Spidey-Stash Episode 7: Christmas with Spidey !

‘Tis the season!  Let’s celebrate Christmas with Spidey this year!  In this article (and matching video) I will be highlighting a few of the many Spider-Man Christmas items produced over the years.

Before I describe some very cool items, I want to mention the video which accompanies this article.  In the video, I tell a few quick stories about very memorable and emotional Christmas mornings from my childhood.  My mother supported my love of Spider-Man (which started at the age of 3) and got me some awesome Spidey items for Christmas over the years. She truly was the best mom, and I was blessed by her in so many ways.

I also feature decorations from my home in the video (Spidey tree, ornaments, snow globes, stockings, lights, and more).  So, please watch the video so that you don’t miss out on some Spidey goodness!

As a child, reading comic books, there were stories which were Christmas themed.  The story in Marvel Team-Up #1 (published in December 1971) was titled “Have yourself a Sandman little Christmas.”  I got it when it was published, and every time I hear the classic Christmas song, I am reminded of that story title!  There were also great “Holiday” Treasury sized comics published for a few years in a row.  The Treasury comics featured reprints of a few Christmas themed Marvel Comics stories.

In 1981 a company called “Santa’s World”  produced some Marvel hero items for Christmas (the items feature a 1980 Marvel copyright, but a 1981 copyright from the company).  One of their items was intended to be hung on your Christmas tree.  Sealed in a plastic bag with a cardboard header card were small sized comic books with a few pages of the origin of the character who was featured on the cover.  That series included Spidey, Spider Woman, Capt. America, and The Hulk.  Also produced were small hand-held pinball styled toys featuring Spidey carrying a sack of toys.  Santa’s World also made a nice Spidey Christmas stocking, which is proudly hung in my home every year.

The Dallas Times Herald newspaper featured a comic book insert in December 1983, titled “Christmas in Dallas”.  Spidey battled the Kingpin in that comic book insert.

Marvel Comics released a “Santa Spidey” head plastic pin (pinback style) in 1992.  A similar but nicer metal pin was release in 1995 by Planet Studio.  Other “wearable” Spidey items were some Ralph Marlin neckties.  1994 featured “Spidey Claus” (drawn by Sal Buscema) crawling down a wall with a sack of toys.  1997 necktie featured Spidey as Santa and The Hulk as his reindeer leading the way.

One of the earliest figural ornaments was produced in 1994.  Cold cast porcelain, sculpted by famous artist Randy Bowen.  Of course, many more Spidey ornaments followed in all the years since then.  The very first Hallmark ornament was released in 1996, featuring two weblines (one from each of Spidey’s hands), with tree hooks on each web. Creative License also produced a few ornaments which were also cold cast porcelain.

The Kurt Adler collection of ornaments were often found in Toys R Us stores in the late 1990s and early 2000s.  I own many, with my favorite being one which was actually a photo holder.  I put a photo of me and my then infant daughter, Noelle, both dressed in Spidey costumes in that ornament and it goes on my Spidey tree every year.

In 2004 Asher Candies produced a box of red Spidey Christmas Canes with a black web design on them.  I left the wrappers on the canes and put them on my tree every year.

Toy Biz released a special Holiday boxed set of figures in 1997.  Spidey and Mary Jane, decked out in their best Santa gear.  A holiday magnet with an image of Spidey and MJ was included in the box.

I own several of the Toon Tumbler brand drinking glasses (and use them all the time for my favorite soft drinks).  In 2006 they produced a holiday glass featuring several Marvel characters.

Spidey has been featured on several of the popular “Airblown” outdoor inflated Christmas decorations.  In 2014 one was produced with Spider-Man battling Doctor Octopus. In 2017 two different decorations were offered:  Spidey sitting on top of a Christmas present; and Spidey with suction cups on his hands so that he could be placed on a window, to look like he’s crawling up the side of your house with a present strapped to his back.  I have been displaying the wall-crawling on my home for a few years now.

And my most recent purchase?  2022 Spidey Christmas themed dog sweaters with a Christmas theme!  I have two dogs, and they will be proudly wearing their sweaters from the Chewy company very soon!  The design features a repeating spider pattern, and one large gingerbread cookie shaped Spidey on the main part of the sweater.  Super cute looking dog sweaters.

Which Spidey Christmas items are in your collection?  Please share your items in the comments below.  And if you have requests for future episodes please mention them as well.

I have loved being a Spidey fan and collector for over 55 years now.  I love talking about Spider-Man and sharing the fun of the hobby with everyone. Please check out my website and join me as I continue livin’ my blessed Spidey life! www.spideyandme.com

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!