Posted By Dan Greenfield on Dec 24, 2024 | 1 comment

Clement Clarke Moore’s timeless poem, told through 13 CLASSIC CHRISTMAS COVERS…

By PETER BOSCH

It’s that magical time of year, Christmas Eve. In remembrance of the classic poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore, here is wishing you a very Merry Christmas and may it be filled with much love.

Xmas Comics #7 (Dec. 1952, Fawcett), art by C.C. Beck. Action Comics #117 (Feb. 1948, DC), pencils by Wayne Boring and inks by Stan Kaye.

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

Well, except this one… Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse #39 (Dec. 1954, Dell). Art by Paul Murry.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care…

Mary Marvel #8 (Dec. 1946, Fawcett). Art by Jack Binder.

…In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

Black Cat #27 (Feb. 1951, Harvey). Art by Lee Elias.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds;

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

Comic Cavalcade #9 (Winter 1944, All-American). Art by E.E. Hibbard (the Flash), H.G. Peter (Wonder Woman), and possibly Martin Nodell (Green Lantern).

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

Green Lantern #18 (Winter 1945, DC). Art by Paul Reinman.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.

Holiday Comics #8 (Oct. 1952). Art by L.B. Cole.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the housetop the coursers they flew

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too—

Supersnipe #33 (Vol. 3 #9, Feb. 1947). Art by George Marcoux.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

Archie #6 (Jan.-Feb. 1944, MLJ). Art by Harry Sahle.

And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;

Tiny Tot Comics #10 (Nov.-Dec. 1947, EC). Art by Burton Geller.

He had a broad face and a little round belly

That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk…

Prize Comics #57 (Jan.-Feb. 1946, Prize). Unknown artist of Santa Claus. Background covers from Prize Comics #43, 44, 48-50, 53, 55, and 56.

…And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

Four Color #525: Santa Claus Funnies (1953, Dell)

Merry Christmas, everybody!

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MORE

— CARL BARKS’ Offbeat DONALD DUCK CHRISTMAS EVE Tale That Has Endured for 70 Years. Click here.

— NEAL ADAMS’ Complete SILENT NIGHT OF THE BATMAN — in All Its ORIGINAL ART Glory. Click here.

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13th Dimension contributor-at-large PETER BOSCH’s first book, American TV Comic Books: 1940s-1980s – From the Small Screen to the Printed Page, was published by TwoMorrows. A sequel, about movie comics, is coming in 2025. Peter has written articles and conducted celebrity interviews for various magazines and newspapers. He lives in Hollywood.