The Holly and the Ivy (comic story)

 is a Doctor Who Adventures comic strip published in 2013.

Summary
Christmas is a time for Clara to go shopping and bustling with the crowded London streets Clara goes in pursuit of a present for her dad - the Doctor is less enthusiastic. But the carol singers seem a little strange and out of tune to the extent where it hurts their ears. On investigating the Doctor and Clara discover that the carol singers aren't men in chrismassy costume but aliens! With their true identity realised the aliens give chase to the Doctor and Clara. Passers by ignore their pleas for help believing them to be part of some silly prank. When the aliens do finally corner the Doctor and Clara in a department store they are surprised to find that the aliens don't want to hurt them but to give them presents! The aliens are Hedera - a peaceful race and observers of Earth customs. Christmas is the only time they can mingle unnoticed among the humans who overlook their spiky green faces and berry-like red eyes, without causing a panic. In the spirit of Christmas the Doctor and Clara join the Hedera family for a Christmas meal complete with all the trimmings, presents for dad sorted and the Doctor being allowed to keep a wooden train he was given.

Characters

 * Eleventh Doctor
 * Clara Oswald

Original print details

 * Publication with page count and closing captions
 * 1) DWA 331 (4 pages) More adventures next time
 * No reprints to date.

Continuity

 * Clara is shopping for her dad's Christmas present. We meet Clara's dad Dave in The Rings of Akhaten and The Name of the Doctor (TV story).
 * "Trains are cool!" exclaims the Doctor as he often did when finding something that excited him.
 * Costumed Christmas entertainers have previously menaced the Doctor before like the Robot Santas in The Christmas Invasion and The Runaway Bride.