The countdown continues with 1971's "Have Yourself a Sandman Little Christmas!" from Marvel Team-Up #1 by Roy Thomas, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito...

It is somewhat rare to see the first issue of a series be a holiday issue, but that was the case with the long-running Spider-Man team-up book, Marvel Team-Up.

This charming tale opens in a cute way...





Spidey heads after Sandman, but decides to enlist the help of the Human Torch...



After a battle with Sandman, they end up captured...









Isn't that an awesome ending? That one simple bit of character work by Roy Thomas set the stage for many years of further development of Sandman in that regard. Heck, even the film Spider-Man 3 sort of adapted this story (only with a locket for his daughter). One thing that has always kind of amused me, though, is how Sandman's act of "kindness" to Spider-Man and Human Torch could have easily ended up with one or both of them drowning. "What happened? I was trying to help you guys out!" "You drowned the Human Torch!!!"

Anyhow, this was a great job by Thomas and wonderful art from an all-time classic art team. That final panel...WOW!