Deck the Panels: Dan Misdea’s TBD Joins the Comics Kingdom Family

The Panels of Christmas Past

December 10, 2024By Nate Fakes

As the cold wind howled in Southern California (okay — lukewarm wind), I was in my studio, all bundled up in my Old Navy t-shirt and jeans years ago in December. I was about to embark on a yearly tradition as common as eggnog — just not quite as delicious. I grabbed a pen and my cheap notebook and started jotting ideas. Yes, it was that time again for me to come up with seasonal cartoons for my syndicated comic, Break of Day.

The process was (and still is), well, pretty boring.

I sat there. Sat there with a blank stare and empty paper.

“What’s funny about Christmas?” I asked myself, nibbling on a candy cane. “Wait! I think I know!”

Then I forgot what it was that was funny, because my concentration was lost while checking Instagram. Damn…

After sitting there for a while longer, ideas did come around. “Reindeers! Yes, that’s it. Reindeer are hilarious,” I said aloud as my wife looked at me, wondering what it would’ve been like to marry someone who wasn’t a cartoonist.

Ideas then poured out of me! Kind of. There was, like, one or two.

I quickly sketched out the reindeer. Then Santa pops into my brain. “Santa! Of course. I have to include the big guy.”

After coming up with some Kris Kringle concepts, I felt pretty good. “These will be the best holiday cartoons — ever! Who needs “A Charlie Brown Christmas” when readers will have these,” I said, looking at my phone to see what streamer “A Charlie Brown Christmas” was on, so I could watch it in envy.

And so it goes…

Really, this is about the same routine for all my comics. I get asked how I always come up with ideas, and it’s this. It comes down to staring. Every. Single. Day.

Some ideas make the cut. Others are ripped from my notebook and used as a basketball.

I don’t recall using the Santa gag on the bottom. That said, I can barely read my writing, so who knows?

My initial ideas are not well drawn or sketched out in detail. They’re just…scribbles. A kindergartner’s work typically looks better.

Anyway, around the holidays, I try to knock out some material that I feel would be fitting. Stuff that Santa might laugh at — or put me on the naughty list for.

Here’s a little collection of ten comics from Break of Day’s past that I felt were pretty good, at least if you’re drinking alcohol.

I’ll give a little commentary about each of them. Don’t worry — unlike this intro, I’ll keep it brief.

That said, pour yourself a hot toddy, grab that ugly Christmas sweater, snuggle up to your computer (or smartphone), and enjoy these ten classics. Just…don’t spill anything on whatever it is you’re reading this on.

10 holiday break of day comics

I imagine there are some disagreements between Santa and Rudolph. And hey, that red nose does help warn airplanes if there are any sudden midair stops.

Every light bulb should be concerned about their kids. It’s easy for them to become a burnout too.

This isn’t exactly a Christmas-themed cartoon, but any snowman/bunny scenario counts, right?

We have four cats at our house. If one is sitting on me, I’d probably be last to evacuate if there was a fire, due to possibly upsetting it.

Continuing with the cat theme, our poor ornaments get knocked out, dragged around, and body slammed by our cats every year. I’m surprised we still have a couple that aren’t broken.

This is one I drew probably a decade ago. It’s like the TCM (Turner Classic Movies) of Break of Day.

I’m known for bad puns. This one is probably one of the worst. Sorry to be so cold…

I don’t have a dog, but I used to when I was growing up. I believe our tree was watered several times by him.

No. This is not me in this comic. My Christmas sweater is waaay uglier.

I’m trying to pitch this in Hollywood as the next major horror franchise. So far, no takers.

Happy holi(break of)day!

I hope you enjoyed a few of my favorite holiday classics.

Unlike “It’s a Wonderful Life,” it doesn’t end with neighbors stopping by and dumping cash into my living room. So, instead of “Auld Lang Syne” and handfuls of dollars, add Break of Day to your favs and subscribe! As Uncle Eddie would say, it’s the gift that keeps on giving the whole year.