Alex Ross’ Superman: Peace On Earth Is Still the Best Christmas Comic

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Superman: Peace on Earth!

So many Marvel and DC superheroes have great Christmas comics, like Hawkeye, Batman, and Spider-Man, but none of them compare to the profundity of Paul Dini and Alex Ross’ Superman: Peace on Earth. Paul Dini is known for working on some of the best episodes of the critically acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series, while Alex Ross is one of the greatest comic book artists of all time. Putting this duo together to work on a definitive Christmas story for the world’s first superhero is a sight to behold.

Before the story gets started, Alex Ross devotes a full page to showcase Superman’s origin story. The photorealistic art mixed with the homage to classic comic book narration already presents Superman: Peace on Earth as timeless. In his YouTube channel, Alex Ross even mentions that this interpretation of the character is “the eternal Superman.” The actual story begins with a flashback of Jonathan Kent teaching his son how to farm. During the flashback, there’s a first-person narration by Clark Kent from the present. Clark introspectively recalls how his father compared seeds to people: “Some blossomed right away while others needed a little extra care. It seems I hear my father’s voice more clearly at this time of year.” Paul Dini perfectly shines a light on all the primary aspects of Superman’s human life, from his humble beginnings as a farmer to his simple desire to help those in need. Dini’s quality writing from the DC animated shows shines in this story.

The scattered seeds beautifully morph into the snowflakes falling over a December night in Metropolis on the next page, when the narrative pans to the present. Superman decorates Metropolis’ Rockefeller-inspired tree and discusses the beauty of Christmas. Clark says, “I’ve always been encouraged by the goodwill that infuses the many celebrations of this season. It makes me feel like I’m sharing too.” Superman flies away from the joyous crowd but hears a muffled cry for help. He finds a starving woman named Jodie and takes her to the Metropolis Downtown Rescue Mission. After some introspection, Superman decides to begin a mission to use his powers in an attempt to feed every starving village in the world. After the story’s somber turn, Clark Kent skips the Daily Planet’s holiday party to research an enemy more powerful than Lex Luthor, Darkseid, and Doomsday—world hunger.

Several writers like to imagine what Superman would do if he really existed. Many imagine hypothetical scenarios of an evil Superman. However, Superman ceases to really be Clark Kent in his evil stories. Peace on Earth brilliantly focuses on the world’s most powerful man when he’s the most pure-hearted. In helping Jodie, Clark places emphasis on the starving, which provides a spotlight on giving food to the hungry during the most giving time in the year. Some may criticize that the most powerful man also having the purest heart is too good to be true, but that’s why Superman exists. Grant Morrison, the writer of All-Star Superman, once said, “somewhere in our darkest night, we made up a story about a man who will never let us down.” This line doesn’t just present the essence of the best-written Superman story ever, which might be Peace on Earth; it should also be what Christmas is all about.

In a way, Peace on Earth is DC’s twisted version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. At the beginning of Peace on Earth, Clark even recollects Charles Dickens’ writings as he walks around the chilly Metropolis. Instead of Ebenezer Scrooge’s greed, Superman is overly generous. However, there’s a lesson to be learned in Superman’s story as well. In the end, Superman isn’t able to accomplish his Christmas mission. To everyone’s surprise (except for Clark’s), he manages to get an exclusive interview with Superman. Superman talks about how feeding the world isn’t the job of one man; it’s the job of the whole world. Even those who don’t celebrate Christmas are bound to absorb important lessons of generosity, comfort, and joy by revisiting this story every holiday season.

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