The Last Christmas

by Brian Posehn, Rick Remender (Illustrator), Tony Moore (Illustrator)

After the apocalypse, no one is safe; not even at the North Pole. After tragedy strikes, Santa withdraws from life and turns his back on Christmas. When he finally emerges from seclusion, the old world is gone forever, and as Santa struggles to find his way in a post-apocalyptic world, can he find a way to save Christmas too?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Christmas, Horror, Zombies, Holiday, Post Apocalyptic

176 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2006

About the author

Brian Edmund Posehn[1] (born July 6, 1966) is an American actor, voice actor, musician, writer, and comedian, known for his roles as Jim Kuback on The WB's Mission Hill and Brian Spukowski on Comedy Central's The Sarah Silverman Program.

(source: wikipedia)

Reviews

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

World War III has ravaged the earth and if you’re not a member of a ruthless street gang, you’re probably a hideously deformed mutant. While carnage has enveloped the majority of the world, it’s business as usual in the North Pole. While Santa is still delivering presents to the few children who believe in him, there’s a plan hatched by The Marauders – a ruthless gang out of San Francisco – to take down Jolly Old Saint Nick once and for all. Can Santa fend off the forces of evil and restore some joy to a hopeless planet?

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

I was browsing Netgalley for something new to read when I spotted a comic written by Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn. I’m a big fan of the team’s work on the new Deadpool series so when I saw that they had written a gore-splattered, darkly comedic take on the holiday season, I knew I had to snatch this one up.

Literally conceived over a game of Halo on XBOX Live, the two friends took Santa and injected him into a post-apocalyptic action movie filled with over-the-top violent scenes and fantastic one liners. While it did take a while for the story to pick up, the last quarter of the book kicks ass. There’s one panel near the end – and I absolutely refuse to spoil it – that had me laughing until I cried. If you’re a fan of movies like Army of Darkness or Shoot 'Em Up, this one is for you.

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars
This graphic novel was vulgar, violent and over the top. It tried too hard to be darkly funny, yet I have to admit I was somewhat entertained. I would cautiously recommend this one to readers who dislike cozy romance and are instead looking for some dark satire to read during the next holiday sseason. It basically reads like a really cheesy Christmas themed action movie… with mutant zombies.

[Machiavelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Christmas is super dark, wildly inappropriate, and ridiculously juvenile—but somehow that combination totally works for me. I was chuckling throughout.

It’s a bleak, post-apocalyptic Santa story drenched in gallows humor, gross-out jokes, and just enough heart to keep it from tipping into pure parody. It fully embraces its immaturity, but it’s self-aware about it, and the pitch-black comedy landed more often than not.

Not subtle. Not classy. But funny, mean-spirited, messed-up, and weirdly entertaining.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Last Christmas is one of those lazy books that takes a universal story, like fairy tales, and subverts the popular image, giving a new slant on them where the bad characters tell their side of the story and it turns out the good guys are bad, and so on. This book turns Santa from a jolly old fat man into a wannabe child-murdering drunk. By the way, that’s the only joke in the story and it’s repeated throughout so even if you laughed the first time, it gets less funnier the more its used.

The zombie apocalypse is brought about when mankind blows up the world with nukes and in the aftermath, some Mad Max-esque marauders make it up to the North Pole one Christmas when Santa’s out and about and rape/murder Mrs Claus. Santa returns and loses his mind. He gives up on Christmas, choosing to drink himself into a stupor until he attempts suicide - unsuccessfully. Because despite the decimation of the human population, one young boy still believes in Santa and so long as he lives, so does Santa - so Santa sets off in his sleigh to kill the boy and thereby kill himself. Ho ho…. oh no. Yeah it’s pretty grim.

This forgettable comic from 2006 has been reissued thanks to the popularity of Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn’s work on Marvel’s Deadpool series, and Rick Remender’s rise in the comics world too though as a writer. Trying to make a quick buck - always the best reason to bring stuff back, right? They’ve even got Geof Darrow to draw a new cover for it, like the cover he drew to Duggan/Posehn’s first Deadpool book (to be fair, it is an awesome cover).

Like I said, it’s a one joke book where everything you expect about Christmas and the characters are subverted - Santa’s a drunk who pisses and pukes on himself and wants to die, the elves make guns instead of toys, Frosty the Snowman is a narrator/‘Nam vet character, and so on. The whacky humour isn’t as funny as it is in Deadpool with the writers instead choosing to reference and borrow heavily from pop culture so it reads like every zombie story. The marauders storyline makes no sense, and everything feels extremely derivative and uninteresting. Get past the setup and you’re left with the shallowest of stories: Santa kills zombies with a machine gun. Yawn.

Remender’s art isn’t bad and it’s cartoony style suits the crazy story well, though his character model for the hot woman is so unrealistic it would make Barbie roll her eyes. I’m sure that choice was deliberate but it only makes the comic that much more cheesy. And his child characters don’t look like kids, at least facially. The kids’ faces look much older so rather than look like kids, they look like little people instead.

The only part I laughed was the letter from Mrs Claus that preceded the comic which outright insults all of the creators on the book, which was probably written by the creators, and, in its vitriol, was much more entertaining. Without visual images to assist, more effort has gone into the writing of the letter than the writing in the comic itself as that writing can rely on visual aids to do half the work.

Otherwise, The Last Christmas is an unfunny story filled with unlikeabe, uninteresting characters on a moronic journey through hell. It goes from bad farce to bad comedy to the schlockiest of zombie and action movie cliches. I’m certain this was a booze/weed-fuelled idea that sounded great when they were out of it but simply isn’t interesting enough to sustain a 150 page book. I like the creative team’s other efforts but The Last Christmas is pretty bad.

[Donald Armfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is great, Santa Claus meets Army of Darkness. Gore splatter, witty dialog and a great tale for the Last Christmas....or is it?

Santa is all done, after the apocalypse there is no need to continue. Now boozing it up, but still can't die after numerous attempts of suicide. There is still one believer.

Can Santa and his elves and the one true believer save Christmas? Wrap this one up for that person on your Christmas list who likes the B-rated horror. Merry Christmas!

[Isa · Rating 1 out of 5]

book courtesy of Image Comics through Netgalley

"The writers behind the hit series Deadpool present the sad, funny, and true story of Santa Claus — after the apocalypse!"

That was enough to make me click the download button and eagerly await to start reading right away.
The thing is, I forgot that I used to love Deadpool.
Deadpool was about using all the comic book tropes, all the sexisms, racism, idiotic heroics, maudlin dramatics, then breaking the 4th wall and going, "see how absurdly wrong this is?"

Deadpool could behave like a neckbeard basement dweller when around the ladies, but it was always made perfectly clear that his behaviour was not okay. He could do pretty fucked up things and we'd read them fully aware that he was not mentally healthy, and even he realised this and claimed it made no difference since it wasn't even real and he was a comic book character. All of it with the wittiest dialogue ever.

I don't begrudge success to worthy comics or any other medium - if it's good, the more people aware and buying it, the better! Alas, with success Deadpool stopped being about a disfigured man, battling cancer and mental illness, bringing up and breaking tropes, proclaiming his love for Bea Arthur, and switched to a dude making questionable jokes, with babes just fighting over each other for the dubious pleasure of his company.

Which is when I stopped reading it.
I forgot about all that, or I subconsciously hoped for a return of sanity within the insanity, so when I started reading The Last Christmas I was not ready for how ridiculously low grade it was.
It seriously is one dudebro joke gone way too long (they're all too long by their mere existence, but you know what I mean).

We start with a questionable montage about how human beings never got along featuring racist caricatures of Jewish and Arabic people.


Comics from the 21st century or Ku Klux Klan pamphlet?

Then comes the Apocalypse and toxic mutant making rain, but more importantly, Mrs. Claus, fulfilling the Disposable Woman trope, so Santa has an excuse for spiralling into alcoholism and suicide (hilarious, right?!).
But Santa can't kill himself if even one little boy or girl believes in his existence. One such boy continues to believe. So Santa decides to kill him.
Off he goes to meet the stereotypical white post-apocalyptic survivors.

The world may have ended, but ladies are still there mainly for decoration, reacting with pin-up poses to dire news of betrayal in this dystopian hell.


Oh no! My back is going to snap because of my unrealistic proportions!

But wait, another incredibly racist stereotype shows up to save the day in the form of a Japanese guy personifying the trope of All Asians Know Martial Arts.
Everybody Was Kung-Fu Fighting and it was terrible.

Cue more gore, alcoholism, racism, ageism, sexist jokes and then "happy" ending.
Though not really.


Parts! Because she's an object, not a person! Get it? Funny stuff...

Well, I guess it is a happy ending because I don't have to go on reading.

[Nevertaken · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very entertaining book, and I'm sure I'll end up reading it once a year. Brian Posehn is one of my favorite comedians, and this book is essentially what got me into comics. The only other comic I had bought in years was Maddox's one-shot, and after reading this trade I needed more. I went and picked up a few series I had heard were great but never bothered to check out, such as The Walking Dead, and this lead to MANY others.

As for this book I'm reviewing, I'm sure you already know what it's about if you're reading this. It really succeeds in every way in my eyes. Love the art, and the story is compelling, and hilarious. Already lent my copy around and recommended it to many.

[Highland G · Rating 2 out of 5]

Its just okay. No time for character development in anyone other than Santa and tbh both of his, big changes are somewhat extreme reactions not very believable. It had a few fun moments.

[Jess (freaks over books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I wanted a lot more from this graphic novel. I hate Fairyland gave me more creep and thrill vibes than this did, which kind of makes me sad as it is a freaking bloody, gory, zombie-filled CHRISTMAS graphic novel. It was ok but pretty forgettable, which it is should not be for being what it was.

[Dann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hilarious satire, Santa battles the apocalypse in The Last Christmas. Pitched as “Santa meets the Road Warrior,” when society collapses roving marauders raid the North Polar and kill Mrs. Claus, causing Santa to spiral into a suicidal depression; but he’s unable to die as long as a single child still believes in him, leading Santa to end Christmas and hunt down the last child who’s keeping him alive. Writers Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn do a tremendous job at spoofing the traditional tropes of Christmas stories; such as a snowman narrator, singing elves, and ornament grenades. And the animation is also very good, having a Rankin/Bass-like feel. However, the plot is rather weak and doesn’t really go too much into what the apocalyptic world is like or what type of zombie-like mutants are attacking the human remnant; it’s kind of just a generic zombie apocalypse. The Last Christmas has some problems, but overall it’s an entertaining and fun graphic novel that, oddly enough, has a bit a yuletide spirit.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the writers behind the hit series Deadpool set out to write a Christmas story, you should expect twisted and deranged and that's exactly what you get in The Last Christmas. The cover image should serve as a warning, with Santa standing over dead elves while holding 2 weapons. With prevalent gore and profanity, this is not a tale for the easily offended, and definitely not for children.

It's the near future and the apocalypse has happened. The North Pole has been unscathed and going about their business until one day marauders invade and kill Mrs. Claus. Santa is beside himself and attempts to kill himself, but he can't as long as one child remains who believes in him. Now all Santa wants to do is find that one child and finally rest in peace.

It's darkly funny and very twisted, but I enjoyed it. From the opening poem by Patton Oswalt, to the angry detraction letter from Mrs. Claus, you know exactly what you're in for and Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn deliver. Rick Remender's pencil's and Hilary Barta's inks give the book a Mad Magazine style of art (with a lot more gore, of course). The book finishes with a cover gallery.

I was given a copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me read this graphic novel.

[Lucie Paris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this Christmas story completely wicked!

After the Apocalypse, earth is habited tby fews humans and a lot of undead people. Santa's wife is murdered and the old man cured his pain in alcohol. Nobody can make him react and he is losing himself in his puke.
His agony also made ​​him forget the Christmas spirit and he refuses to play its role and bring some magic to children. Gradually, they cease to believe in him and he is about to be forgotten and dying.
Yet, a young boy resisted and continue to base its hopes on Santa.

From this point, the story takes a new twist. Santa Claus becomes a real tough guy, zombie killer and puts the vilains in the right way with the help of some guns and grenades.

It's funny, crazy, wicked, vulgar but very well done.

The illustrations are realistic, the coloring of the vignettes are vibrant and the apocalypse intrigue is trendy.
The little dusty and old fashion Santa Claus becomes a badass superhero with powerful tools!
A real frenzy! I had a good time with this Christmas comics very unconventional!

Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr...

[Bárbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Básicamente Army of Darkness + un Viejo Pascuero alcohólico + Mad Max + hordas de zombies, ¿el resultado? una excelente novela gráfica totalmente recomendable para esta época festiva.

[tony dillard jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a zombie apocalypse, the survivors of the world try to continue living life as close to normal. Christmas is one of those traditions hanging by a thread and it still manages to keep Santa busy. Instead of a teddy bear, kids might now ask for a .357 Magnum with 100 rounds in order to survive another year. But, it's still business as usual for St. Nick. That is until the zombies finally invade the North Pole.

Santa and his elves are able to repel the attack, but not without some causalities. As a result, Mrs. Claus is brutally murdered and it sends Santa down into a deep depression. Every year to mark the anniversary of his wife's death, Santa tries to do himself in. But he can't die as the children of the world still believe in him. But years of not showing up has caused that number to shrink until there's only one kid left who believes- and he wants a bike for Christmas.

Seeing his way to finally die, Santa heads down to San Francisco to meet with the last kid who believes. In his sleigh is a very special present. Only, it's not a bike and it's going to help Kris Kringle finally go out with a bang.

This Image series from Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan is wild. The same duo who brought us an insane run recently on Deadpool, this comic book is NOT for kids! I'm serious. Just because it stars Santa and some elves, in no way should a child under the age of 12 read this book. Heck 12 might even be pushing it.

This 2006 miniseries from is full of sex, suicide (attempts), gore, murder, and about as much potty humor legally allowed by Marvel during a Deadpool run of issues- multiplied by a factor of 50! It's all rendered in disgusting detail by the team of Hilary Barta, Rick Remender, and covers by Geof Darrow!

Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed this book. It was off-the-wall and that's my field house. But I also know that this is not a holiday comic for just anyone either. This is the type of Santa Claus that should only be enjoyed by mommies and daddies.

[Corwyn Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, so, the opening note (letter) from Mrs. Clause (written for this graphic novel) was so fucking hysterical that it made the book seem like a half-assed attempt at being funny. It (the book) had the makings of a brutally cult-tastic, twisted little parody of family values, but seemed to be holding back. They (the writers) failed the concept by making the characters too wholesome. If you're gonna go with a twisted, balls-out Christmas story, go all the way, dude. This seemed like it was trying not to offend the tradition of Christmas while just carefully pushing the boundaries. The opening letter, however, was all balls; no holds barred. There were still some funny parts that made me laugh, and I liked the comic-y art. I wouldn't say don't read it, because it really was a fun little, cute story, playing at being badass, but I wouldn't suggest it to anyone. But...I'm a hardass when it comes to humor, so this will likely be more amusing to most than it was to me. I think 3 stars is about right.

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Last Christmas collects issues 1-5 of the Image Comics series written by Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn, art by Rick Remender, and colors by Michelle Madsen.

Santa Clause has given up on Christmas after the world has dived into chaos and anarchy during the apocalypse. When he learns there are kids out there who still believe in Santa Clause, he makes it his mission to spread joy and give presents by any means necessary, including killing any marauders and mutant zombies he encounters along the way.

The Last Christmas takes many of the symbols of Christmas and warps them in a gore and expletive filled romp through the holidays. The book is presented as a mix of dark comedy and gross out, juvenile humor. Unfortunately, most of the jokes simply don’t land. I was actually a bit surprised just how “okay” this book is with all the talent involved. The art in this book is very cartoony which matches the tone of the book very well.

[David Turko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow, so this book exists. I really don't know how I feel about this. Santa is unlikable until the last two issues. The art is decent and its done by Rick Reminder which shocks me cause I only knew him as a writer. The cover sort of explains what happens. The apocalypse happens and Santa gets rowdy and kills mutants and helps the last humans. Its pretty much what you get in this story. I don't think its worth a purchase but it's entertaining.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes low expectations are good. This vulgar graphic novel was well done and nicely illustrated. Adult humor can be found in this Santa meets Road Warrior story. After Mrs. Claus is killed in a post-apocalyptic world, Santa falls off the deep end only to be resurrected by one little boy who still believes in him. Santa and the elves are fighting zombies & mutants with ornament grenades. Not for everyone, but it is exactly what it advertises.

[Robert C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this in an earlier Humble Bundle and I'm currently doing a big read through of Rick Remender's work, since I also got a new Bundle full of his work. This one isn't written by him, but he did the art. I've always known him to be a writer, so it was interesting to see his art, which is actually really good and I'm surprised he hasn't done more. The story was good and fun, but nothing essential.

[Savi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was barely 2 stars for me. I was interested in the premise but the execution was so weirdly lackluster and boring that it barely kept my interest. The humour employed in the story just misses the mark for me completely and I almost never found myself chuckling at any of the jokes. I am also not a fan of such exaggerated cartoony designs so the visuals barely held my interest either.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A seriously f*cked up tale of Santa Claus meets the Apocalypse. WWIII breaks out and Mrs. Claus is fridged, first sending Santa Claus on a drinking binge and then on a rampage of revenge. Its all very Deadpool II (but, ironically, not the Christmas edition).

[Paxton Holley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ha! This was pretty good. I was a big fan of Posehn/Duggan’s run on Deadpool, so I was pretty excited to read this.

Not bad mashup of zombie apocalypse and Christmas. Remender’s art is really good too. I had a lot of fun reading it.

[Pryder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a mostly fun little ultra violent comedic tale. It's not to be taken too seriously, and the humour is a little aged with how edgelord edgy it is.

It's not gonna be on the top of anyones best comics of all time. But it's a fun, silly, violent read.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect going into this, but I loved it. It was so different from any other comic I've read before.

[Dayline Jusino-Velez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its like a Deadpool / Walking Dead fun mashup.

[Paula Lyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like Christmas books in December and am willing to go pretty far afield to find them. This is just so-so. Very gross, not-at-all funny, and I have to hide it from my grandsons. Not worth it.

[Mr. Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was like I’d Die Hard Met The Santa Clause and they had a Zombieland baby.

[Stephen Heverin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny dark take on Santa Claus, defnitley not one to read to your kids.

[Poetniknowit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mutant zombies. Gore. Murder. Santa. Booze.

I loved it.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Post Apocalyptic Christmas with Santa battling zombies and mutants.