Through the Boughs: A Yuletide Offering

by James Tynion IV, Jim Campbell, Pat McHale

Genres: Comics, Christmas, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Horror, Comic Book, Anthologies

71 pages, Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 2024

About the author

Prior to his first professional work, Tynion was a student of Scott Snyder's at Sarah Lawrence College. A few years later, he worked as for Vertigo as Fables editor Shelly Bond's intern. In late 2011, with DC deciding to give Batman (written by Snyder) a back up feature, Tynion was brought in by request of Snyder to script the back ups he had plotted. Tynion would later do the same with the Batman Annual #1, which was also co-plotted by Snyder. Beginning in September 2012, with DC's 0 issue month for the New 52, Tynion will be writing Talon, with art by Guillem March. In early 2013 it was announced that he'd take over writing duties for Red Hood and the Outlaws in April.

Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.

Reviews

[Philip James Ahlschlager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving these seasonal offerings from Dstlry, this is the best one yet; a visual feast.

[Alexandrine D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compilation of short christmas stories with a kind of creepy vibe, it was really nice

[Comic Queen 👑 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of these stories were just plain weird with poor art. However some of them were spectacular and really should have their own series. Worth the read and buy? Absolutely. 🎄⭐️

[Joseph Hamm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first heard about this special issue by means of Patrick McHale, a favorite creator of mine. I’m very glad I bought this limited edition comic as each and every piece was very unique and beautiful illustrated.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

This great collection of short comics produced by Pat McHale, who created "Over the Garden Wall", tells of winter and Yuletide tales. Enchanting and diverse, the stories range from cheery to disturbing and light to heavy.

The different art styles create a wonderful mosaic of pictures that so accurately match their stories, from old-timey newspaper comic style to detailed backgrounds and full-page brightness.

Can't wait to read more installments!

[Wm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I nearly missed the IMO best story. Its pacing is unusual. After adoring most of the preceding stories, I was 4 pages into story #5 – Ryan Andrews's "The Goat King's Son" – when I realized I had no idea what was going on. That left me with a choice; do I continue to skim it, or even skip it altogether, or do I put the book down and come back with a fresh sensibility?

I'm so glad to have taken the break. What a treat the almost-too-brisk pacing is. I would have missed this anthology's arguably strongest tale. Other contenders for that honour IMO are K. Wroten's "Pulsar" – a tragedy set in a post-apocalyptic dystopia in which only old people remember snow, and one elderly character is threatened with arrest for letting deadly sunshine in – and Patrick McHale and J.K. and Jim Campbell's "The Man in the Blood Red Coat" – a wonderfully silly tale of a goblin family's distrust of the red-coated man-of-the-season whom we are all familiar with.

[Rebecca Jeyne Lannister · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5

1. The Man in the Blood Red Coat by Patrick McHale and Jim Campbell ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ 4.5/5

2. The Yule Beast by Sweeney Boo ⭐⭐⭐✨ 3.5/5

3. Crumbs: A Very Bad Elf by James Tynion IV and Jensine Eckwall ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ 4.5/5

4. Sol Saunter by Molly Mendoza ⭐⭐ 2/5

5. The Goat King's Son by Ryan Andrews ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5

6. Pulsar by K.Wroten ⭐✨ 1.5/5

7. We'll be Home ⭐⭐✨ 2.5/5

[Ex Libris Animus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun art, some very interesting art. Stories are hot and miss. A lot of these holiday compilations feel like thrown together cash grabs. The stories feel gaped, unfinished and sometimes go nowhere at all. The cover art reeled me in, the book itself lost ne

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent collection of short, cartoony Christmas stories. The standout was definitely Ryan Andrews story of a myth of Santa chasing a goat, that steals the sun, across the heavens. Brilliant art and great writing, it deserves an issue for itself. Will check out what else Ryan has been up to

[Jason Holtzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read! All of the art is great and many of the stories are entertaining. A couple of them went over my head, but overall it’s a nice little collection.

[isha · Rating 3 out of 5]

wish some of these were longer/more fleshed out but the art was nice!!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the illustrations and stories.

[Dani V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute!

[Literarykittens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the art and seasonal theme. I hope the series continues every year

[Leslie Carnahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omgoodness! How magical was that one shot?! <3 Spooky yet full of holiday cheer! Yes yes yes!

[Edd Sanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Mediocre 3/5 Graphic Novel Anthology about christmas season, but barely...

[Elizabeth (Miss Eliza) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn. This was perfection. Top talent pouring their holiday hearts out to create something worthy of a dark Disney. I need to seek out all of their work. All of it.