With Christmas upon us, now is the time to catch up on your favorite episodes and special. From Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, everyone has their own “must watch” holiday treat. However, there's one unconventional pick that should be on the list of every comic book fan: the 2003 Justice League episode, “Comfort and Joy.”
Written by fan favorite Paul Dini, the episode has everything fans could possibly want out of a superhero Christmas episode: big fights, snow, candy canes... and, most importantly, heart.
“Comfort and Joy” broke the mold for the second season of Justice League. In a season comprised entirely of two- and three-part stories, the Christmas special functioned as a standalone. After saving an alien race from destruction, the world’s greatest heroes go home for the holidays — well, except for Batman, who characteristically opts to remain on monitor duty at the team’s satellite headquarters. And we get to see how each of the heroes relaxes during the holidays.
Green Lantern and Hawkgirl start by making snow angels and having a snowball fight, but it isn’t long until they find themselves in a bar on an alien planet, taking part in a brutal (but somehow friendly) fistfight. The Flash runs around the globe to find DJ Rubber Ducky, a toy he promised a group of children. Unfortunately, however, The Flash’s quest turns into a Jingle All the Way situation, and it eventually leads him into a confrontation with Ultra Humanite. But even the supervillain shows his softer side when he helps the Scarlet Speedster to repair (and slightly improve) the children’s toy.
Finally, Superman takes Martian Manhunter home to Smallville. There, J’onn learns all about gift exchanges, Santa Claus, cookies and the heartwarming power of Christmas. What’s more, this story also gives us classic gems about Clark and his love of everything Christmas. Not only does he genuinely believe in Santa, but we also learn the Kents used to wrap his presents in lead paper so he wouldn’t be able to peek using his X-ray vision. And, as a matter of fact, they still do!
”Comfort and Joy” delivers exactly on the promise of its title: It shows how the most powerful characters in the DC Universe take a break and relax at Christmastime. Whether it’s by cutting loose, bringing joy to others or being warm and cozy, even the Justice League (and some villains) can enjoy the holidays.
But what makes this Christmas episode truly special is that, like any good Yuletide classic, it tugs at the heartstrings. All three stories in “Comfort and Joy,” while fun, take a heartwarming turn that may bring a tear to your eye. If seeing the Ultra Humanite thanking The Flash for the aluminum Christmas tree in his prison cell doesn’t make your heart grow three sizes, then the Martian Manhunter’s melodic chants, as Streaky purs on his lap, surely will. As the Ultra Humanite himself says in the episode, “Tidings of comfort and joy, indeed.”