Marvel comic characters in festive attire is what everyone looks forward to each holiday season. Interestingly, it’s only in more recent times that we see our beloved characters in Christmas-specific attire. Prior to this, storylines stretching as far back to the 1940s — for instance, where Captain America, Bucky Barnes, and Nick Fury are seen rescuing Santa from the Nazis — our heroes are not necessarily donning holiday outfits.
In the 1990s, we began seeing more decided holiday issues — I’m thinking of the 1991 Marvel Holiday specialthat included the X-Men, Spider-Man, and The Punisher —which opened the floodgates to more merry-magical outfits and respective variant covers to celebrate this cherished winter holiday.
5
The Ultimate Spider-Man #12
Spidey’s suit gets a splash of evergreen
Sometimes, the smallest tweaks can have the most significant impact. As is the case with Spider-Man‘s iconic suit, here the sleeves and leggings of his bodysuit have been swapped out for a jolly-holly verdant shade. To finish the look, this ‘Winter Holiday Variant’ cover sees Spidey perched atop a Christmas tree ornament and ready to leap into action to fight his foes (all of whom are brilliantly ‘trapped’ within these seasonal spheres). The wonders of this cover balance the magic of the holidays while honoring the ethos of Spider-Man.
4
The Incredible Hulk #20
Smashing out the competition with this holiday look
This was a part of Marvel’s 2024 “Winter Holiday” initiative, and while it’s an ensemble art piece, the framing by artist Greg Land is strategically done. This joyful scene shows our hero looking mighty dapper in a full Santa suit that looks cozy and colorful. He wears a red Santa jacket and pants with fluffy white trim, complete with a faux beard. Additionally, St. Hulk’s sack is filled with Avengers’ ‘gifts’, such as Iron Man’s helmet, Captain America‘s shield, and Thor’s hammer — all set against a festive backdrop is what makes this scene glimmer with spirited magic.
3
Spider-Man/Deadpool: Ho-ho-holiday special
Deadpool slays with this seasonal ‘fit’
This aptly entitled ‘Ho-ho-holiday’ special from 2016 is sarcastic, immature, chaotic — but most importantly, our wish-list come true (thanks, Santa). In addition to his crude humor, frequent fourth-wall breaks, and endless pop culture references — the penultimate expression of this is Deadpool (alter ego Wade Wilson) wearing a hideously stand-out Xmas sweater. Bonus points: there’s ample Mistletoe kisses of approval from doting fans since both he and Spider-Man are wearing said (almost identical) green sweaters in another scene with kitschy patterning and characters of themselves emblazoned on them (each one being each other’s respective hype man).
2
Scarlet Witch #7
Minimalism meets mystical
This winter holiday variant cover by Audrey Mok debuted in December 2024 and its sublime sorcery still holds power over us to this day. Sometimes we don’t need a cover to scream ‘it’s the holidays(!)’—less is more — and here, it’s far more effective at conveying the beauty of this time of year. The art celebrates our all-powerful Wanda Maximoff; it’s like she is gently floating atop a snowy couture runway with the wisps from her classic crimson-colored garb (akin to a modified Chinese QiPao) flowing in the air. It’s paired with thigh-high boots, M-shaped headpiece crowning her hair, and a cape draped around her at dusk while snowflakes cascade down around her. The whole look just renders me into a speechless state of euphoria.
1
The Punisher: Silent Night (2005) #1
Macabre, morbid, yet (somehow) magical
This holiday one-shot is all things gritty, grim, and great. Created by Mike Deodato Jr, this cover oozes anti-hero sentiments wrapped around a tent-pole of dark comedy so effortlessly. We see Frank Castle (AKA Punisher) in a disheveled Santa Claus suit and hallmark costume peeking through. His faux beard is askew due to the tugging from a precocious yet hopeful kid on his lap awaiting his chance to tell him what he wants for Christmas. Meanwhile, a dead body is stuffed in a Santa sack and lies right beside the duo. It’s an all-at-once wild and wonderful juxtaposition — appealing to sick, twisted dark-hearts like mine.
