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"Superman: "Ex-Machina"": On a lonely road, a stranded motorist tries and fails to flag down assistance from a passing car. His desperation and the cold drive him to consider committing suicide with a pistol, having written a note. However, before he can do so, Superman knocks on the car's windo

Quote1 We don't do it for the glory. We don't do it for the recognition... We do it because it needs to be done. Because if we don't, no one else will. And we do it even if no one knows what we've done. Even if no one knows we exist. Even if no one remembers we ever existed Quote2
Kara

Christmas with the Super-Heroes #2 is an issue of the series Christmas with the Super-Heroes (Volume 1) with a cover date of December, 1989.

Synopsis for Superman: "Ex-Machina"

On a lonely road, a stranded motorist tries and fails to flag down assistance from a passing car. His desperation and the cold drive him to consider committing suicide with a pistol, having written a note. However, before he can do so, Superman knocks on the car's window and asks if he can help. Heating the motorist with his heat vision, Superman also uses his power to thaw the car's frozen battery, while also taking the time to talk to the motorist about his situation. The motorist recently had to have his wife committed to a home for the elderly, suffers from a debilitating illness, and has a poor relationship with his daughter. Sympathizing with his problems, Superman suggests that the motorist pay a visit to some people he knows in the area, who can give him shelter until he manages to repair his car. As he departs, it is revealed that this car broke down near Smallville, implying that the people Superman mentioned were Ma and Pa Kent.

Appearing in Superman: "Ex-Machina"

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Supporting Characters:

  • A stranded driver

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Synopsis for Batman: "And in the Depths"

The history of the cave that would become the Batcave is retold, from its formation to its discovery by a young Bruce Wayne, through the years when it was used by Batman, Alfred and later Robin, through to the present, in which Batman operates without a Robin. Yet an actual robin is still to be found in the cave, and drives off a bat that menaced it, before flying off into the sky. "Long though the night has been, it cannot last forever."

Appearing in Batman: "And in the Depths"

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Synopsis for Wonder Woman: "Gifts"

Diana wakes from a nightmare featuring Myndi Mayer, Hermes and Zeus. The next day, Julia Katapelis greets an old friend, Pastor Sharon Jackson, who's come for a visit. After Sharon tearfully confesses that her husband has just asked for a divorce, Julia attempts to comfort and reassure her friend that she still has much to give to the world. Vanessa Katapelis arrives and is greeted by Sharon, who notes that the young woman wears Wonder Woman earrings. The next day, Diana descends into the back yard as Sharon is taking a walk there, and they have a brief and somewhat awkward conversation about Diana's role in the world, and the interactions she's had with the Olympians. Over the next day, Diana, Sharon, Julia and Vanessa enjoy the holidays together. On Christmas night, however, Sharon discovers that Diana is awake in the living room, and they talk about Diana's recent nightmares, and how she feels uncertain that she is accomplishing anything in her mission in life. Sharon comforts and reassures her that she should continue in her beliefs and her struggle, in the process coming to terms with the challenges that she herself has to face now, as she explains to Julia on Christmas morning.

Appearing in Wonder Woman: "Gifts"

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Synopsis for Enemy Ace: "Silent Night"

On Christmas, 1916, at a British field hospital somewhere in France, a young and badly injured soldier entertains a young nurse with drawings of an aircraft, labeled "Lords of the Killer Skies." The subject matter angers another, older patient, who berates the young man, while the hospital's cook struggles to make something edible with the poor ingredients available to him. Suddenly, everyone present hears the sound of an airplane's motor drawing near. The plane lands outside the hospital, and the staff are stunned to realize that the pilot is Hans von Hammer, the Enemy Ace, who has decided to go quite a bit beyond the Christmas truce and actually give aid and comfort to his enemies by delivering food to the hospital. He also dances with the nurse, and salutes the memory of the men who've died at the hospital. This last bit outrages the young soldier, who draws a pistol and points it at von Hammer. The older soldier stops him from shooting the man, but nevertheless orders von Hammer out of the hospital, refusing to shake his hand. Von Hammer returns to the killer skies.

Appearing in Enemy Ace: "Silent Night"

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Supporting Characters:

  • British field hospital staff and patients

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Synopsis for The Flash and Green Lantern: "An Old-Fashioned Christmas"

In the Justice League Satellite, Barry Allen and Hal Jordan are on monitor duty on Christmas Eve, and frankly bored out of their skulls, discussing the presents that Oliver Queen (a copy of Das Kapital) and Wally West (a pair of socks) gave them. With the end of their duty, they return to Earth in their civilian identities to visit a small town and observe how Christmas is celebrated there. It's raining and miserable, and the Santa Claus who accepts Hal's donation for the poor is not in a good mood. However, the two heroes save an old man from a pair of muggers, discovering that the old man is C.B. Fenster, a rich and famous man who has concluded that life is meaningless. Earlier that night, he offered a fortune to anyone who could prove that there is a Santa Claus, only to get no takers. Fenster mourns how the world has become a colder and crueler place than it was in his youth, because no one believes in Santa Claus anymore. This inspires Hal and Barry to give Fenster the opportunity to become Santa Claus, delivering presents to young children, then helping a recent widow to assemble bikes for her children, then meeting another old man who's glad to have some company. However, the heroes can't locate one of the families they were supposed to find, and reluctantly confess their failure to Fenster. Fenster, however, realizes where the family, rendered homeless by recent events, are staying, and offers to help them. Hal and Barry celebrate the fact that they've reawakened Fenster's Christmas spirit, and urge him to use his wealth for charitable ends.

Appearing in The Flash and Green Lantern: "An Old-Fashioned Christmas"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • C.B. Fenster (Single appearance)

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Other Characters:

  • Michael
  • Mary Harper
  • Mr. Harper
  • Wandy

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Synopsis for Deadman: "Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot"

On Christmas, Deadman takes possession of a corporate raider and arranges for him to compensate some of the people left jobless by the raider's predatory business practices, as well as sending some wine to Deadman's old friends in the circus and Christmas presents for other acquaintances. However, Deadman feels depressed about the goodwill and happiness he sees everyone else feeling, as he's lonely. He briefly takes possession of other people to try and feel better about his existence, but finds himself just feeling bad about depriving his victims of their own happiness. Now even unhappier, he yells out to Rama Kushna, asking whether this misery is his reward for his service.

It is then that a young woman, able to perceive Deadman, asks him whether he does what he does out of hope for a reward. They have a conversation about his situation, in which Deadman admits that he misses the feeling of being a performer, and the adulation of the crowd. Addressing him by his name of Boston Brand, the young woman reminds him that people like them don't do this for reward or adulation, but because it needs to be done. Boston is embarrassed by having forgotten this, but she reassures him that it's a good thing, because it means that he's still human, despite everything. She says that she has to go, and Deadman wonders who she is.

"My name is Kara. But I doubt that will mean anything to you."

With that, she's gone, and Boston has no idea who she was, but is grateful to her for the gift she gave him, and wishes her a Merry Christmas.

Appearing in Deadman: "Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot"

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Other Characters:

  • John Turner Danforth (Single appearance)
  • Paul (Single appearance)
  • Kerry (Single appearance)
  • Tom (Single appearance)

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Notes



See Also

Recommended Reading




Links and References

DC Universe Christmas TP
DC Bullet 2024

Christmas Specials
This issue is Christmas themed, celebrating holiday merriment, Santa Claus, and ideally some Eggnog.
This template will automatically categorize articles that include it into the Christmas category.

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