Confessions of a Comic Book Guy is a weekly column by Steve Bennett of Super-Fly Comics and Games in Yellow Springs, Ohio.  This week, Bennett looks at Image’s Next Issue Project and what it means, and Christmas comics.

Recently Image announced December will see the release of  Next Issue Project: Crack Comics #63, one of the few new comics that I'm actively looking forward to and, believe it or not, it's not because it features the revival of a bunch of Golden Age characters--that sort of thing has become entirely too commonplace these days.  This quote from editor  Erik Larsen pretty much sums up its appeal:

"The Next Issue Project is for any fan of comics, not just fans of Golden Age books," says editor Erik Larsen. "Often, the promise of Golden Age comics--where creators were making up the rules as they went along and were blazing new trails--was more exciting than the reality of Golden Age comics, where creators were essentially mimicking some of the same dull formulaic writing found in other mediums at the time.  Everyone who contributed to Crack Comics #63 was intent on fulfilling the promise of the Golden Age and delivering a book that was more than a mere homage, but also a thrilling glimpse of what comics could be--if only creators were allowed to run wild with the characters they were handed!

I couldn't agree more, which is why it would be great if Marvel and DC did similar projects.  As I've amply demonstrated in previous columns both companies have no shortage of currently inactive 'off-genre' (i.e. every possible genre other than superheroes) that are just sitting around gathering dust.  So why not take one of their defunct anthology titles (Mystic Comics, Leading Comics, etc.) and designate it a annual (or even make it an Annual, seeing as how the Annual as we knew it is essentially dead) showcase where creators can try one-shot, out of continuity revivals of characters who can't carry their own titles.  I say 'out of continuity' because if a revival doesn't take, well, someone else can try again next year and retailers won't have a lot of unsold issues of the latest reimagining of the Challengers of the Unknown  to bag and board.

I hope Next Issue Project: Crack Comics #63 arrives in time for Christmas but I've hoped that of previous issues so I'm not exactly holding my breath.  Which started me thinking about Christmas comics; I realize it may seem a little early to be thinking about comics for Christmas, let alone Christmas comics, but when you're a retailer it never hurts to think ahead (except of course for the blinding headaches)  DC has a Larfleeze  (Gesundheit) Christmas Special (featuring Agent Orange from Green Lantern who the Internet assures me is a popular new character, though I find him to be as grotesque as he is ridiculous) as well as another anemic looking DCU Holiday Special.  But that's better than Marvel; I've studied their December solicitations and as far as I can see the only comic they have with a Holiday theme is Super Hero Squad #12.

I was looking forward to the Project Superpowers X-Mas Special (which while on autopilot I originally typed as 'X-Man'), until I read the plot; in spite of a Dickens reference heroes fighting one of their villains just doesn't seen all that Chistmasy to me.  Having read too many Golden Age comics I know Golden Age mystery men traditionally celebrate by taking toys to the local orphanage or helping ex-cons go straight so they can be reunited with their kids, so it would have been nice if the gang at Project Superpowers could've unclenched long enough to do something similar.

Image has two Christmas titles. The first being the Dynamo 5 Holiday Special; it's a deftly done, nicely old fashioned superhero series that tries to make it's small human moments seem as emotionally 'real' as possible, so seeing the team deal with the pressures of the Holidays should be interesting.  But the one I'm really looking forward to is Santa Claus vs. The Martians which "takes its inspiration" from (but is otherwise in no way related to) the movie Santa Claus Conquers The Martians.  I'm unfamiliar with its creators, Benito Cereno and James Harren, but they grabbed me with their promo illustration of Santa (rocking a Ghost of Christmas Present' type green outfit) under threat of a Martian war machine.

But the comic I'd like most as a gift is a book, Craig Yoe's The Great Treasury of Christmas Comic Book Stories.  All of Craig's books for IDW have been outstanding, beautifully designed, heartfelt appreciation of their subjects, so I have every expectation this upcoming volume will be every bit as good.  But this one seems especially perfect for reading by the twinkling red and green lights of a Christmas tree.  No, seriously, you'll want to use a proper light source, but it's a nice image, isn't it?

The opinions expressed in this column are solely  those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff of ICv2.com.