In this episode, we continue our journey through the Marvel Holiday Special 1993 with the heartwarming and introspective story, “Present Tense”, written by Fabian Nicieza and illustrated by a young Darick Robertson. This 11-page New Warriors tale trades high-stakes battles for emotional depth and character moments, showing the quieter, more human side of superheroes during the holiday season.

Listeners are invited into the lives of Night Thrasher, Silhouette, Speedball, Firestar, Nova, Rage, and Justice as they navigate loneliness, privilege, awkward gift-giving, and deepening friendships during Christmastime. From Speedball’s hilariously misguided gift to Firestar’s heartfelt call to her imprisoned partner, this story captures the seasonal highs and lows with sincerity and humor. We talk about class differences, awkward relationships, and that universal feeling of wondering if your gift will totally bomb—or hit home.