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Funny and full of heart, DC’s ‘Tis The Season To Be Freezin’ special is an entertaining retreat for diehard fans of superhero comics.
Not even DC superheroes and supervillains are immune from a little Christmas cheer in DC Comics’ annual Holiday Special, ‘Tis the Season To Be Freezin.’ An anthology of winter tales, this 80-page giant-sized issue contains stories from writers Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Tee Franklin, Amedeo Turturro, Jeff Trammell, Rich Bernatovech, Tara Roberts, Andrew Wheeler, and Saturday Night Live‘s Bobby Moynihan. Drawn by Jordan Gibson, Yancy Labat, Jason Howard, Justin Mason, Travis Mercer, Eric Battle, Pop Mhan, and Meghan Hetrick, this issue makes for an entertaining collection for long-time fans and new readers alike.
Spanning various corners of the DC Universe, the stories in ‘Tis the Season to Be Freezin’ range from lighthearted to heartfelt, spotlighting some of DC’s less famous heroes and villains. Fans of the DC Animated Universe and Batman the Adventure Continues will be thrilled to see a standout story featuring Robin and Mr. Freeze. Other stories follow Vixen and the Superpets, Firestorm and Killer Frost, Harley Quinn, Bizarro, Polar Boy, Flash, Captain Cold, and the new team Justice League Queer.
Often a collection of short stories like ‘Tis the Season to Be Freezin’ can be uneven, with as many hits as misses. Fortunately, this special’s commitment to sentimental fare creates a thoroughly readable issue. From the ridiculous adventure of Waddles the Penguin’s massive brain to the more reflective tone of the JLQ’s story of finding a home for the holidays, these short vignettes are focused on lifting readers’ spirits. They’re a welcome reprieve from the melodrama of most ongoing superhero stories in the DC Universe.
It is refreshing that the DC’s big-name heroes like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman are (mostly) absent from the stories, despite appearing prominently on the cover. Spotlighting lesser-known heroes and villains gives the creators a chance to develop these personalities further while having fun between big action scenes. As a tour of the DCU, this approach helps to expose readers to new concepts and illustrate the flexibility and potential of these various characters.
While there is plenty to enjoy throughout DC’s holiday-themed annual issue, artist Jordan Gibson and colorist Monica Kubina shine with their Robin/Mr. Freeze opening tale. Gibson’s evocative shadows and Kubina’s moody cool tones elevate Alan Burnett and Paul Dini’s Mr. Freeze story to another level. While they capture Bruce Timm’s design and style from the Batman: The Animated Series, they make it their own. Gibson and Kubina’s artwork is beautiful to behold and visually reflects the pathos of Freeze’s tragic character. Gibson’s energetic figures stretch and move across the page as if made for animation — though, at times, his characters can come across as static.
The rest of the issue’s artists do a fine job. The issue showcases a diversity of styles that helps each story stand apart. From Jason Howard’s rough angular cartooning that’s full of harsh lines and deformed characters to amplify the otherworldliness of Bizarro World to the more classic approach of Yancey Labat’s Superpets story, each team has its own visual identity.
Funny and full of heart, DC’s ‘Tis The Season To Be Freezin’ is an entertaining retreat for fans and would make a fine stocking stuffer this Christmas to introduce the DC characters to any young family members interested in superhero comics.
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