Christmas With Grubbs #1

The graphic novel adaptation of the animated special of the same name from 2023. After really enjoying a pair of Halloween specials starring the mischievous Grubbs, I was thrilled and delighted to have remembered that I had this book in my collection just waiting to be read.

I actually went into this reading a little disappointed. While I didn't mind that this Keenspot one-shot adapted the animated special, from the images on the back cover, I was under the impression that this book is comprised of screenshots of the cartoon. The first volume of Teen Titans Go! and several Disney XD adaptations of Marvel animated series were both guilty of this. It just lacked that magic of a hand drawn comic book. Plus the screenshots always come out too dark to see clearly...

Thankfully, that's not the case here. Not because they used high quality photography of the screenshots. It's because we get original art here!

Grubbs has his heart set on a deluxe golf cart for Christmas. But he can't seem to get himself off of Santa's naughty list no matter how hard he tries to not get into mischief. The lad is in danger of being on the list permanently when he accidentally drives his dad's bosses new cart into the back nine water hazard. 

Now dad might lose his job. His sister's boyfriend lost his job (because he let Grubbs drive the cart). Plus his brother might get dumped by his girlfriend because he's too embarrassed by Grubbs and his antics to bring her over for Christmas dinner. It could be a Christmas to forget for everyone involved!

I think the biggest surprise for me about this story wasn't the ending. If you thought for a minute that things aren't going to end with some sort of Christmas miracle, then you don't know anything about holiday specials. No, the biggest surprise for me was about Grubb's best friend Tyler. He's not real! He's imaginary! It's no spoiler, really. It's just that I've now read 3 Grubbs one-shots and I hadn't noticed until this holiday special that I realized that even though Tyler is always with Grubbs, nobody except for the main character ever interacts with him! Man, you could have knocked me over with a spoon when I finally learned that!

Another triumph from creator and writer, Max Weaver. Lovely, lively artwork from Athila Fabbio. Perfect for a feel good holiday read! And it's available in it's entirety on Youtube!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.