Writers: Mikey Way & Jonathan Rivera
Artist: Piotr Kowalski
Colorist: Brad Simpson
Letterer: Joshua Reed
Cover Artists: Piotr Kowalski with Brad Simpson
Special Thanks: Ian Sattler
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 8, 2025
Peter Rockwell was depressed. Overworked and mourning his father, every day was a struggle to get by. Without Peter at the helm, his family started to mutiny. Peter's relationship with his eldest daughter grew frosty when he missed her play. But Santa Claus put him right. The Mall Santa (“A total pro”) suggested Peter “Live each day like it is Christmas.” Can Peter harness the joy of Christmas all year round? And how are the Rockwells celebrating Christmas on the 25th of each month? Let's grab a glass of eggnog, leap into Christmas 365 #2, and find out!
Story
The Doctor isn't fond of Peter's plan. Burning down the Christmas tree was just the start. Peter's over-the-top celebrations bring unexpected dangers. The Doctor also worries about Peter's cholesterol due to all the holiday yummies. Nor is the Doctor alone. Red may look good on Santa, but the bank isn't happy with Peter's overspending. Still, after five months, Peter is achieving his goal of bringing his family together. So, Peter wonders how he can make his Christmas Year more feasible.
Avoiding holiday overeating is hard. Creation and innovation entail danger. So, in Christmas 365 #2, Peter focuses on making the holidays more affordable. People are noticing what the Rockwells are doing. When the family gathers around a plate of holiday cookies, Tina's suggestion inspires Peter. Building a Memorial Day Christmas Village necessitates a significant investment in their time and finances. If their online fans don’t support them, the Rockwells could go bankrupt. But like Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella, Peter suspects that if he builds it, people will come.
Amid all the fun and celebrations, Mikey Way and Jonathan Rivera’s story showcases Peter’s love for his family. As Alice said, Steven, Susan, and Tina are the gifts that matter. Steven no longer torments Susan with gory visions on his tablet. Tina is channeling her social media prowess and her set design skills to bolster her father's plans. As Peter's eldest daughter starts to feel the joy of Christmas, she realizes this year of celebrating won't go on forever. While his father's death still haunts him, Peter finds ways to close the distance with his eldest daughter in Christmas 365 #2.
Art
Peter's waist looks thicker without his shirt on. Peter covers his face when he wonders how to Make Christmas Great Always. Piotr Kowalski’s
flashbacks reveal Steven's mischievous nature, the Rockwells' first four monthly celebrations, and possibly how Tina sought revenge on her father. After Brad Simpson colors the April celebrations red and imbues the family with green eyes, gingerbread men with red and green buttons gather next to bills with red late payment stickers. “No, not the gumdrop buttons!”
As Peter and Alice study Tina's phone, bold colors fill the background, hinting at the Rockwells' online coverage. Spectators watch festive holiday displays as Tina and greenbacks fill the foreground. While Alice looks worried, Peter brainstorms colorful building projects in his red long-sleeve shirt. Then a gray shark threatens to swallow Peter's red-clothed Christmas totem, men gather beneath red palm fronds, and customers smile when yellow fries rise from a brown bun.
Amid Piotr Kowalski's detailed art and Brad Simpson's vibrant coloring, Joshua Reed conveys Mikey Way and Jonathan Rivera's heartwarming and energetic story. The black uppercase letters in balloons and red-bordered boxes grow bold and swell but never shrink. A stylized red, green, and white logo adorns online articles in Christmas 365 #2. Snapping and thwipping signal injury. Chugging eases Alice's tensions. Yet barely discernable clicking endangers Peter's dream. Thanks to Dark Horse Comics for providing a copy for review.
Final Thoughts
Peter Rockwell's crusade to unite his family and celebrate their love for each other wins people over. But just as Peter discovers how to make Santa's suggestion profitable, someone threatens to steal his dream in Christmas 365 #2.
Rating 9.6/10
To preview interior art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.
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