Brewster Rockit by Tim Rickard for December 23, 2021

It’d be a shame if some coal got into your stocking.

He’ll wake up with all of Winky’s past spleens in his bed.

He’ll have the dickens of a time getting back to sleep.

I think the visitor has mixed up his schedule. Dr Mel hasn’t been visited by anybody, yet.

Dr. Mel definitely looks just like Scrooge in those panels.

And coming up next are the ghosts of Winky’s spleens!

“Santa Claus is coming to town” never sounded so ominous

Vinnie Nicholas?

When appeals don’t work, try threats.

Why did you give Dr. Mal, that idea?? Now he’s going to light up a YULE LOG on the Space Station!! How many ways can that go wrong?

Yeah whenever you want something done (even when it isn’t nice), you need a Vinnie around

Shouldn’t that be the Ghost of Credit Cards Past Due?

THE DOCTOR (to Charles Dickens): Honestly, Charles, can I call you Charles? I’m such a big fan.

DICKENS: …what? A what?

THE DOCTOR: Fan! Number One Fan, that’s me.

DICKENS: How exactly are you a fan? In what way do you resemble a means of keeping oneself cool?

THE DOCTOR: No, it means “Fanatic”, devoted to. Mind you, I’ve gotta say, that American bit in Martin Chuzzlewit, what was that about?! Was that just padding or what? I mean, it’s rubbish, that bit.

DICKENS (disgruntled): I thought you said you were my fan.

THE DOCTOR: Ah, well, if you can’t take criticism… go on, do the death of Little Nell, it cracks me up. No, sorry…

Godfather Christmas?

“Y’ever seen chestnuts roasting on an open fire?”

Delete the “H” and it will be the ghost of vague Christmas TREATS.

The joke is funny — I chuckled out loud. But I also have to point out that the Ghost of Christmas Future out-and-out threatened to kill Scrooge. Heck, the Ghost showed him an empty grave and pushed old Scrooge into it. I don’t see how the Ghost of Vague Christmas Threats is going to top that.

That said, someone threatening to roast his chestnuts by an open fire might be what it takes to make Scrooge clean up his act.

Looks like Billy Connolly got the role.

While I understand the threat, I don’t understand why the threat. Is it a shakedown? Tim still has a couple of days to build on it…

“Youse better wiseup or you’ll be getting cement overshoes ’fer Christmas.”

I’m impressed with the shadow work in this one. I know Brewster is a light-hearted comic strip, but Mr. Rickard does some impressive chiaroscuro here!

Maybe an offer he can’t refuse?

The best threats are the ones your own imagination supplies.

…and that dry tree is a forest fire waiting to start!

Ah, it’s good to see that even in the future, some things will be the same.