Have Yourself A Merry DC Christmas

There is nothing more enjoyable than when one of your favorite television shows has a holiday or Christmas special. Adding to this is when these shows contain your favorite superheroes. Are you tired of the usual Christmas films and the Hallmark Channel? Here is a comprehensive list of all DC Comic related Christmas media you can watch!

The Arrowverse

The CW or Arroweverse has a large plethora of shows, as long as with a loyal fanbase. Unfortunately, not every series has a Christmas special. Plus, not every season delivers us a holiday episode, unlike some sitcoms that do this every year. Nonetheless, one can get a few hours of holiday cheer from the Arrowverse. You can begin here with a decent slew of Christmas episodes. We start with the father of this universe - Arrow!

Arrow

In Season 1, Episode 9 is 'Year's End.' This episode is the first season's send-off for 2012 until it picked up again in January 2013. 'Year's End' is a heart-warming Christmas special. Oliver finds out his family has not celebrated Christmas ever since he and his father disappeared. Four years go by in the Queen family, with no Christmas becoming the new norm. Oliver is steadfast against and plans to bring back the annual Christmas party. Meanwhile, Tommy Merlyn asks Laurel Lance to spend the holidays with him. But she points out Christmas is also her late sister's birthday, and she should spend it with her father instead. We need to keep in mind the holidays can be like this at the time for people. People are missing family or just not feeling the holiday spirit.

Season 4, Episode 9 gives us 'Dark Waters,' which hardly sounds inviting. This episode may not be as Christmasy but still has some earmarks. Mayoral candidate Oliver Queen throws a holiday party for Star City after an attack from Damien Darhk attacks the city. They carry the party almost reluctantly to show Darhk the city is not afraid. Plus, who can forget Oliver's love for the holiday. I dare compare it to the ending of the Grinch, where you cannot take away some people's spirit. You have a tree lighting ceremony, Oliver proposes to his girlfriend, hello Hallmark Christmas movie, and we find even the villain likes to decorate his Christmas tree with his family in the end. Remember, this series is full of drama, violence, and especially loss. Hence, both holiday episodes are not without some of these details. Do not worry, for this is not Bad Santa territory but do not expect Miracle On 34th Street either.

The Flash

Season 2, Episode 9 of The Flash gives us 'Running to Stand Still,' where The Trickster is on the loose during the holidays. We see him dressed up as Santa, and he's hiding bombs in children's gifts under their Christmas trees. Barry is not fast enough to track down all of these bombs, or so that's the thinking behind this heinous scheme. Trickster also has a televised message to The Flash, giving his take on Rudolph, "Flash-y the red-nosed speedster. Had a very shiny suit. And if you ever saw him, you might even want to puke." He even offers a morbid twist on 'Deck The Halls.' All in all, watch this mainly for Mark Hamill's Trickster! Who does not want to see him ham it up while dressed up as Santa?

Skip forward to Season 4, Episode 9, just like Arrow. What a coincidence! The episode 'Don't Run' takes place during the holidays as they wrap presents and decorate S.T.A.R. Labs. Again like Arrow, this one is perhaps not as Christmasy. Iris has to choose between saving Barry or Caitlin due to the schemes of The Thinker and Amunet, respectively. By the end, Joe prefers he be the host of Christmas parties. Cisco is prone to also make all kinds of Christmas references and jokes.

DC's Legends of Tomorrow

Moving on is DC's Legends of Tomorrow, with Season 2, Episode 11. Now, 'Turncoat' may not be a Christmas episode to some, given it premiered in early February. With that said, maybe CW was not planning on this being a holiday special, or they did not schedule accordingly. Regardless, that is no reason you cannot enjoy it during December as a holiday episode. Hell, some of the Halloween films came out in the summer and not October! Did that stop their loyal fan-base during their month?

'Turncoat' starts on Christmas Day in 1776, after the death of General George Washington. Right away, you can see the teams' dilemma. No doubt, the snowy backdrop helps establish some Christmas spirit. Recall those old American Revolutionary War paintings? Expect to find that here with that harsh winter of 1776. Like any other show, you have the celebratory Christmas gathering, with an exchange of gifts and playing with Christmas crackers. Keep in mind the show is filmed in Canada, an old Commonwealth where this tradition dates back. Hence, Americans do not practice and or know nothing of it. They are holiday wrapped crackers that open with a pop, that come with a joke. Think of it as crackers meet champagne popping and fortune cookies if you will. Season 3, Episode 9 did premiere in early December. You may know it better as 'Beebo the God of War.' However, there is little to no festivity until the very end with a Christmas party.

Supergirl

Season 3 and sticking to CW fashion, Episode 9 of Supergirl offers some seasons' tidings. In 'Reign,' Supergirl is investigating random symbols dating back to the Worldkiller, Reign. Meanwhile, drama ensues between Lena Luthor and Morgan Edge. Right from the get-go, this may not sound like a holiday special. Yet, they did premier it in early December!

Kara hosts a Christmas party, which Reign happens to crash. Mon-El and Irma enjoy a Christmas Eve supper together. You have some holiday-themed remarks as always peppered throughout the episode. Here, Christmas feels a bit of an afterthought for this episode, similar to the Beebo episode from Legends of Tomorrow. There is no reason you still cannot enjoy it with some hot cocoa and next to your tree.

Batman

Batman: The Animated Series

DC Comics begins Christmas specials with none other than the Dark Knight himself! Batman: The Animated Series, the second-ever episode is Christmas With The Joker. The Joker escapes from Arkham Asylum on Christmas Eve and is planning trouble immediately. Batman is prone to believe the Joker is up to something, and he must go on patrol on Christmas Eve, regardless. Whereas Robin feels it is Christmas Eve, who commits crimes on Christmas Eve? You get plenty of action, holiday cheer, and even the great Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!

The New Adventures of Batman

The first episode of The New Adventures of Batman is a Christmas episode. Interesting how they like to pack these Christmas specials in early to Batman. Here we have Batgirl join us, and Robin (Tim Drake), sorry no Nightwing. A fun fact, this episode is actually an adaption of The Batman Adventures Holiday Special. Not only that, but the episode premiered in September. Odd, given this episode, makes no bones of being holiday-centric. What is fun is how the episode splits into three separate parts.

The first follows Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy; as they go on a shopping spree with Bruce Wayne's credit cards. The second has Batgirl taking on Clayface while Christmas shopping. Harvey Bullock and Renee Montoya are on a stake-out disguised as Santa and his elf. The final one includes Joker with an attack planned on New Year's Eve, only to face Batman and Robin.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold

Batman: The Brave and the Bold offers in its first season with Episode 5 something for the season. We see Batman and Red Tornado team-up to take on Fun Haus in 'Invasion of The Secret Santas!' Hmm, sounds like an old B-movie of some type. Fun Haus is a strange character, a twist on ToyMan almost. He plans to disrupt Christmas with his army of toys. Red Tornado, an android, is trying to understand the feeling and meaning behind Christmas. Batman, on the other hand, is simply not having it. He feels Red Tornado is missing out on nothing, and being an android, could never truly apprehend it. However, we learn why Christmas has such stigma for Batman, dating back to his origin. With this one detail, this Batman Christmas special may be somewhat darker than the others.

Justice League

Justice League

Go check out Season 2, Episode 23 of Justice League, with the episode 'Comfort and Joy.' You have no Wonder Woman or Batman in this holiday episode but do not let that detract you at all. Superman goes home for the holidays, with Martian Manhunter in tow. The Flash is busy looking for the season's most popular toy for an orphanage of kids. Green Lantern is having a blast in a winter wonderland with Hawkgirl. Both Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl do not get nor understand the holidays. The Flash meanwhile crosses the Ultra Humanite, putting a roadblock in his mission. 'Comfort and Joy' is the only Justice League stand-alone episode. You do not need to watch anything else in the show before for any deep context or background. Hence, put it on with family members, they are bound to love it, especially the lovely, warm, and inviting ending.

Justice League Action

The 46th episode, 'Party Animal' of Justice League Action, offers a fun, even hilarious Christmas special. Green Arrow has the determination to host a successful Christmas party. Unfortunately, problems keep arising. Batman does not show up - no surprise. Green Arrow is having trouble with the food, and most of all, Plastic Man brings Solomon Grundy to the party. If anything, Plastic Man knows how to celebrate Christmas - by spreading cheer and joy to those who most likely never encounter it or receive it. Many others show up - Zatanna, Wonder Woman, Superman, and more. You see other Christmas traditions, a very Christmasy episode!

Superman

Smallville

If a big Superman fan, then there's plenty of holiday cheer to go around. Check out Smallville, Season 5, Episode 9, with the oddly named 'Lexmas.' With a name like that, many may fear he is going to War on Christmas or maybe consumerize it even more! No worries, this episode is a keeper and a must-watch! This episode is A Christmas Carol applied to Smallville, where Lex is the stand-in for Scrooge. Lex is shot, goes into a coma, and receives a visit from the ghost of his mother. She warns him what the future of his life will be if he does not stop being like his father.

Clark intends to spend Christmas with Lana. However, Chloe persuades him to dress up as Santa and deliver gifts to needy children. One great scene includes Clark helping a man dressed as Santa Claus. The man in loss of faith in Christmas plans to kill himself yet is surprised when Clark opens up to him and learns Clark prefers to give gifts to children rather than spend the holiday with Lana. A great episode, a good show, a shame it was their only Christmas special.

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

Remember the series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman? They offer up several Christmas specials, save for in Season 1, strangely enough. Begin in Season 2 with 'Season's Greedings.' Here, the Toyman and his secretary are out of work and during the holidays no less. Hence, he takes revenge by designing a new toy that makes adults act like children and makes children greedy. You see people at The Daily Planet fighting over gifts; it is quite comical. The best part is that The Jeffersons play Toyman and his secretary, Margaret Duffy.

In Season 3, Episode 11, Intergang gives Superman a gift - a deadly virus. 'Home is Where The Hurt Is' follows Lois as she prefers to spend the holidays alone. Her parents always fight, and who wants that on Christmas Day? Many people know of this feeling, or maybe that drunk uncle they hope is not coming over for the holidays. Unfortunately for her, they do show up at her apartment unannounced. Making things worse, her father brings home his new fiancee'. The Lanes are in danger, Superman too, and Christmas is a holiday for the family.

Season 4, Episode 11 wraps up the Superman Christmas specials with 'Twas the Night Before Mxymas.' That is right, a Christmas Eve with Mister Mxyzpltk! Who on Earth wants that? Lois and Clark celebrate their first Christmas dinner with family when that annoying imp shows up. Mxyzpltk puts people into a loop ala Groundhog Day where only Clark notices it. Mxyzplty's goal is to destroy hope by sticking people in a daily routine, hence, destroying Superman. A Christmas where hope dies? Dastardly! Meanwhile, Lois sees Christmas as something of a chore. Sadly, this perspective exists among busy people during the season. Instead of joy, the holidays bring stress! However, Superman is here to save the day on that front!

Teen Titans GO!

Teen Titans GO! packs a plethora of holiday episodes, beginning in Season 1 with Episode 35, 'Second Christmas.' Here, some of the Titans take advantage of Starfire's naivete and convince her to hold a Second Christmas! She falls for it, not listening to Robin or the Grouch as she puts it. A great episode, showing that the holidays can make some greedy when that is not what this celebration is about! No doubt, we all as children thought the idea of a Second Christmas sounds exciting. Yet, then you grow up!

The Teen Titans skip to Season 3 for another Christmas special with Episode 19, 'The True Meaning of Christmas.' After several years the Teen Titans are tired of never getting presents from Santa Claus. He even tells them why, as he gives them coal. One may argue that the Titans did not learn their lesson from Season 1. Starfire even tells Santa he's the one who is really crazy when he tries to explain that Christmas is not about getting presents. Therefore, they go to the North Pole to challenge Saint Nick and obtain their gifts. Nothing funnier than seeing Santa lounging on the couch, drinking from a jug of milk as if it was alcohol.

In Season 4, one may argue there are two holiday specials. Episode 2 is 'Halloween v Christmas,' an episode many Halloween celebrators may enjoy and take to heart. Santa Claus decides to take over Christmas, but the Teen Titans decide to uphold and defend Halloween. No doubt, one can say this is a real issue. Stores will already start putting out Christmas merchandise in October and even play Christmas music. The singular Christmas special of Season 4 is Episode 6, 'Teen Titans Save Christmas.' Here, Santa Claus demands all other holidays, or else, he quits Christmas. Of course, no one meets these ridiculous demands, and he gives up Christmas, claiming it is over. Enter the Teen Titans, with Robin dressed as Santa, Beast Boy changing into the reindeer for their sled, and they intend to deliver all the gifts.

Teen Titans GO! takes another break, waiting until Season 6, Episode 9 with 'Christmas Crusaders.' The Coal Miner, voiced by Gilbert Gottfried, kidnaps the Titans. It is now up to Santa Claus and Robin to save the day! A hilarious episode, as it harkens back to the old Adam West Batman television series. Coal Miner even throws out the notion of 'clean coal,' which Santa takes great offense to. All in all, this series offers some great Christmas episodes and lessons for the younger ones in the family.

And this is most of the DC Christmas specials. Unless, maybe you want to inclue Batman Returns and Shazam! I have my own reasons why Batman Returns does not count here. This list is bound to keep you busy, help deliver some Christmas joy if needed, and maybe even help you create some new holiday watching traditions.

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