Action Comics #105

Action Comics #105 (1947)
by Jerry Siegel & John Sikela
cover by Wayne Boring

It’s been seven years since Santa met Superman, and he’s put on some weight!

We begin with a rich jerk called Jasper Rasper, and I’m sure I’m not going to find that name unbearably irritating very soon.

It takes this comic exactly THREE panels to bring up orphans! That has to be some kind of record!

If you thought “Jasper Rasper” was a very cringe name… just wait until you hear how his assistant is called.

Our antagonist is about to POISON SANTA CLAUS. Merry Christmas, everybody!

The Daily Planet running a “Meanest Dead I Ever Heard Of” contest is the perfect mixture of the wacky newspaper of the Silver Age and the version from the radio serial where it was on a socially conscious crusade every other week.

Weird name aside, Edgar Cringe is not a bad guy and immediately tells on his boss.

He reveals Jasper Rasper wants to poison Santa, so it will be up to Superman to save Christmas.

I’ve seen plenty of stories showing what Santa does the rest of the year, and I’m pretty sure this is the only one where the answer is… he does parkour.

I am deeply disappointed Jasper Rasper brought candy and not cookies to Santa.

Okay I technically lied when I said he was going to poison Santa. Because that would actually make sense…

…as opposed to the plan to make Santa fat.

Ah, yes, of course. Santa Claus is famous for not being fat at all.
(you have no idea how long it took to find an image that would work with that joke without using AI crap. You’re welcome.)

Dude, I don’t care all that much about Christmas so I was very nearly on your side… but bringing the reindeer into this is taking it a step too far!!!

Superman, sucking at saving Santa Claus since 1940.

So, uhm, why is this a problem? He looks EXACTLY like Santa Claus!!!

Superman asks Santa to identify the man who gave him the poisoned chocolates, despite the fact that A) he ALREADY knows Jasper Rasper is behind this, and B) Santa is incredibly unhelpful.

The entire plot was JUST to make sure Santa is too fat to get through chimneys. Because of course a grown man of his previous size would have been perfectly able to do it.

The main plot of this story revolves around Superman helping Santa lose some weight.
And they say the 70s were full of drugs.

I believe this is what Lois Lane dreams about every night.

(you guys have no idea how proud I am of that image)

I don’t know guys, I don’t have the highest confidence in Superman’s medical expertise.

I can’t believe he’s been selling food for decades.

He still does it today, by the way. Although the message has changed over the years.

(joke slogan aside that was a real product, by the way)

When that doesn’t make Santa lose enough weight, Superman decides to USE A VOLCANO.

If ALL OF THAT didn’t work, no wonder Santa has been dealing with a weight problem for centuries!!!

Santa has a point, why make him run on the suspension cables???

And AGAIN with the idea of making him lose weight with fear!!! Was this an actual thing in the 40s???

When even THAT doesn’t work, Superman has a different idea: give Santa some lady company!

I bet he’ll get an earful from Mrs. Claus.

The dance DOES shave a few pounds off Santa, but not enough for Superman so SUDDEN METEOR!!!

Santa is back to normal, but the reindeers are still K.O.
Enjoy what I really hope is the only panel in existence showing Superman sniffing a reindeer.

Every single story involving Santa and Superman involves the latter being the one to deliver presents to the whole world.

But whatever happened to Jasper Rasper, and why does he hate Christmas?

Ah, I see. He’s an Objectivist.
(don’t be weird in the comments. I don’t care.)

But since Superman saved his life, he decides he doesn’t want to be a jackass anymore.

So he re-hires the man he fired, even giving toys to the orphan. And the landlady won some money with that sketchy Daily Planet event.

And in case you were wondering: yes, Santa can fit into chimneys again.

And the moral of the story?
If you medically inconvenience an elderly man and give food poisoning to animals, you won’t face any repercussions if you give away some money.
Also you can lose a lot of weight if you’re scared to death, dance a lot and hang around volcanoes and meteors.
And isn’t that the real spirit of Christmas?

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Historical significance: 6 / Ho
While their previous interaction was in a retail-exclusive special, this is the first time Santa Claus shows up in the proper DC Universe. It won’t be the last.

Silver Age-ness: 10 / Ho
We know Superman has a history being terrible with other people’s weight.
(wow that’s a throwback, it’s the second Lois Lane story I ever reviewed and the 13th overall)

Does it stand the test of time? 2 / Ho
Superman tends to be ridiculously wholesome in Christmas stories, even more so than usual.
And then you have this one where HE REPEATEDLY SCARES SANTA TO DEATH.

Times Superman has replaced Santa: 2