In the spirit of the holidays, I'd like to take a moment to appreciate one of the best episodes of Justice League, the Christmas special, Comfort and Joy. This is one of the best individual examples of how powerful the DC Animated Universe's writing is.
The idea of a Justice League Christmas special is admittedly a weird one, and it could EASILY have been screwed up. What, are they gonna fight an evil Santa Claus? That worked on Teen Titans GO!, sure, but in the DCAU? Gimme a break. Surprisingly, no. There were no gimmicks, no forced "we gotta save Christmas" plot, no fake-ass moral at the end. It's just the League trying to celebrate the holidays, or, in the Flash's case, help others celebrate it. It perfectly captures the spirit of the holidays in just being low-key and simple.
The fight with the Ultra-Humanite isn't for the sake of Christmas or the fate of humanity. It's just to get some orphans a toy. J'onn going to the Kent farm isn't to protect them from Starro or something. He's going because Superman wants him to have a really happy holiday. All three plots in this special are terrific because they aren't big or loud (well, the Sheyara/John plot is, but it still fits, since there's no real conflict), they're small and quiet. That scene of J'onn sitting at the table and talking with the Kents is so sweet and so wonderful because not only is such a tragic character getting such a sweet moment, but it's just nice and small, giving you a warm, fuzzy feeling (I love that Clark is so wholesome he still thinks Santa Claus is real, that's both adorable and hilarious). It's also just hilarious, fascinating, and heartwarming to see these relatable, interesting, and memorable characters in such relaxed environments.
And on top of all that, we see how much of heroes the members of the League are. Think about it. Any superhero show or film can show a superhero stop an alien invasion, punch a terrorist, what have you. Not many show them helping kids believe in Santa, help their friends appreciate the holidays, get a toy for some orphans. Even fewer would show a villain concede to a fight just because it's Christmas. Really think about that. The fact that a great enemy of our heroes, one with such hatred for his rival, would stop fighting him in the spirit of the holiday to help some little children in need. THAT is powerful, THAT is Christmas, and it just warms my heart to the core.
So this holiday season, even if you don't celebrate Christmas, I invite you to treat yourself. Comfort and Joy is a television masterpiece that will make you feel warm and fuzzy to the brim. This is an episode unlike any other, full of joy, wonder, and kindness. Having just watched it again, I can safely say you should definitely check it out, or rewatch it if you already have. It's chock-full of the feels, and you will not regret it. Happy holidays, whatever you celebrate, and have a better year than this one come January.
