O Bat-Tannenbaum, O Bat-Tannenbaum…
By JASON CZERNICH
This time of year gets me thinking — more than usual — about the superheroes I grew up with.
Is it because my birthday and Christmas both fall this month, and I used to get the most superhero swag around this time in the form of Power Records, Megos, Super Powers, Batman hardcover books, and other Bronze Age goodies? Who knows?
All I know is that over the years, I’ve accumulated so many superhero ornaments that I now display them on my own little separate tree in our study. The collection has grown so much that there are simply too many to add to the main tree without completely taking it over.
I call this yearly project My Favorite Things Tree, and it offers a peek into my pop-culture tastes — superheroes, movies, music and so on.
Enjoy these glimpses of how I express my fanboy love at this special time of year.
First, here are some of My Favorite Things that are not superhero or comic-book related:
My Favorite Film and Muppet:
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My Favorite Boardgame:
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My Favorite Band:
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I even have a Favorite Comedian-Turned-Film-Actor on my tree:
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There’s also sections by theme, such as the Favorite Superhero Media side of my tree:
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A Batmobile section:
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The Justice League/Super Friends Section:
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Also about the tree are various Batman ornaments because… he’s my Favorite Hero!
I also adorn the study with other decorations including prints by my favorite living artist, Alex Ross.
You’ll notice that most of the portrayals of the DC heroes on the tree are from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. That’s no coincidence—it’s very much by design, as those are the eras I grew up in.
I can’t be the only one who does something like this! Do you have a specially decorated tree of your own? Let us know in the comments — and Happy Holidays!
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MORE
— The Complete TOYHEM INDEX of Stories and Features. Click here.
— Dig 13 of the GREATEST PLAYSETS EVER MADE. Click here.
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JASON CZERNICH was born smack dab in the middle of the Bronze Age of Comics. Early memories of Power Records and other Batman merchandise, as well as watching reruns of the 1966 Batman series on TV38 in Boston, imprinted on him heavily. Today, he lives and works as a clinical social worker in central Massachusetts with his wife, child, cat, and beloved French Bulldog.
