Episode 85

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Happy Holidays, Explorers! December marks the return of our annual Holiday Special! This year we take a look at Krampus! by writer Brian Joines and artist Dean Kotz. Images Comics published the comic in 2014.

The bones of Saint Nicholas have gone missing! Now the Secret Society of Santa Clauses are in mortal danger and so is Christmas! With time running out, their only option is to turn to the creature they locked up decades ago: Krampus. With the Santas in their most desperate hour, will he help his jailers or return to his ways of punishing children? However, knowing Krampus is forever on the Naughty List, the Santas go to an extreme measure to him to keep him in line. Which begs the question, what's a Krampus to do?

Johnny, Dennis, and guest host Aubrey look at the similarities between the character of Krampus and private detectives like Philip Marlowe and Jeffrey Lebowski. Next, they discuss the respect the author shows in bringing different cultures’ winter lore to life in the story. Finally, they contemplate if this book will follow the lead of other loved comics that are yet to have their follow up published – looking at you Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Emil Ferris. Additional topics include taking the trope of cursing Santa; the many versions of a gift-giving deity; the possible inspiration of Escape from New York; did the kid at the end make it; Horny Christmas vs. Depressed Christmas; the Boomer State of Mind; and last, but not certainly not least, the storytelling and art of Krampus!.

Graphic Novel Explorers Club will return with a new season (number 6!) in January 2022.

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