Limited Collectors Edition C-43 Cover by Swan & Oksner

January 31, 2022|In Comics, DC

DC’s 1970s tabloids were great treasures of reprinted material and this – the second “Christmas with the Super-Heroes” collection – was no exception. There was nothing like seeing favourite stories at a larger size.

For me, the standout tale is “The Silent Night of the Batman,” written by Mike Friedrich, illustrated by Neal Adams & Dick Giordano, lettered by Gaspar Saladino, and coloured by Jerry Serpe. All under the editorial oversight of Julius Schwartz. Reprinted from Batman No. 219, it remains my favourite DC Comics Christmas story.

The cover by Curt Swan and Bob Oksner conveys a whimsy that is long-gone from comic book covers. It would be welcome to see its optimism and fun reflected on some of today’s books.

New colour by myself.

Limited Collectors' Edition C-43 Christmas with The Super-Heroes

As published.

Lineart by Curt Swan and Bob Oksner

Lineart extracted from printed cover.

Comic book colouring by Scott Dutton

New colour.

Comic book packaging by Scott Dutton

Re-created trade dress added.