10 Must-Read Comic Book Christmas Specials

4. The Dark Knight Chastises - 'Silent Night, Deadly Night!'

Christmas brings out the best in us all, even everyone's favourite stone-hearted billionaire vigilante. For a few days each year, Gotham's criminals can rest assured that as long they have some sort of sob story about a child prepared, Batman will let them off with a slap on the wrist as opposed to the usual broken limbs. He never did get over the whole dead parents thing.

While the title promises high stakes for Bruce Wayne, 'Silent Night, Deadly Night!' is really more of a low key affair centring around a desperate uncle's attempts to salvage Christmas after being laid off from work. The way he goes about this may be flawed, robbery and attempting to murder your wheelchair-bound former employer isn't the best plan ever, but luckily there's an eccentric hero looking to throw money and Batarangs at holiday sadness.

Featuring a sleigh ride, an enchanted mansion and what has to be the luckiest thug in Gotham, this festive special teaches the power of compassion. Although, judging by the person being forgiven, he'll probably be committing crimes again within the week. Seriously, over the course of an evening this guy knocked Batman out with a lamp, neglected his niece and choked an old man until he had a heart attack. Maybe the World's Greatest Detective isn't such a great judge of character.