I am not a big reader of graphic novels but I do read half a dozen or so each year. Rather than review each one individually, because I don’t have a lot to say, I thought I would collect them in one post. I thought they were all interesting reads for different reasons. Some from authors/creators I am familiar with, some that just caught my eye at the library.
Klaus by Grant Morrison, Dan Mora (Illustrations)
Publisher:
He’s a myth. He’s a legend. He’s loved worldwide by children and adults alike . . . but does anyone truly know the origins of Santa Claus? Set in a dark fantastic past of myth and magic, Klaus tells the origin story of Santa Claus. It’s the tale of one man and his wolf against a totalitarian state and the ancient evil that sustains it.
Award-winning author Grant Morrison (All-Star Superman, The Multiversity) and artist Dan Mora (Hexed) revamp, reinvent, and re-imagine a classic superhero for the 21st century, drawing on Santa’s roots in Viking lore and Siberian shamanism, and taking in the creepier side of Christmas with characters like the sinister Krampus. Klaus finally answers the burning question: what does Santa Claus do on the other 364 days a year?
My take:
Picked this up on a whim while picking up another book at the library. I frequently enjoy reading a graphic novel as a sort of palette cleanser or if I am struggling to get into the pile of books I am supposed to be reading. I enjoyed this mythical tale of the “real” Santa Klaus. Dark but not too dark, a sort of blend of medieval fairy tale and comic book hero. Quick and unique but enjoyable Yule time read.
Norse Mythology, Volume 1 by Neil Gaiman
Publisher:
#1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman and Eisner Award-winning comics legend P. Craig Russell breathe new life into the ancient Norse stories in this comic-book adaptation of the hit novel Norse Mythology .
Gaiman and Russell team with a legendary collection of artists to take readers through a series of Norse myths, including the creation of the Nine Worlds, the loss of Odin’s eye and source of his knowledge, the crafting of Thor’s hammer and the gods’ most valuable treasures, the origin of poetry, and Loki’s part in the end of all things–Ragnarök.
My Take:
I have read Norse Myths by Neil Gaiman in hardback, listened to the audiobook and now read the comic. And I have enjoyed each format. I know the stories quite well by now but it was still fun to read them in comic form and see how the artists brought the characters and stories to life. Great for fans of norse mythology and Neil Gaiman.