Twelve Days of Comic Book Christmas: Day Four

Today's book is a bit more straightforward. While comic books, in themselves, might not exemplify holiday spirit and cheer, just simply based on the somewhat insane premise of super heroes and paranormal ongoings, this is about as close as you can get to an example of a "traditional" holiday story in comics.

I'll go ahead and apologize for my lack of brevity here.

Marvel Two-In-One #74

April 1981

"Christmas in Peril!"

Writer: Mark Gruenwald

Artist: Frank Springer

The 74th issue of Marvel Two-In-One opens with a familiar holiday scene, albeit somewhat different considering the fantastic nature of the people involved: Reed Richard, Benjamin J. Grim, Johnny Storm and Sue Storm, collectively known as The Fantastic Four are just returning from an evening of shopping. With them is Ben's girlfriend, Alicia Masters. 

The group is preparing for their annual Christmas party, but Ben's not exactly in the holiday mood. Alicia suggests he send out Christmas cards, but Ben rebuffs, explaining the only people he'd send cards to are the ones that'll be at the party already. Alicia explains he shouldn't send out cards to just people he's already friends with, but people he might want to have a better relationship with. For example: Alicia's father, Phillip Masters, the criminal "mastermind" known as the Puppet Master!

Ben scoffs, but relents because it's her dear old dad.

We fast forward from this scene and shift locations to Riker's Island where we find Phillip Masters is being released from prison for good behavior! How convenient! The prison guard gives him the greeting card upon release, but Pupper Master just tells him to put it with his things.

The guards drop Puppy off at the pier and he finds no one there waiting for him. He immediately decides he needs no one and can continue his career of crime! He returns to one of his hideouts, but finds that his radioactive clay, which he shapes as his victims in order to control them, has gone bad! The only place he can get more is in his homeland of Transia, but how can he get there!? He has an idea!

We shift scenes again to the Baxter Building, home of the Fantastic Four, on Christmas Eve and find the group hosting their party. I have to pause for a moment because of this:

It appears someone from Lynyrd Skynyrd has dropped by to enjoy the party.

Actually, that's just Wundarr the Aquarian sporting some sweet hair. He was created by Steve Gerber and Val Mayerik during their run on Adventure into Fear, featuring Man-Thing, which was tongue-in-cheek (and brilliant) to begin with. His place in the Marvel Universe is somewhat ridiculous (which is probably on purpose) and that costume... awesome.

So, anyway, The Puppet Master shows up uninvited, but in the spirit of the season and due to his being released early for good behavior, he is invited by Reed to take part in the evening's festivities.

BUT, when it comes time to exchange gifts there isn't one for him. The Puppet Master explains it's not a big deal, but says what he'd really like a trip to Transia. Reed agrees to the idea and Ben reluctantly pilots Pupper Master and Alicia to Transia.

While there, Puppy goes off on his own and locates some of the radioactive clay, but is captured by giant toy soldiers!

The next day both Ben and Alicia discover Phillip is missing and begin searching the town. After zero luck they are directed to a cottage occupied by an old woman that locals swear sees and knows everything.

It turns out to be Bova, a cow/human hybrid, engineered by the High Evolutionary to take care of his "New Men." She has taken into her charge the child-like former villain, and occasional hero, Modred. He is child-like because of a bunch of continuity I won't go into here because this thing is already way too long. Wikipedia is your friend.

It turns out that Modred, a former master of the mystic arts, has retained some of his ability. While he sleeps his toys come alive. Also, thinking both Ben and Pupper Master as bad guys, he has shrunken them to toy size!

 

After Ben and Puppy spending much of their time battling the toy soldiers, the heroes of this book turn out to be Alicia and Bova, who both convince Modred to return the guys to their regular size.

In a rare moment of kindness that's ultimately a result of seeing some of himself in Modred, the Puppet Master helps the former mystic use his power to turn his toys into friends, which is something he's woefully short on. It's a sweet moment that's just right for this holiday story and a proper way to end it. 

 See you back here tomorrow!