Animal Man In "It's A Wonderful Life"

[superfangirl1]

Writer: MARLY HALPERD-GRASER

Artist: JON MIKEL


From DC's I Saw Ma Hunkel Kissing Santa Claus #1

Comments

[thanekos]

At least this time it was only the one long-lived jerk, instead of pretty much all of them.

[super_fly]

And this is why you're still wandering the earth trying to atone after thousands of years, it's because you suck at it.

[michael_ellis_day]

"I am the Phantom Stranger. I was actually a very important figure in the defining existential crisis of your life, when your wife and children were brutally murdered and you attempted to travel back in time to save them, but failed in this task and became a wandering time-lost spirit until I befriended you, then your writer took pity and bade you forget it ever happened and restored your family, and that was 35 years ago but it's still the only good story you've ever had, but as noted previously you remember none of this, so...it's good to meet you again."

[beyondthefringe]

The Phantom Stranger really is such an asshole.
Of course this story feels like one big trolling of poor Buddy, who hasn't had a really decent story in AGES.

[cainofdreaming]

He's just a stranger to this whole emotional support thing, I guess.

[metadronos]

"And now I shall show you your Christmases past, present and future so that you'll change your ways and be more generous with your wealth."

"What wealth?"

"Hold on, let me check my notes... I'm sorry. I'm meant to do that with Bruce Wayne."

"But.. Bruce Wayne donates billions of dollars to charity every year!"

"...My God, I'm bad at this."

[obsidianwolf]

Honestly I'd have liked this better without the Joke Twist at the end.

It would have been nice to for once see a world without a super hero au that isn't doomed and still had the message that their life mattered.

[scorntx]

Going by PS's efforts here, trying to convince Bruce to change his ways would probably just end up with Bruce deciding to be even more controlling, distant or just outright abusive to the Batfam (again).

[cainofdreaming]

Maybe he'd have easier time trying to get Oliver Queen to question authority?

[tcampbell1000]

Different strokes! I found it the funniest thing I'd read in superhero comics in a while. I get where you're coming from, though.

[scorntx]

And when Ollie suddenly becomes a crazed superhero-hating authoritarian with an army of killbots at his command (for real this time), absolutely no-one in the Justice League can figure out what caused it.

[mastermahan]

"For fuck's sake, Judas, just because you're being punished for betraying the Messiah, that doesn't mean you have to take it out on the rest of us!"

"Actually, I prefer to be an angel being punished for not taking sides in the first war."

"Whatever! Just get lost!"

[blues32]

Honestly, I get it. Talking about the personal stuff is more impactful than simply saying, "Yeah, we'd all be zombies without you." Showing him the impact he had on Ellen's life would be the motivation he needs, not feeling like he's a cog in the machine of life.