Lion and Thunder Holiday Special
IPC · 1971–1973 · 3 issues
Publication history ←Smash Holiday Special (1969) #1969–1970 Lion and Thunder Holiday Special (1971) · this series Lion Holiday Special (1974) #1974–1980→
About the series
The Lion and Thunder Holiday Special was a trio of oversized British annuals published by IPC from 1971 to 1973, blending the newspaper strips of Lion and Thunder into a single holiday package. Each issue compiled reprints and new material featuring the action-adventure heroes from both titles, offering a seasonal dose of high-octane storytelling. While it lacked a single defining creator, the specials served as a festive showcase for the gritty, fast-paced style that defined IPC’s boys’ adventure comics of the era. They matter as a brief, collectable snapshot of the transition between the classic British comic annual tradition and the more modern, anthology-driven market.