I am not one to dwell on plot holes. In fact, if you want to get right down to it, I personally believe that plot holes don’t exist. You see, when you find an inconsistency or a continuity error in a story this isn’t something that was just overlooked – there are teams of editors and proofreaders pouring over and dissecting every word and story beat – so when we come across something that we consider a plot-hole, understand that this isn’t a mistake…it was a choice. There are many reasons for this – it could be budgetary reasons, page count, pacing, or maybe the creators just don’t give a damn – whatever the reason someone made the conscious decision – a choice – to include what some would consider being a plot hole.

In Superman’s Christmas Adventure from 1940, writer Jerry Siegel and artist Jack Burnley made a lot of choices.

The story begins as many Christmas stories do – during the holiday season. Perry White notices this and sends his two top reporters to cover the shopping experience at department stores – you know as most major newspapers do. While there Lois Lane and Clark Kent decide to start a charity toy giveaway that warms the heart of Santa Claus. And thus we get the first canonical appearance of Santa in the DC universe. Clark Kent then does a little voyeurism on an apartment building and notices an ungrateful rich kid and then Superman plays the ghost of Krypton past and teaches the kid the true meaning of Christmas.

Meanwhile, the villain Dr. Grouch and his crony Mr. Meany arrive at the North Pole in a phallic spaceship to demand Santa stop giving away toys because it infringes on capitalism. Santa proclaims you have nothing to lose but your chains, and sicks his minions – sorry, elves on them and sends them on their way.

After a bit of arson and attempted murder, Grouch and Meany then try some kidnapping and strap Lois Lane to a giant firecracker to launch her into space before knocking out Santa’s reindeer with sleeping gas guns. In case you’re wondering…no, I haven’t had a stroke – these are all things that actually happen in this story. Superman then has to carry Santa in his sleigh to deliver the toys around the world and Dr. Grouch and Mr. Meany are defeated by the power of presents.

None of this makes what anyone would remotely consider sense. And yes, there are plot holes large enough to maneuver a Superman-driven sleigh through…but I don’t think that’s the point. The point is just to have fun, to embrace the joy and wackiness of the season while sprinkling in a message of kindness and generosity toward others while doing so. This is a madcap story; a romp with loads of Golden Age comics silliness wrapped up in colorful paper and tied with a bow. No, it doesn’t make sense – and if you think too hard about it it’ll make your head hurt – but if you just embrace the weird you’ll find this Christmas story…is super.

This article originally appeared on The Collected Edition as the introduction to episode 93: Superman’s Christmas Adventure.

The Collected Edition is a comic book podcast where the hosts discuss the famous and infamous runs and story arcs throughout the history of comics. Please subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Sticher, IHeartRadio, and Spotify.