Publisher: Boom!
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Dan Mora
Editor: Eric Harburn & Matt Gagnon
Release date: OUT NOW!
Price: $3.99

Tis the season to be jolly, tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la! Well, not if you’re Grant Morrison it’s not. Sub-titled ‘How Santa Claus Began’ this is everything you’ve never wanted to know about jolly old Kris Kringle.

In Klaus there’s not an elf in sight and reindeer don’t fly or have red noses. Snow there is aplenty but the grim faced barbarian who trudges through this winter wonderland looks more like he has slaughter on his mind than mince pies.

On his visit to Grimsvig Town to sell meat and furs, a run-in with the Baron’s heavies sees him coming to the defence of a young boy, having his goods stolen and being run out of town. Something is definitely rotten in the town of Grimsvig and Klaus takes it upon himself to put things right.

Klaus is Grant Morrison at his whimsical best merging a multitude of Santa legends into one glorious festive concoction and you can almost feel the cold coming off the page thanks to Dan Mora’s superb artwork. Klaus seems like barbaric bloodlust meets psychedelic fever dream to create a new and enduring myth for the modern age. This is one Christmas tradition that you will really look forward to; just don’t say ‘Bah, Humbug’ or Klaus is gonna get you and you do not want to end up on this guy’s naughty list believe me!

Reviewer: Gary Orchard
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker