Giant issues are great, I read lots of stories, often featuring obscure characters and find some gems.
Giant issues are terrible, I read lots of stories, often featuring obscure characters, and find far too few gems.
But this issue features a real diamond, a tale so good it sparked the punning title for 2023’s festive anthology from DC, ‘Twas the ‘Mite Before Christmas. The Mite is, of course, Bat-Mite, the magical imp who bedevilled Batman and Robin in the Silver Age and whose appearances are now a rare treat.
If I tell you ‘Wonderful Toys‘ is written by Sholly Fisch, that may be all you need to know. Fisch writes my favourite DC stories, ones which usually featuring Scooby-Doo and Batman teaming up, though he did have short run of back-ups in New 52 Action Comics, handpicked by Grant Morrison to follow their lead Superman strips.
This time it’s Bat-Mite sharing a story with Damian Wayne in the Batcave while the rest of the Robins enjoy the Wayne Manor Christmas party. They’ve never met and Bat-Mite is surprised at Damian’s claim he’s the son of Batman.
And that’s all I’ll show you as Fisch has just ten pages to play with, but that’s all he needs to produce a hugely entertaining, funny, surprisingly touching tale. I think even young folk who won’t get the nods to old continuity will like this script, for which Fisch gives ‘a tip of the cowl to James Fry’.
Partnering Fisch is Juan Bobillo, whose art I’ve not seen since a long-ago She-Hulk series. Working in full colour, he does a sterling job, with a very cute Bat-Mite and typically spiky Damian competing in the swagger department. There’s a cheeky energy to the compositions that suits the story down to the ground, while Dave Sharpe provides the finishing touch with big friendly lettering.
Wonderful as ‘Wonderful Toys’ is, I wouldn’t say it’s worth the price of admission, as the 80pp giant retails at $9.99, but as DC were nice enough to put this on DC Infinite the day it came out, if you have a subscription you can read it right now. And if you don’t have the great-value sub, ask Santa for one next year.
As for the rest of the book, there’s a really rather good Booster Gold time twister from Jillian Grant and Rebekah Isaacs.
Also, a lovely Superman entry by Michael W Conrad and Gavin Guidry in which he tries to help a man not feeling the Christmas spirit.
The rest of the shorts you may enjoy if you’ve had enough eggnog. The worst is a Batwoman Chanukah story that reads like a maths textbook…
… while the nuttiest insists New 52-era Teen Titan Bunker is the heart of the DC Universe… I like his new look, though. Hilarious.
The cover by Ben Conrad is OK, but it could be a tad brighter for the season, and the shading on faces – especially Superman’s – is weird.
So there you have it, my New Year gift to you, a very late review of a festive comic. Oh well, it would make sense to Bat-Mite.
Too Dangerous For a Girl 2 
I hate to be a grouch (Grinch?) and sound like a grumpy old fan, but if DC wants me to spend money on something like this, give me more big name authors/artists. No offense to the talent assembled, but I have not heard of most of them, which is just a turn off. Maybe younger fans than me know who they are or this is kind of a try out. But there was a time when you could count on seeing Grant Morrison’s or Mark Waid’s or Walter Simonson’s or John Byrne’s names attached to these specials. DC couldn’t get Phillip Kennedy Johnson or Josh Williamson or Tom Taylor or Jason Aaron or some of its current top writers to pop out a holiday short? – Brian
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You’re not a grouch, you’re right. Young DC editors are very keen on bringing new voices into comics, but maybe they should aim for a 50/50 split. As well as the likes of PKJ, why not bring back the likes of Kupperberg, Bates and Conway? I doubt they need the work so could just have fun, and show everyone how it’s done.
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That Bat-Mite story is definitely a winner. Sholly Fisch rarely misses.
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I’m so pleased he’s back this week with another Scooby-Doo!-Batman Mysteries run!
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