Happy Horror Days One-Shot

I've been learning over the years how the holidays are filled with creepy characters and horrible stories from around the world. So who better than Archie's horror imprint to provide some festive frights? From 2022, Happy Horror Days offers 3 tales designed to bring holiday fear instead of cheer.

Frank Tieri returns to the Jughead: The Hunger universe he created with a story that answers the question: What would happen if Krampus ran across the path of a hungry werewolf? 

Then Veronica makes an Icelandic immigrant's first Christmas in Riverdale hell by berating their fashion sense. Little does Ms. Lodge know about the legend of the deadly Yule Cat.

Finally, under pressure from his parents, Reggie wishes for a girl he can take to Christmas dinner with. Little does he know that his prayers have been answered by a pair of devilish imps.

The opening story was more black comedy than horror. Lots of funny banter that if the main Jughead: The Hunger books are anything like this Krampus caper, then I most certainly wanna get my hands on them. The other two stories were like most classic horror comic tales. It's the twist endings that elicits the scares. The closing panels to both stories were absolutely creepy. But I think it's that last panel of the Reggie story that is really going to stick with me for a while.

I loved this anthology. The annual Archie Christmas specials are the books I look forward to the most each holiday season. They bring forth a magic of the holidays and this special is no different. Except that it's black magic instead of Christmas magic. I'm kicking myself for not having read this one sooner because I feel like if I had given praise to this one-shot sooner, we could have had 2 more years of scary Archie Christmas comics.

Well, there's always next year.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

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! #4

Krampus' journey to the American West uncovers a traitor in the midst of the Secret Society of Santas. Though, I really don't think 'traitor' is the right word. Impostor?  That's more like it. A traitor is someone who betrays their compatriots. This revealed villain is posing as one of the Santas.

I'm really interested to learn if the character in question was a real part of Santa Claus history or made up just for this issue. I wouldn't be surprised if 20th Century history actually records the backstory mentioned within this book. I wouldn't be surprised in the least.

A great penultimate issue. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Krampus! #3

Krampus' investigation into the whereabouts of the bones of Saint Nicholas takes him to Ibiza. 

That's about all I can say about this issue without spoiling things.

We finally learn about why that character introduced last issue is considered a part of Christmas despite having no connection with the Season of Giving whatsoever. Turns out it was a yule tide clerical error!

I must ask; is Ibiza all party and raves 24/7? Because if so, I never want to visit. Ever.

Things at the North Pole are heating up as 2 factions of Santas are developing. Meanwhile, the elves are de-evolving into something primal and it's funny as heck.

After a tiny sophomore slump, issue #3 picked up. Great read and awesome artwork by Dean Kotz.

Worth Consuming! 

 Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Krampus! #2

The investigation into the whereabouts of Saint Nicholas's bones take Krampus to a storage locker in Italy. It's there that the Christmas demon meets one of the most deadly assassins of the all: the famed Nutcracker!

Brian Joines serves up another serving of a unique holiday comic. The level of humor and quirk is there. However a development within the Secret Society of Santa Clauses has resulted in a lot of the banter in which those elements I've enjoyed in the first issue to diminish a bit.

Plus there's the inclusion of a new character that I don't quite understand why they are in this book. 

Besides, isn't he dead?

Not quite the level of perfection. But still an enjoyable read for one looking for off-the-wall holiday comics.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 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.

A Christmas Bestiary by Benni Bodker

A field guide and protection manual in defense of the monsters, ghosts and terrifying magical beings that occupy Europe and Russia during the holidays. I could have finished this book in a couple of nights of reading. However, I learned pretty quickly that this illustrated work by Danish illustrator and filmmaker John Kenn Mortensen and author Benni Bodker, was framed as an Advent. Each day, a different Yuletide terror is featured. I would have thought Krampus would have been selected as the final character of the Advent, considering how popular he's gotten. However, he was fittingly selected for December 5th, as that is Krampusnacht in his native Germany. A few other characters are appropriately highlighted on the days or nights that they are believed to cause their mischief and mayhem.

The beings are rated on a scale of 1-5 pine cones. 1 pine cone means the creature isn't all that dangerous. A 5 pine cone rating means that this is a being not to be trifled with. The level of terror didn't always match how frightening the artwork based on the characters were. However, that splash page of the Yule Goat looking directly into your soul was truly unsettling.

For an Advent, this book only has 24 entries, culminating on Christmas Eve. For many, that might seem weird. But having an Advent calendar at the end on December 25th is actually an American thing. In Europe, where Advent calendars began, most have only 24 days. (As Advent season changes with the calendar, some Advent calendars might be as few as 12 days or they might grow to as many as 28 maximum, depending on the year.)  

A Christmas Bestiary was a fun read. The colder the evening I read these entries, the creepier they felt and that was all the better. One major disappointment I had was that the cover image is nowhere to be found inside. I was really looking forward to find out what this demented, drooling Santa's story was. Alas, it's absent from the book. But maybe his story will soon be told! This book only covers a small fraction of the world. Could a sequel covering the rest of the world be in the works? I know that I wouldn't mind such a follow up. 

Lastly, I don't really know how to classify this book. This English language version was published by Fantagraphics; which is known for releasing a number of comics and graphic novels. Fantagraphics does also publish a small number of regular books of fiction and non-fiction. Technically, this is an Advent calendar in book format. But I bought it from my favorite comic book store which doesn't carry collectible merch. Honestly, if I didn't know about this book from my favorite shop, I wouldn't have picked it up and I have seen it listed on Previews and for sale at other comic book stores. Only, there's no sequential artwork here whatsoever. This book is surely a keeper. I just don't know where I'm going to keep it.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight #4

Issue #4, which closes out Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight arrived in stores today just in time for After Christmas Sales! I guess technically, we're still in the 12 Days of Christmas. However, I would have liked to have been able to have finished this story before Santa came down the chimney. 

The finale itself didn't disappoint. After Superman became possessed by the entity that was tormenting Krampus, the combined might of several, but not too many, heroes took on the Man of Steel, some frost giants and a few other Norse creatures of power. Meanwhile, Krampus, having kidnapped Damian Wayne in the last issue, was having a crisis of conscience on par with Gollum and Smeagol about whether or not to just punish the lad or to eat him. The battle scenes were amazing.  Damian Vs. Krampus was riveting. But it was the finale that was just so gosh darn satisfying. 

I will not spoil the absolute ending. I will confirm something however. In the last issue, it was told that Santa had banished Krampus to a nether realm. I speculated that it was the Phantom Zone. This issue affirms my guess. Now why Superman didn't know Krampus was there based on his previous experiences with the dimensional prison is beyond me. Yet, Superman, after he's freed from the evil entity, states that other races and beings have used the Phantom Zone to trap their biggest baddies. So, if a follow-up occurred in which the DC Universe had to take on a slew of villains from other realms that have been imprisoned inside the Zone, I would very much place an order for that story's entire run. 

I just hope Jeff Parker is tasked with writing that tale. 

Silent Knight was a flawless Christmas comic book. Way better than that 80-page holiday annual DC also released this year. This mini-series was proof that you can have a story filled with character both major and minor in relation to their impact to the DCU without having to overcrowd that whole story, nor having to pander to every demographic know to exist. I'm not sure if I'll make this an annual holiday read. But it's definitely a story I will be re-reading often!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight #3

A relatively harmless prank resulted in a misunderstanding that led to Santa Claus banishing Krampus to a nether realm. While in this 'negative zone', something caused Krampus to lose his mind. 

So now we know what turned Krampus evil. And we learn why the demonic being becomes a forgotten part of holiday lore. However, that's not what makes this issue worth the price of admission.

There's a ton of monsters unleashed in this issue. Big baddies. Ugly suckers. Some threatening to destroy London. A London defended by Wonder Woman and friends. But that's still not what makes this issue worth the price of admission.

What makes this the single most greatest DC holiday comic of them all is that childlike wonder of Superman in the presence of Santa. Add the contrasting skepticism Damian Wayne has towards Claus and you have this dichotomy of differing views on the magic of Christmas that is just universal. Marvel was a Scrooge this year focusing on a handful of Star Wars Life Day covers and variants of Avengers going skiing. I applaud DC Comics putting out such a book as this that promises to separate fans because of the subject matter. Yet, this is a timeless story that is for everyone and I believe it will become a DC classic.

Great story by Jeff Parker. Amazing covers by Dan Mora. Very good art by Michele Bandini.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight #2

The main villain of this story is revealed to be Krampus!

First of all, he's on the cover. It's not a spoiler to say that Krampus is who released those ancient vampire creatures in the first issue. Well, now, he's also behind the release of some Nordic harpies and dozens of other Norse creatures that Santa Claus imprisoned for trying to kill humans; especially innocent children.

There's only one problem: Krampus, while a certified trickster, he's not a killer. Over the centuries, Krampus' threat to eat naughty children has all been part of con in cahoots with Santa. Claus would reward good children with gifts. Krampus would scare the bejesus out of the naughty kids with the prospect of those youngsters becoming his next meal. Just as the little brats wet themselves while promising to be good, Santa would swoop in and make a deal of repentance in return for keeping Krampus at bay. 

The Krampus of this story is a demon. But he's not a fallen angel. Just as this version of Santa Claus is a god, he's not a religious god, Krampus is a secular demon. If that makes any sense. You know how Marvel established that the citizens of Asgard aren't gods but powerful inter-dimensional beings that were at one time in Earth's past worshiped as Gods? Well, that's kinda what happened here. 

Trapped on Earth away from their native realms, Claus and Krampus seek to make the most of their situation. Midnight on every December 25th, the barriers between dimensions weaken. This results in Santa and Krampus having to be out among the populace to capture these new-coming escapees from hells unimaginable. To prevent humanity from living in fear of deadly terrors, Santa Claus and Krampus perform this good cop/bad cop routine involving toys for the kids. Over the centuries, they both became religious icons of the winter holidays. Claus is canonized as the saintly gift giver, whereas Krampus is demonized as an eater of children.

So what turned Krampus into such a being of evil? That's an aspect of his origin story yet to be told. 

This holiday event from DC Comics continues to amaze. Jeff Parker has knocked it out of the park with this tale. I only recently became aware of Krampus in the last 3-5 years. Considering how prevalent he's been in comics and horror films, I'm stunned by how many American kids just don't know of the characters. Maybe this book will help teach our holiday uneducated next generation of the very European figure of Krampus.

Above all, I hope the quality of the last 2 issues of the miniseries doesn't disappoint.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10.

Grimm Fairy Tales 2019 Holiday Special

With it's theme of modernizing fairy tales, Grimm Fairy Tales should be one of my favorite series. But it's legacy of T&A covers keeps me away from this series for the most part. With the addition of Krampus to this storyline, I made a rare exception. 

Krampus plays the role of Crypt Keeper, Zacherly or Svengoolie with his narration of a trio of holiday themed stories; each with their own spooky twist. The level of gore was Tarrantino-esque. But I am a fan of those scary ghost stories set during Christmas-time. 

The individual stories were quite good. And they had perfect twists which make horror stories a comic book staple! But I had a little bit of trouble figuring out the twist ending for Krampus' victim. What? Did you think Krampus just goes around telling scary stories to himself? 

The quality of this holiday special from Zenescope Entertainment was quite high! Thankfully, the main cover was fairly tame. In a way, the carpet didn't match the drapes as the sexuality level of the actual content was virtually non-existent. I might find myself purchasing some, if not all of the past holiday specials. As long as I can find the PG-13 (or better) covers.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Santas From Around The World: Bavaria- Krampus (Advent 2020, Day 13)

I’ve grown to become a fan of Krampus. A holiday staple of Central Europe, Krampus is the antithesis of Santa Claus. A half-goat, half-demon creature, Krampus kidnaps bad little children on Christmas Eve and takes them to clean in his workshop. Whether Krampus returns the children to their homes after they make his work area spotless is up for debate as some nations traditions state that Krampus eats the kiddies afterwards.

The legend of Krampus has been around since before the birth of Christ. Folklorists consider the character to be a sort of boogey man cautionary tale to naughty children. Then in the 17th century, Krampus was added many European holiday traditions as the yin to Santa’s yang as part of the Festival of St. Nicolas which occurs every December 6th. 

Krampus’ time almost came to an end in the middle of the 20th century. Far right regimes sort to eliminate the evil influence on the holidays. And their plan almost worked until Krampus began a sort of renaissance around the turn of the 21st century.

A series of comic books, horror movies and pop culture kitsch has brought Krampus back into the forefront. Now a European holiday season isn’t complete without the soot hued monster.

There’s a number of countries I could glean a cookie recipe from. But when I think of Krampus, my mind goes straight to the Black Forest of Bavaria. So for my Advent gift for you today, enjoy this delicious Gingerbread cookie recipe that can double as an ornament or decoration!

Enjoy!