Is Christmas Really About Family or Is It About Comics?

Yes, that’s “Family Ties” above. Oxford dictionary describes family as “a group consisting of two parents and their children living together as a unit.” Of course, this isn’t the case in every situation. Some may find their families to be different from the typical family.

Aunts and Uncles

Grandparents

Foster parents

What you need to know is that no matter the definition of your family, understand that there is a form of love in it.

Comics have had numerous different types of families throughout its existence.

• Magneto and his children Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver.
• Mystique and her one child, Nightcrawler and adopted daughter, Rogue.
• The first family of comics, the Fantastic Four.
• The Guardians of the Galaxy and their version of a family

“Family is not an important thing, it’s everything.”

Michael J Fox.

The most wonderful time of year

Snow, Christmas Carols and the never-ending madness of the malls filled with parents looking to get that one last gift for little Tommy or Suzie can only signify one thing: December is her. December is the time where families gather together to share their love while eating an endless supply of food. Yep, ask anyone and they will tell you that it takes 24 hours to recover from all the festive eating.

The best things at Christmas time aren’t the gifts that you will receive or how much food you can consume. No, not by a long shot. The best gifts are when you reach out to those less fortunate. This doesn’t mean that you go out and buy them the latest PS4 game or anything like it. It means helping them in a way that they can be helped. Instead of walking by someone in need, or someone that is cold, stop to talk to them, or buy them a coffee. $2.00 may not mean that much to you, but for someone in their shoes, it could be the greatest gift they ever get.

The holidays are one of the most stressful times of the year. Whether you are trying to come up with that one special gift or finding time a place to donate your money or items (gloves, hats, and jackets), there is no denying the stress of December.

Morlocks

I recently watched an episode of X-Men: The Animated Series. You may actually remember it. It was the one called, “Have Yourself a Morlock Little Christmas”.

This episode brought the usual action-packed goodness of X-Men but with a little Christmas lesson thrown in. If you remember, Jubilee, Storm and the Grinch himself, Wolverine, were out shopping when, in a blink or you will miss it moment, an ambulance comes to a crashing stop. The three X-Men would learn that the Morlocks were in need of medical supplies and were taking them to save their friend Leech. As the X-Men followed the Morlocks to the tunnels, they would learn that Leech was sick and the only way to keep him alive was to give him a blood transfusion from Wolverine until more help could arrive.

And that’s not the only thing the X-Men taught us about Christmas.

143

In Uncanny X-Men 143, the cover itself screams the holiday season with its catchphrase, “Merry Christmas X-Men…Guess what just came down the chimney?”

YIKES!

Over the holidays, Kitty Pryde finds herself left alone. Yes, even my favorite X-Man, Cyclops wasn’t there. While in the Danger Room working out, she heard the alarms go off. Deciding that she would investigate what was going on, she found herself face-to-face with the N’Garai Demon. Coincidentally, this was the first encounter with these creatures for the X-Men.

Realizing that she was in over her head, she led the Demon on a chase through the mansion, even attempting to make an unsuccessful phone call to the X-Men. Eventually, the chase would lead to the hanger area where she attempted to fly the Blackbird (the X-Men jet) to safety. While attempting to start it, she inadvertently flambés the Demon with the jets.

Soon after, the X-Men returned, only to find Kitty on the couch with her parents watching television.

Family

Can I leave you with one final story?

A few years ago I was out braving the malls doing my Christmas shopping. I had just finished up and made my way to the bus stop. As I approached the stop, I noticed that there were a mother and her young daughter also waiting for the bus. I didn’t pass judgment, but I couldn’t help but notice that the two were freezing.

In my hands were gift bags full of, well, gifts and food. One of the gifts was two sets of hats and mittens. I quickly offered them to take the hats and mittens and then gave them some food. It was at that moment that a little Christmas magic happened. The mom broke down and started to cry while the little girl stood in disbelief and shock. As they gathered themselves, they told me “Thank you”.

On that day, like the Grinch Who Stole Christmas, my heart grew two sizes and I had a new appreciation for the things that I have in life. This exchange proved to be their Christmas miracle and that dreams do come true.

“The best gifts in life will never be found under a Christmas tree, those gifts are family, friends, kids and the one you love”. – Anonymous

                                                          From my family and friends to yours,

Happy Holidays,

Jeff