‘Tis the season for a feel-good Christmas story, even if it is an odd one. There is no better way to get in the festive spirt than diving into Christmas 365 penned by My Chemical Romance’s Mikey Way and Jonathan Rivera with illustrations by Piotr Kowalski. A refreshing take on family dynamics wrapped up in laughter and satire.
The holidays weren’t always so tough for Peter Rockwell and his family, but a tragic and challenging year finds them stressed out and drifting apart when they should be pulling together. After accepting the wisdom of a Santa Claus at his local mall, Peter hatches a plan to give his family the best year ever, one Christmas at a time!
The blend of humor with heartfelt moments by Way and Rivera is nearly seamless. The duo crafts dialogue that is witty, touching, and honest. While the story gets a bit off-the-wall, the writing allowed me to empathize deeply with the struggles of Peter Rockwell and his family while chuckling at their amusing misadventures. I am always looking for a different style of Christmas story and the satirical tone of Christmas 365 manages to bring a refreshing take to a holiday tale.
There should be no surprise, to those who have read my horror reviews, my appreciation for the artwork of Kowalski. His slightly gritting style of illustration captures the horror vibes of the comic while also every nuance of emotion exhibited by the Rockwell family and beyond. Kowalski’s artwork fits the oddball nature of this Christmas tale, drawing us deeper into the ever-growing calamity that ensues. Complimenting Piotr’s artwork is the wonderful colors by Brad Simpson which add depth and to mention the stellar lettering from Joshua Reed.
Christmas 365 offers s great, yet bizarre, holiday tale, perfect for this time of year. The stellar opening chapter and feel-good ending wrapped in dark humor is well worth the journey. Mikey Way and Jonathan Rivera perfectly balance a heartwarming and emotional story with satirical humor and the holiday season.
The collected edition of Christmas 365 hit local comic shops and bookstores everywhere on December 2, 2025 from Dark Horse.
Christmas 365 Preview
