This week, we swing into the third tale from Marvel Holiday Special 1993: “The Big X-Mas Blackout”, a festive, fast-paced Spider-Man adventure written by the legendary Stan Lee, with art by Steve Lightle and colors by Renée Witterstaetter. This eight-page holiday romp places Peter Parker in the middle of a Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center, only for the celebration to be short-circuited—literally—by Electro, who threatens to black out New York City unless he’s paid a cool million.
We break down how this short story balances Silver Age charm with 90s polish, capturing everything we love about Spider-Man: the quips, the relatable frustrations, and the last-minute saves. The setup is classic—holiday cheer disrupted by a familiar rogue, a rooftop brawl, a clever bit of web-slinging ingenuity, and a city-saving punchline. It’s fast, light, and drenched in holiday spirit (with just the right amount of electric chaos).
Jesse reflects on the timeless tone of the story and how its simplicity actually elevates the issue—especially with Stan Lee’s hand in the scripting. There’s also a sweet nod to Peter and MJ’s marriage, reminding us how far their relationship had come by the early 90s. From Spider-Man correcting Electro on the pronunciation of his name (don’t forget the hyphen!) to the nostalgic art style that echoes the Silver Age without feeling outdated, this one hits all the right notes. If you’re in the mood for classic Spidey during the holidays, this story—and this episode—delivers.
