Krampus: Shadow of Saint Nicholas

by Michael Dougherty

ABOUT THIS BOOK...

YOU BETTER WATCH OUT… KRAMPUS IS COMING TO TOWN.

Ancient folklore warns of a mythical counterpart to Santa Claus, who punishes naughty children every Christmas… his name is KRAMPUS. Michael Dougherty presents the official graphic novel based on his festive horror comedy , which expands the mythology of this iconic terror with an anthology of three deliciously twisted morality tales that will leave you praying you are not on the naughty list.

At the most wonderful time of the year, a drunken mall Santa comes under siege from some very mischievous Christmas spirits, a dysfunctional cop becomes trapped with the man who ruined his life and the wealthy town “scrooge” must face the shadows from his past as his home comes under invasion from the homeless. This Christmas, Krampus will make sure they all get what they deserve.

Michael Dougherty, the writer/director behind cult horror hit Trick ‘r Treat , is joined by a fantastic team of creators, uniting Krampus co-screenwriters Zach Shields and Todd Casey and artists Fiona Staples ( Saga ), Christian Dibari ( Hoax Hunters ), Maan House ( Witchblade ), and Stuart Sayger ( Bram Stoker’s Death Ship ) to deliver a twisted gift for the holiday season.

Genres: Horror, Graphic Novels, Comics, Christmas, Fantasy, Holiday, Graphic Novels Comics

128 pages, Paperback

First published November 24, 2015

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

The prospect of a graphic novel featuring Krampus was enough to send me squealing and running for my checkbook.

Sigh. . .

It starts out well enough. We meet the world's worst department store Santa, who sobers up quickly when a horde of nasty, bitey "elves" descends on the mall. Santa's got mad survival skills, but will they be enough to save the good girls & boys when even the toys aren't playing nice on this Christmas to remember dismember?



Then that story abruptly ends and we're onto the tale of a miserable copper who's missing her dead sister and vowing vengeance on the hit & run driver responsible for her death. And there's one more story about a rich man battling the homeless. I was bored by stories two and three; both could have used some humor. The artwork on the last tale was dark and muddy which made the action hard to follow.

The plots are connected and summed up nicely in part four. Sadly, it all becomes as heartwarming as a Hallmark channel movie. Yeah - not what I was expecting from a book about a Yuletide demon dreamed up to scare the kiddies into behaving for a few weeks each December.

And what about Krampus?

Well, the Great Horned One is reduced to a few cameo appearances in his own book. Even worse, he's turned into some sort of "Ghost of Christmas Future" trying to get those with no holiday spirit to change their ways. No one is beaten with switches and no one is stuffed in a sack to be hauled off and eaten later as a snack.



More's the pity. After this too-sweet tidbit, I'm betting ole Krampus could use a good meal. I'm gonna point him in the direction of that obnoxious kid that lives next door.

[Coos Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nada grita más "Feliz Navidad" que una criatura folclórica con cuernos enormes, garras y mirada siniestra. Luego de la mágica y tenebrosa película homónima, este cómic compila historias totalmente diferentes que se conectan entre sí, como ya nos tiene acostumbrados Dougherty. Recomendadisimo, sobre todo en fechas como estas.

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great graphic novel and really captures the spirit of the movie!

[Dez Nemec · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was really kinda hoping for more, but it was okay.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting this to be a recreation of the movie Krampus, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is completely different. There is five short stories within this graphic novel and they are all new. The artwork is amazing. The stories are mildly frightening, but still fun and violent. The biggest bummer is that Krampus makes only a few appearances throughout the entire book. It also was a little more happy and upbeat than I expected from a murderous demon. I liked it, but I didn’t love it. But if you’re a fan of Krampus and looking for a very quick read, I highly suggest picking up this graphic novel. You won’t regret it!

[giomustdie┆saw mcr :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

the art style >>>

3.5 :)

[Chase Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This and the Trick R Treat book are yearly reads for me. I love the abundance of heart this graphic novel has. It’s almost the opposite of the movie, where that focused on a mean spirited look at the holidays, this reminds us of the good that comes with it, mainly the chance for second chances. It helps that I adore the movie, and if it wasn’t your bag, I don’t think this will be either but I love it.

[Edwina Book Anaconda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished 2022 by hanging out with Krampus, in book form that is.

This is a comic book re-telling of A Christmas Carol featuring that old, evil grumpus named Krampus.
It was a quick, little read to finish up my year of playing in the stacks.

[David Denoyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice expansion on the Krampus lore and world that Dougherty created. Festive, spooky, sad, & entertaining plus all are quick reads.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The morality stories of this Krampus graphic novel were ok. Not the best that I have read, but not the worst. Very few sightings of Krampus itself.

[Bert · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the world of Michael Dougherty, Halloween reigns supreme however his foray into the world of Christmas is just as fun if not a little less cult like...

This graphic novel is good, it's not great but it's good, the artwork is really quite cool, particularly the second story, the thing that stops it from being great like the 2 Trick R Treat graphic novels is the fact that the stories really aren't that Christmas(Y) and barely feature Krampus. The main reason I bought this book was to add it to my collection of Michael Dougherty Presents books and also because I rather enjoyed the film Krampus but it's a world away from that movie and the wonderful, dark Christmas vibe it had... The 4th story is a mashup of the first 3 but it confused me a little as to how they all connected, I may have to go back and reread it and see if I can find the connection.

This book was a great way to kill an hour however it is lacking the Christmas vibes that the film had, great for Michael Dougherty fans but for Christmas fans I would say there are probably better stories out there.

[Cale · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the movie Krampus (which is only tangentially related to this collection), so I was curious to see what the comic book format would bring. It was mostly chaotic page layouts and less-than-impressive stories. I'm not sure whether I'm more disappointed in the individual stories' endings, or the way the wrap-up story subverts those endings. The change in tone doesn't do any of the stories any favors. We get a Bad Santa ripoff, a Christmas Carol pastiche, and a cop Christmas story, all of which get interrupted by Krampus' minions in an almost hallucinogenic manner - it makes no sense at all. The art is okay for the most part, but the third story's art makes what's already a weak story almost incomprehensible. The second story works best, but again the finale kind of undercuts everything that came before it. There's some decent content here, but not enough to really make the book worth reading.

[Dann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on the hit film, Krampus: Shadow of Saint Nicholas continues the yuletide terror. An anthology of horror, the comics follows a department store Santa, a beat cop, and a real estate developer as they have run-ins with Krampus and his minions.one Christmas. While Michael Dougherty and his co-screenwriters developed the stories, they don’t really feel all that connected to the film. And the tone is different as well; grittier and less comedic. Still, there are some good fight and chase scenes. Also, the artwork is well-done (except for the third story) and features interesting creature designs and a strong use of color. Krampus: Shadow of Saint Nicholas is entertaining and delivers a few frights, but it’s largely a mediocre and forgettable graphic novel.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still missing a good scary read? Still pining for Halloween? Don’t worry, for Christmas is also famous for scary stories. And Krampus: Shadow of Saint Nicholas will make you wonder if you’ve been bad enough for a visit from Krampus too. Gruss vom Krampus!

I give Krampus: Shadow of Saint Nicholas 5 ‘You Better Watch Out! You Better Be Good!’ stars.

Read the rest of the review at http://www.ismellsheep.com/2015/12/co...

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed in this one. I was really looking forward to it, because I like all things Krampus. The book contained three short stories featuring encounters with Krampus and his minions. None of the stories were that great, and Krampus did not appear enough. The stories all take place on the same night in the same town, but otherwise barely intersect. This could have been so much better.

[it’s cait · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun, entertaining comic for fans of the movie and fans of the legend that is krampus in general

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite liked the movie, with some misgivings; in contrast, the stories here were pretty mid with some good points.

The first is about your typical Mall Santa Who Is Actually a Drunken Asshole, though it at least tries to give him a backstory to explain his behavior. (I still won't accept "well he had a real beard" as a reason for him to get hired in the first place.) He and some more competent adults have to protect some children with Krampus besieges the town, and character development ensues.

The second was probably my favorite, about a female cop still dealing with personal tragedy from years ago. She's escorting a petty thief to the station when Krampus attacks on Christmas Eve. The fact that he's the one who killed the sister seems a bit contrived, but it deals with the emotional complexities better than the other stories.

The third is probably the worst. It's your basic Christmas Carol thing, but told in a trippy, confusing way, which isn't helped by the dark and kinda ugly artwork (which at least makes the monster toys look cooler). The morality is also off, treating the poor characters as unchallengeable and the others, in contrast, bad to the point of caricacture. (Also, why did not-Scrooge lose all his clothes but his underwear? He was dressed when they captured him, but then his clothes are gone...why?)

The fourth story isn't really a story, it's just an ending that ties the other three together. I actually did like it; for those who have seen the movie, it's basically the same thing as happens there. And it's nice to see those ugly characters from the third story in a better art style.

Overall: not great, but not terrible, and it's a pretty quick read.

[Donne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to let this book marinate a little in my head before I reviewed it. At first, I felt it was a little blunt at the end ... and then I thought over it for a day and realized it wasn't really.
*Spoilers from here ...*
This retelling of A Christmas Story (or Scrooged) is a little hard to follow as it weaves the story from different perspectives and it really isn't until the last chapter that it all comes together. Which made it a little fractured to think about until it settled and I was able to appreciate the genius of it. Had I thought I was reading a retelling, I would have read it completely differently and not appreciated parts of the story. As it is presented, you connect with so many of the characters and feel like you really know them by the end even though it is not very long by how many pages there are numbered. But, in story depth and saturation, you find yourself connecting to each person.

I loved almost all the art in this GN. I have to admit that there is one chapter that I didn't connect with the art very well - everyone looked a little angry and clinically mad in every picture. But, the scenery and Krampus himself were beautifully done.

[Mariah L. Napier · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Krampus” is easily my favorite Christmas movie. I watch it every year. I was really excited to get my hands on this comic because I had no idea it existed until now! For the most part, the individual stories are fairly engaging, and I really enjoyed the writing, especially the dialog between characters.

However… there is one detail in particular I just can’t get behind.

Chapter III.

Let me get this straight. The Scrooge is a Scrooge because he’s wealthy, and is justifiably upset when a bunch of deranged homeless people BREAK INTO HIS HOUSE and steal his clothes, food, and wine on Christmas Eve..?

I mean, I’d get my gun out too if I found a bunch of degenerates snacking on my Christmas turkey. The idea that we’re obviously meant to sympathize with these criminals and condemn the home owner for protecting his property is ridiculous. Also, the ending to that chapter was difficult to decipher, bordering on completely incomprehensible. Seriously WTF did I just read? lol

Aside from Chapter III, I did like the way the stories tied together, and I felt the ending was very in keeping with the spirit of the movie. I really enjoyed the artwork as well.

[Jameson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost great, but let down by some wonky art. It’s hard to read a story when it’s impossible to distinguish which character is which. Or which was which: there are four stories here (well, three and an unnecessary epilogue) and the characters are off-model between them all. Worse, in the third story they’re off-model from panel to panel. It’s frustrating because the first two chapters were excellent and this was shaping up to be heads and shoulders above the usual comic horror anthology. Still, the first two storied have a lot of heart and humor. The third story might too but it’s kind of a mess.

[Mario Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this book much better than the movie to me. I think it’s the humor is played down and the stories in this one are much more serious and way more interesting and I love the anthology style of storytelling and the way they connect in the end is great.

I found this book 2 years ago as a Halloween book but it has now become a new Christmas tradition to read this every year around the holidays.

[TwinFitzgeraldKirkland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Il Krampus che dà il nome a questo fumetto, per chi non lo sapesse, è un mostro vestito di pelli logore e dotato di lunghe corna caprine legato principalmente alle tradizioni natalizie dell’area austro-ungarica, Cecoslovacchia, Svizzera e in alcune parti dell’Italia (Trentino, Friuli e Veneto): leggenda vuole che esso fosse un demone ridotto in schiavitù dallo stesso San Nicola e che ancora oggi lo accompagni nei suoi viaggi insieme ai suoi fidi assistenti armati di catene e fruste per punire e spaventare i bambini che si sono comportati male.
Un po’ come il Namahage giapponese.
Sono gli uomini tradizionalmente a mascherarsi da Krampus durante queste parate di San Nicola ma nel folklore ne esiste anche una controparte femminile, la Krampa, che qui però non ci interessa.

Per ragioni poco chiare l’omonimo film horror-natalizio del 2015 ambientato negli Stati Uniti vede come protagonista questa figura folkloristica che col loro Babbo Natale della coca cola c’entra come il cavolo a merenda, e come spiegazione dovrebbe bastarci il fatto che la nonna paterna di questa famiglia che verrà presa di mira dal Krampus (qui divenuto per l’occasione una sorta di doppelganger oscuro del gioviale barbabianca) per aver perso il proprio spirito natalizio è un’immigrata tedesca che quindi proviene proprio dalle zone abitualmente battute dal Krampus. Una scelta abbastanza forzata dal momento che mi sembra solo l’ennesimo tentativo da parte di Hollywood di prelevare a cavolo elementi di altre culture per tirarne fuori la solita americanata tamarra a uso e consumo del loro mercato invaso dai Fast and Furious, ma tant’è.

Sull’onda del successo di questo film viene pubblicato questo fumetto, che ne rappresenta una sorta di prequel, con varie storie legate tra loro dal solo fatto di interessare persone che hanno perso per un motivo o per l’altro lo spirito natalizio e che quindi, anche senza astruse parentele austro ungariche, verranno prese di mira dal Krampus e dai suoi demoniaci sgherri, in un crescendo di scene trucide che variano dall’inutile al ridicolo al ridondante.
Eppure si era partiti bene, dal momento che la prima storia non era affatto male e mi faceva ben sperare di trovarmi di fronte a un prodotto interessante: siamo in un centro commerciale in cui lavora un Babbo Natale decisamente povero di spirito natalizio, che non si fa scrupolo di ubriacarsi, imprecare e insultare i bambini (un gruppo di orfanelli in gita, immancabile pietismo made in USA) a cui dovrebbe infondere gioia e spirito natalizio. Ma quando il Krampus e i suoi malefici elfi cercheranno di uccidere lui, la sua collega (che di spirito natalizio ne ha in abbondanza quindi non si capisce perché diventi una delle vittime designate), e questo gruppo di bambini americani che a una certa sembreranno più esaltati che terrorizzati al pensiero di essere fatti a pezzi, questo Babbo Bastardo veterano di guerra dovrà farsi passare la sbornia, imbracciare armi improvvisate e dare il via a un’esplosione di gioiosa violenza natalizia.

Poi senza una conclusione vera e propria passiamo alla seconda storia in cui è una poliziotta ad aver perso lo spirito natalizio dopo la morte della sorella ad opera di un pirata della strada: incontrato casualmente proprio l’assassino della sorella, un ladruncolo che vive divorato dal senso di colpa e che la implora inutilmente di avere il suo perdono, i due dovranno vedersela ancora una volta con il Krampus, a cui evidentemente non sta bene che sotto natale uno abbia il pieno diritto di essere triste per la perdita di un proprio caro, o di covare rancore verso il prossimo, per quanto la morte della sorella sia stato un incidente. Si passa poi a un ricco stronzo dal cuore di pietra che dovrà vedersela col Krampus quando sotto natale farà il grosso con una povera famiglia che rischia di finire in mezzo alla strada. Le tre storie troveranno una conclusione e un ricongiungimento nel capitolo finale, in cui lo spirito natalizio, anche per la natura stessa di questo Krampus, non potrà mancare.
Pena un altro massacro, alla faccia del sentimento che viene dal cuore.

*

Questo comic è una commercialata fatta e finita che vorrebbe essere una sorta di opera anti-natalizia ma che a conti fatti ti sbrodola addosso la stessa melassosa retorica festiva in cui tutti ci dobbiamo volere bene, essere buoni ed essere felici, pena (letteralmente) la morte. Il che potrebbe anche andar bene se non fosse che le storie che compongono questo volume sono davvero raffazzonate e noiose, costruite su clichè triti e ritriti e privi di una minima complessità, di approfondimento psicologico ma soprattutto di un po’ di umorismo da film d’azione che perlomeno avrebbe dato un po’ di respiro tra una scena truce e l‘altra (i disegni non sono male, ma assolutamente nella media). L’atmosfera poi manca totalmente di drammaticià, non angoscia quanto dovrebbe dal momento che la vera presenza demoniaca, il burattinaio che si aggira furtivo nell’ombra di San Nicola, vale a dire il Krampus vero e proprio, compare pochissimo e più come memento natali, e un branco di pupazzi con la maschera di legno e bamboline, per quanto malvage e assassini siano, non bastano a creare quell’atmosfera ansiogena che mi aspetto da un fumetto horror, per quanto ispirato al Natale.

[Scott Waldie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It ends up using the Krampus as a backdrop for a Christmas Carol-like tale told in four chapters. It felt a little disjointed despite the stories being interwoven, however I will say the dingy art style was pretty good and I thought the first chapter had some potential...if it were elaborated on you might even half a half-decent script for a Krampus 2 flick.

[Rachel Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book's art style is very appealing, but I found the storylines hard to follow, and I'm unsure how its contribution to the Krampus lore fits with the movie, which is supposed to be in the same universe.
It's also more heartwarming than I expected, which I don't mind since the origins of Krampus depict his purpose as encouraging good behaviors, but might disappoint readers who are hoping for something scary.

[Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Michael Dougherty's horror film, you will enjoy this colorful reimagining. "Krampus: Shadow of Saint Nicholas" features three interconnected tales from Christmas Eve and introduces readers to a number of men and women who've found their way onto Krampus's naughty list. It was a short but entertaining read, albeit with very little Krampus.

[Rudy R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once I figured out that it worked like Trick 'r Treat, I appreciated it more. However the tale of the CEO just... bores me. I get it's supposed to be a send-up to A Christmas Carol but it just doesn't hit the same. In fact I think I find it even more distasteful than when I read this comic the first time.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect supplement to the film! It’s scary, oddly moral an fitting.

It’s short (I read it in under 30 minutes) but more for a perfect read over a cup of coffee.

Not much to recommend for people who haven’t seen the film... but a wonderful companion to it for those who have!

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my new most favorite things ever. I absolutely ADORE Michael Dougherty’s Krampus. This book made me tear up a lot. I absolutely *loved* it. The only thing I hate about this is that there aren’t more of these stories for me to read.

[Francesco Tehrani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, Krampus! I absolutely loved the movie and filmmakers so I had to get this! Once again, these are my kind of stories... and if you have seen the movie, you will know what I mean. The art, plots, and characters were fantastic!

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75⭐. Spooky, scary. I appreciate the different styles of short stories, but overall this just didn't do it for me. A little too dark maybe? There's definitely on optimistic interpretation for the end. Haven't seen the movie and doesn't make me want to either.