Krampus! #5

The final issue of this series wasn't supposed to be this way. Writer Brian Joines had intentions for this 2013 5-issue miniseries to be an ongoing series. Issue #5 was supposed to end the opening story arc. The real villain behind the theft of Saint Nicholas's remains would have been revealed and the next story arc would have Krampus going after them. Some new Santas would be introduced. A new holiday would be added to the mix. 

However, sales after issue #1 began to slump. For a series about Christmas to drag on into February and March, the fan base just fizzled out. Things just end with the big reveal. There was faith that a one-shot special would be forthcoming in the 2014 holiday season. However, jump ahead 10 years and we're no closer to a resolution of that characters original plans or what Joines had in store for Krampus. 

These days, we see publishers issuing seasonal miniseries on a weekly basis. Last year, DC Comics released the Batman/ Santa Claus: Silent Knight miniseries over a series of 4 weeks. They're looking to capture lightning in a bottle with a 2024 sequel. Then you've got Image who hasn't seemed to learn it's lesson issuing the Christmas themed serial killer horror title The Deviant well into the Spring and early summer of this year. I've been told that sales really dropped off after January as fans felt like the series was taking forever to complete.

I thought that Krampus! #5 ended well. But that setup leaves me wanting a completion. It's possible that Image might green light a conclusion. But after a decade of silence, I really doubt it will ever come to pass. You at least get a conclusion to the main story line. But if you want to have a definite conclusion that doesn't leave you in a perpetual wait for an ending that will very well never come, skip the last 3 pages of this story and head directly to the letters page 

Worth Consuming!

Rating 7 out of 10 stars.

Krampus! #1

I don't know why, but I like Krampus. I know he's a demon. Yet, for some reason I dig the European concept of an anti-Santa, who punishes bad kids. Maybe it's because as a teacher, I see how our of control today's youth are. They need something like Krampus, who puts the fear of God into those little monsters.

In the opening chapter of this 203 comic from Image, someone has stolen the bones of Saint Nicholas, the ancient inspiration of the modern Santa Claus. This theft has resulted in the Secret Society of Santa Clauses jumping to action at the North Pole. While there, it's discovered that the magic of the Santas has gone away. This results in the Society turning to their only hope: Krampus.

In the 1960s, the Society imprisoned Krampus when the demon refused to stop eating bad little boys and girls. So for the past 6 decades, Krampus has been resting in a super max prison on the top of the world. If Krampus can find who stole Saint Nicholas's remains and restore the magic of Christmas to the Santas of the world, he'll finally earn his freedom. But to make sure he doesn't turn on them, Krampus has been fitted with a bomb that will detonate should the fiend wind up on naughty list...

Krampus! #1 was the debut work of Brian Joines. I thought it was a brilliant introduction that combined international customs of Christmas, in particular the Scandinavian countries, along with some modern touches that I hope one day becomes new additions to the Krampus legend.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.