this the most holiday friendly. Other books we’ve talked about for the advent calendar have been rather singular in its celebration, but this clearly opens up to both. Plus, it reminds everyone of an incredibly valuable lesson (KILL IT WITH FIRE!), and isn’t that what Christmas is all about?
Plus, it features this absolutely appropriate scene for a thirteen-year-old girl:
So Happy Hannukah and Merry Christmas to all!
