10 Must-Read Comic Book Christmas Specials
2. Avengers: Age Of Santron - 'Marvel Holiday Special 2005'
Dont you just hate it when youve spent time and effort building a robot to deliver presents to children only for it to go insane and decide to murder the Avengers instead? This is exactly what happens in, Yes Virginia, There Is A Santron from Marvels 2005 holiday special and its just about as mental as it sounds. Basically, a disturbed young woman with a fanatic love for Christmas has built a robotic Santa stand-in to bring some holiday magic but, like a damn fool, uses pieces of Ultron to do so.
After her project goes slightly wrong and breaks up a party being put on by Earths Mightiest Heroes they are left with only one option, to destroy him with a remotely detonated cookie. Somehow, during Virginias attempt to rebuild him, Ultron got none of Santas attributes except the munchies. To summarize, one of the Avengers most dangerous, calculating foes is bested by his desire to have a quick snack.
After this brief yet hilariously insane confrontation is wrapped up, the rest of the story focuses on Virginias inexplicable psychological recovery via an off the cuff speech from Captain America which is apparently so touching that it makes Wolverine cry. As there isn't much of a cohesive message to this story, the main lesson seems to be that you shouldn't put yourself in danger on Christmas Eve because every single hero will be getting tanked in a penthouse somewhere.