It originated as an eComic on the digital site AcesWeekly.com in 2012 and then became an eBook in 2016. Thanks to popular demand it was reformatted a year later and collected into a graphic novel hard cover which quickly went out of print. Sometime last year it was announced that a trade paperback was coming for sale on Previews. However, I was only able to get a copy in the States just this past Spring. The reason? Imports and tariffs were blamed. But I think it had all to do with Diamond going kaput and my favorite LCS probably had to go all over the place to get their hands on a copy for me.
I'm really, really glad for all the trouble. While on the surface this seems like a comedic work, the whole idea and image of Kris Kringle punching the crap outta Hitler, the subject matter is actually taken fairly seriously. And to some degree, with historical accuracy.
In 1939, Russia invades Norway. The Norwegians turn to Germany for help. Thanks to the Nazis, the Russians retreat. However, this now means that Norway is under Nazi occupation as Hitler is not the type of leader to just give up territory.
The action takes place Christmas a year later. Santa is recruited by Winston Churchill to assist in the war effort. Apparently, Claus has interfered in the events of World War I (or some other skirmish around that time.) Horrified by those memories, St. Nick refuses.
A few weeks later in early 1941, a Nazi scout in the Lapland region of Norway discovers Santa's workshop. If the Fuehrer can control the magic of Santa, he'll be able to produce unlimited weapons and conquer the world. Santa is incapacitated to the point that he's immobilized but the magic of Christmas still thrives through the craftsmanship of Santa's elves. A pair of his helpers assisted by Rudolph, flee to London where Churchill begins a secret mission to liberate Santa's base of operations.
So far, the story has my attention. But it encapsulates me into a secret hidden part of Christmas lore when it's revealed that Queen Elizabeth secretly was the leader of a clandestine British commando unit under the alias Liz Windsor. There are a bunch of other Easter eggs hidden throughout. At least I hope they are Easter eggs. For example, one of the members of the special forces unit is a guy by the name of Fleming. His first name wouldn't happen to be Ian, would it?
Writer Benjamin Dickson also gets really creative with the legend of Santa and his compatriots around the world. In the Netherlands, Santa is assisted by a character named Black Pete, who was like the original Elf on the Shelf. He'd report to Odin and later Sinterklaas on who was good and who was naughty. The naughty children, Pete who would whip and sometimes kidnapped the worst offenders.
Here, Dickson has the character portrayed as the black youth Peter, whom Santa Claus freed from slavery in the Caribbean and is the Big Man's second in command. Once I made the connection between the character in this book and the figure of European folklore, my love for this book went into overdrive!
A brilliant book that is such an off-the-wall holiday idea, I can't believe that I didn't come up with it. But it's not a lighthearted tale. And NOT for the kids! If only the promise of return of Father Christmas in 'Santa Claus in the Land of the Soviets' was real and not a joke a la a Marvel movie.
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
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