Thank you Netgalley and Diamond Book Distributors for providing me with a free copy for review!

I'll leave a lager and some pretzels for you. To quote the Dowager Countess - 'At my age, one must ration one's excitement.' I'm willing to risk some overexcitement to have another visit from my favorite holiday devil. The book ends with hints that Krampus will indeed return. Decent art, clever plot, funny dialogue, and bizarre circumstances - Krampus and Doc Holliday? And Doc rides an annoying singing horse! Too funny! There are evil pixies, nasty nutcrackers and a villain who looks like a male stripper - what more can you ask for? Plus, I loved Kramus's 'pet' - Stutgaard! BUT, to make sure he stays on task, he's fitted with a Naughty Bomb, which will go BOOM! if Krampus is a bad demon. IF he can get the bones back, he will earn his freedom. This conclave of formerly-jolly men reluctantly release the beast from his cell, interrupting his Downton Abbey viewing he is a huge fan of the Dowager Countess. The Secret Society of Santas needs them back, so who they gonna call? Nicholas have been stolen, which is never a good thing. By all rights, this book is so ridiculous it shouldn’t work, but that’s exactly why it’s so much fun.So, the bones of St. He’s eye-catching and funny to boot, so you’re always waiting for the next scene with him. Tumnus turned into the Hulk, and I mean that in the best way possible.

The main star of the book, the Krampus, looks like what would happen if Mr. He does a stellar job designing all of the Santas with different hats and suits and facial hair.

The art by Kotz is generally solid, although there are times when I couldn’t fully make out his drawings, like the cramped opening pages with the pixies. That bit with the chimney? Oh man, I died. A few of the jokes miss - like the Krampus talking about needing a tetanus shot - but for every dud, at least two will get a solid chuckle if not an all-out belly laugh. But that’s also where the laughs come in. There’s no graphic violence or sex, but I was surprised at how mature this title was at times with cursing and a Santa catching fire when trying to go up a chimney without powers. Joines throws out concepts like the List of Nice and Naughty Bombs and they immediately just work. The pure inventiveness is what makes this comic click.

Krampus! by Brian Joines