The ho-ho-holiday blasts off with the release of Grant Morrison and Dan Mora’s The Complete Klaus Deluxe Hardcover. The stories of the man who would become Santa Claus are collected together for the first time, recounting his adventures across the medieval lands of endless winter to 1985 and the streets of Xmasville. The Complete Klaus Deluxe Hardcover is a must-have for any comic reader looking for something festive during the holidays.
The collection brings together all of Morrison and Mora’s Klaus series. First released in November of 2015 with Klaus, the original six-issue series tells the origin story of Klaus, a recluse living outside the joyless town of Grimsvig. The series continues with four one-shots, including Klaus and the Winter Witch (2016), Klaus and The Crisis in Xmasville (2017), Klaus and The Crying Snowman (2018), and Klaus and The Life and Times of Joe Christmas (2019). Plus, Klaus Pen and Ink (2016), an in-depth look at the making of the first issue with commentary and insights from Mora and Morrison. It’s rounded out with a cover gallery, a variant cover gallery, an additional artwork section, and a small look inside Mora’s studio. The book is as full as Santa’s sleigh is on Christmas Eve and is as much a gift to fans as any wrapped-up toy.
Morrison mixes high fantasy, global folklores, the Wild West, and superhero cosmic energy into a unique Yule tapestry. While the original series is a relatively straightforward origin story, cross-combining Santa with the Man with No Name, Robin Hood, and Superman (amongst other heroes), the follow-up is exciting one-offs that all build out the more extensive myths of this new hero, like his war with a soda pop company or imprisonment by the moontitans.
Klaus feels like the perfect holiday book, not because it’s the origin story of Santa Claus, but because it is a celebration of what makes the holidays so special. It’s a story of believing in one another when the days are darkest and coming together as communities to share what we have. Morison is a titan at their craft, and Klaus is another installment in their lengthy bibliography that proudly wears its heart on its sleeve. The books are exciting, hopeful, and full of fun spins on classic holiday iconography. Plus, it’s all tied together in Mora’s beautiful packaging.
Mora is such a gift to comic readers; each of his books should be wrapped up and delivered with a bow. The depth of detail in his artwork, whether background characters or landscapes, is truly something to behold. Yet, even with each panel packed to the brim, Mora strikes a balance, always keeping the reader’s focus right where it needs to be.
He brings a cartoony-kinetic energy to his page, making Klaus feel like the best pulpy, action-adventure story. All the details Mora adds to a city, or character help tell a story. The Pen and Ink portion of the book has excellent insight into Mora’s design choices for anyone who likes going behind the scenes of comic book making.
On top of the vibrant artwork, letterer Ed Dukeshire does a tremendous job of bringing the script to life. Each of Klaus’ villains has distinct designs for the speech bubbles that elevate the creepiness of the holiday evildoers. You’ll find fun with the letters throughout the books, and Dukeshire helps boost an already excellent book.
The Complete Klaus Deluxe Hardcover is an instant holiday classic, full of swashbuckling action, romance, magic, science fiction, and folklore. Combining Santa with the ‘cape-tropes’ of superhero comics, Morison and Mora have created a new modern legend that, at its core, is about the real joy the holidays bring us.
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