‘Batman: The Long Halloween’ and 2 Other DC Superhero Specials That Celebrated Thanksgiving
Batman is not known for his festive moods. However, DC superheroes have celebrated Thanksgiving in various comics over the years, from Wonder Woman and the Amazons to Batman: The Long Halloween. Even the Justice League has gathered to celebrate the holiday.
‘Batman: The Long Halloween’ chapter 2 was called ‘Thanksgiving’
The animated Batman: The Long Halloween Part 1 released on June 22, 2021. However, the original story ran in 1996. While the Batman series begins with Halloween, the second issue takes place on Thanksgiving.
After Harvey Dent survived an attack, Jim Gordon and Batman try to interrogate a suspect called the Mink. However, they cannot get him to disclose who was the mastermind behind the attack on Harvey.
The holiday part of the issue remains more somber. Harvey spends the night next to his wife’s hospital bed, and Commissioner Gordon misses his family’s dinner.
Batman goes out of his way to bring food to the less fortunate, even leaving out food for the villain Solomon Grundy.
Batman has celebrated Thanksgiving with the Justice League and Justice Society
While Batman: The Long Halloween does not have the most cheerful celebration for Thanksgiving, DC Comics has celebrated the tradition in several other issues.
The Justice Society of America and the Justice League of America stand as two very different groups in DC Comics. However, in JSA #54, the two groups came together to celebrate the holiday.
Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Stargirl, Hawkman, and Shazam all came together for Thanksgiving.
Of course, the heroes could barely go a day without villains interrupting. Two enemies, Kulak and the Warlock of Ys interrupt the teams as they sit down to eat. However, even the foes realize how the heroes outnumbered them in the situation.
While the Justice League and the Justice Society did not end up celebrating Thanksgiving in the most traditional way, the heroes coming together to spend time with each other served a welcome break in the usual world-ending threats.
Wonder Woman had a holiday special back in 1943
Batman: The Long Halloween celebrated Thanksgiving in the 90s, the JSA and the JLA came together in the 2000s, but Wonder Woman had her own holiday special back in 1943.
In Wonder Woman #7, the story “The Adventure of the Life Vitamin” saw Diana (played by Gal Gadot in the DC Extended Universe) return to Themyscira for Thanksgiving. Queen Hippolyta used magic to show what life could be like in the year 3000.
The future showed America adopting an Amazon-style matriarchy. However, there was still pushback on the new ruling class, and Diana fought to save the female president in the story.
While DC does not have the most traditional celebrations for Thanksgiving, Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman have all observed it in their own ways over the years.
