DAN DIDIO ON DC INFINITE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

[MattBrady]

For some fans, special, holiday-themed comics are what make the season. This year, DC returns to the tradition with DC: Infinite Christmas Special, an 80 page one shot featuring stories tied to the season.

We caught up with the planner behind the special, one Dan Didio, Executive Editor of the DCU.

Astute readers will note the page count – 80 pages. Just like Countdown to Infinite Crisis and Brave New World, Infinite Christmas certainly fits his M.O. “I’ve bought all these bizarre books over the years, and many of them are these thick comics with a lot of heroes in them. There’s something about that approach that has always floated my boat – especially when it’s all new material.”

Mix Didio’s approach of liking (not to mention producing) thick books with a lot of heroes and stories in them with the holidays, and…well…you already clicked here, so you know what this story is about: DC Infinite Christmas Special.

“I was always a fan of the holiday specials, and I always like to do something to commemorate the season, so I spoke to all the editors, and they were in as well,” Didio said. “The good part about it was that it wasn’t a book that fell on one person’s shoulders – each of the creative teams worked with the people that they’re working with on individual series. It was a really a group effort – the entire editorial department pitched in and pulled this book together.”

The special is made up of seven ten-page stories, allowing the teams to flex muscles that can go unused in monthly comics.

“I’m a big fan of short stories, and this is one of the few opportunities that we get to tell short stories with our characters – stories that have a beginning, middle and end, all in ten pages,” Didio said. “As for who ended up with stories, we wanted to identify some of the characters who are important this year, right now, and give them a chance to get some spotlight time, and tie it into the holiday season as well.”

As for the specific creators, Didio said that he put the question to the editors of who they’d like to work with on the stories, and let it roll from there. As a result, the lineup looks like this:

Batwoman by Greg Rucka and Christain Almay
Green Lantern, by Keith Champagne and John Byrne
Shadowpact by Bill Willingham and Cory Walker
Shazam by Tony BEdard and Marcos Martin
Supergirl by Joe Kelly and Alé Garza
Flash by Ian Boothby and Giuseppe Camuncoli
Superman (guest-starring Batman) by Kelly Puckett and Pete Woods

All under a Howard Porter cover.

“We’ve got a nice, eclectic mix of stories,” Didio said. “We’ve got some things that are extremely goofy and fun - like with what Kelly Puckett did with Superman and Batman; we have the first solo appearance of Batwoman in a Hanukah story as well, and we have Bill having fun in his own special way with the Shadowpact and Detective Chimp – after all, nothing says Christmas like Detective Chimp.”

As to that special fun with Detective Chimp? Just figure that Willingham is taking a completely new angle on destroying beloved childhood memories. “Nah - it’s fun to see Detective Chimp’s relationship with Santa,” Didio countered. “Just never leave Detective Chimp alone with the reindeer – that’s all I have to say.

“Oh – and I probably should say that the Kelly Puckett story caused me to pause…it’s done in a particular tone so that you have to put your tongue firmly in your cheek when you’re reading it.”

And while in some quarters’ Didio is seen as having spent the better part of 2006 angling for nothing but a lump of coal for Christmas, the holiday special allows his heart to grow three sizes, he said...well, implied.

“The fun part about something like this is that, given the themes that come up at holiday time, it’s a perfect backdrop to do these quieter stories that have room for closer examination of who these characters are,” Didio said. “The Batwoman and Green Lantern stories both give some personal insight to the characters and their relationships with their own families, which is important – it gives you more of an understanding of who they are, and the Supergirl story allows us to take an outsiders point of view on the holidays. I think those are the themes that we can revisit again and again, and they never get old.”

DC Infinite Christmas Special is due in stores on December 13th.

[Mike Cruz]

This looks good, but I would love it if DC brought back its digests--they were so great!

[Rawkingbird]

Prediction:

Santa shoots Detective Chimp in the head.

[Brenticles]

This sounded like fun the first time I heard about it. I've already pre-ordered it.

[Ye Olde Iowa]

I used to love the holiday specials DC and Marvel did when I was younger, so this is a pretty cool throwback for me. I like the idea of doing 7 seperate stories too, though I wish we would have seen a few more obscure characters. DC has been really great this year about pulling characters out of the woodwork, so it would've been a nice idea. Also, since its a one-shot special, it would've been neat to see some non-currently-in-continuity characters in the mix. I mean, who wouldn't want to see something like a Booster Gold-Blue Beetle Christmas story or something like that?

[Charlie Hustle]

nice art, might have to check this out.

[rwe1138]

Originally Posted by Rawkingbird

Prediction:

Santa shoots Detective Chimp in the head.

Nah, Chimp wasn't in the Giffen/DeMattis League. Zing!

[Cyphon]

I guess this one ain't a buck though.

Still, I'm in. I'm a sucker for Christmas stories as well. And there's a few to choose from this year. Except instead of choose, I'll just get them all!

[Kid Xanadu]

Okay, Ale Garza? TOTALLY needs to be the regular artist on Supergirl.

And whoo-hoo for a Batwoman tale!

[skeletorjr]

The dialogue in these samples seems kind of atrocious.

[Ace]

Yes, yes.

Tony Bedard IS on the long list of people I'd rather have writing Captain Marvel than Judd.

[connorfan]

I think I'll get this but i kinda wish it was more of the dcu no Green Arrow Family? how about blue beetle? Manhunter? JSA? Teen Titans?

I know the book would be huge if they devoted 10 page to each but I'd like to see a nod to those characters at least.

[OM]

...Yeah, but as with his destruction of JLBwahahahah, Didio once again misses the point. We don't have the Chrisnukkah story we all want to see, where Santa visits Superboy-Prime in his cube with the Three Ghosts of Scrooge's Xmas in tow. S-P is given a look at how his life is a complete and total clusterfrack, leading him to another complete and total mental collapse. However, Santa decides to show a little mercy and leaves S-P a stocking stuffed full, telling him he can open it when he decides he wants to behave himself. The story ends with S-P looking at the stocking, lost in thought, and totally oblivious to the fact that it's stuffed full of what appears to be coal.

Except that coal doesn't normally glow gold...

[smitch]

I don't know why this is just now occuring to me, but The Oblivion looks like a dive. I'd think an extra dimensional bar would be a joint with a bit more class. Is that wood paneling?

[durkadurka]

Originally Posted by OM

...Yeah, but as with his destruction of JLBwahahahah, Didio once again misses the point. We don't have the Chrisnukkah story we all want to see, where Santa visits Superboy-Prime in his cube with the Three Ghosts of Scrooge's Xmas in tow.

Ok, so you think Santa and three ghosts could just waltz right into a red sun and visit the crybaby so he sees the error of his ways? As much as i enjoy making fun of the Green Lantern Corp, I don't believe santa could get past them, even if controlled by Parallax.

On a related note, the Guardians remind me of elves.

[Zugernaut]

Man, oh man, does that Shazam/Captain Marvel on the cover look lame.

What a travesty.

At least it won't last. It's just too dumb to last.

[EmeraldGuy32]

How much is it? If it's another $1 spectacular, then I'll buy it. If it's not then I doubt I will.

[Drink]

Good thing this holiday only comes once a year.

Friggin' modern Christmas, I swear, it would make Jesus spin in his grave if he didn't....you know.

*EDIT* And is Batwoman Jewish now? My, aren't they just piling the minoritizations onto her.

[EvilErnie13]

It a Christmas special so I have to ask, will Lobo be there?

[DeTroyes]

I've actually been looking forward to this one since it first showed up in the solicits months ago. Here's hoping it becomes a yearly occurrance.

In fact, I'd love it if DC did more of these holiday-themed specials. A Halloween one would work very well. So would probably a Valentine's Day one.

[Munch]

Originally Posted by Ace

Yes, yes.

Tony Bedard IS on the long list of people I'd rather have writing Captain Marvel than Judd.

To be fair, that list is roughly six billion names long, so Bedard would HAVE to be on it, along with every single other person in the world who is not Judd Winick.

[NielsVanEekelen]

Originally Posted by Rawkingbird

Prediction:

Santa shoots Detective Chimp in the head.

You're kidding, right?

Nobody gets the better of the Chimp.

He might shoot Santa, though. You never know.

[Kidgalatea]

The appearance of Phantom Stranger in a Santa hat makes this a must-buy.

[EvilErnie13]

Batwoman not being mentioned in the OYL stories makes me think she doesn't make it out alive, but then NO ONE from 52 is mentioned in the OYL stories. But then again she is in this Holiday special which makes me think they will try and keep her after 52 ends. What does all this mean for the Batwoman? Who really cares...

[wishlish]

Given DC's recent history, I'm surprised no one thought of Dr. Light raping Mrs. Claus or the Atom's ex-wife walking on Rudolph's brain...