Fantastic Four #564

The cover of Fantastic Four #564 leans into warmth and self-aware humor — Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman carry a holiday turkey to a festive dinner table where the Thing, two children, and a young woman share crackers and candlelight, the whole scene radiating cozy family cheer. Bryan Hitch's cover art is playful enough that writers Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch felt compelled to address readers directly, cheekily promising that nothing "this lame" happens inside. With "The Christmas Monster" as the story title, that tongue-in-cheek reassurance only makes the issue more intriguing — a fun 2009 holiday package from a creative team clearly having a great time with Marvel's First Family.