Issue(s): Marvel Holiday Special #2 (Iron Man story only)
Cover Date: Jan 93
Title: "Holiday on ice"
Credits:
Sholly Fisch - Writer
Tom Morgan - Penciler
Tom Morgan - Inker
Renee Witterstaetter - Editor

Review/plot:
I have a personal grudge against ridiculous stories that have to be separated out from an issue full of other ridiculous stories because of continuity considerations. That's obviously a very unique gripe, but i'm trying to be upfront about why i may be even harder on a random 8 page piece of garbage than usual. This story also features the one and only appearance of a Blizzard, the third to wear the costume. The character is Randy Macklin, who isn't having any luck at the Paragon Employee Agency, which he attributes to the fact that he's an ex-con. So he goes home to get a costume given to him by "Donny", aka Donny Gill, the second Blizzard, who is said to currently be in the Vault.

Instead of, like, robbing a bank or something a little less ambitious to start with, he decides to go after Iron Man.

The fight goes about how you would expect, but then Iron Man offers to get the guy a job.

It's hardly the first time Tony Stark has done that, but it's a good move. It would have been interesting if the character ever appeared again, especially since he's got a connection to Blizzard II. But no one's ever going to reference a throwaway story in a holiday special.

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: A footnote says, "This story occurred in happier times for the Stark 'family' -- well before the events of current Iron Man issues". Pushing this back a year, near the other 1992 Christmas stories, seems to fit. It happens to fit in a rare moment when Iron Man is in between debilitating ailments (although based on this placement he is wearing the neuro-net).

References:

• No footnote, but presumably Blizzard II is in the Vault after Iron Man #240.
  
• Iron Man makes reference to once having given Hawkeye a second chance like he's now giving this Blizzard. That's a reference to Avengers #16.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

Randy looks identical to Guy Gardner.

I remember reading this one in real time. I was always partial to this classic Blizzard costume first worn by Gregor Shapanka during the 70s which was later adapted for the 90s Iron Man cartoon, so it was nice to see someone else wearing it again after Donny Gill showed up in the new version during Michelinie and Layton's second run on Iron Man.

I didn't expect to see Randy again given that this is a holiday story and Tony's decision does fit in with the spirit of the season.

Hawkeye is a fine reference, but it seems to me that Iron Man had good results in giving second chances to others as well. Force and Michael O'Brien, for two.