‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, because everyone was dead. Not the story you are used to, but in the Spawn Universe this version is not a surprise but expected. I Saw Santa is a Christmas story from the world of Spawn that if you like horror you’re going to want to check out. Let’s dive in and see what it’s all about.
(IMAGE COMICS/TODD McFARLANE PRODUCTIONS)
I Saw Santa #1: A SPAWN CHRISTMAS STORY #1
Plot/Script By Chris Killian & Andrew Sanders – Art By Thomas Nachlik
Colors By Dan & Dave Kemp - Letters By Andworld Design
Edited By Thomas Healy - Published By Image Comics
***Minor Spoilers Possible***
STORY OVERVIEW:
Detectives Sam & Twitch of the NYPD show up to a homicide scene on Christmas Eve. But this is no normal homicide, this is a brutal and gory entire family murder. Both parents, two kids, and even the dog have been killed and their heads removed and placed in gift boxes, with the lyrics to “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” written on the boxes. The detectives discover that it may not have been the killer that turned the murder in as originally believed, but the evidence points towards Jolly Old Saint Nick himself as the one that turned in the murder to the police.
We then catch up with Santa who is covered in blood and despondent. The reason being is the killer gifted him with this kill, and it isn’t the first time this has happened. The letter the killer left was signed by a naughty boy Charlie, who murdered his own family and tried to kill Santa in 1995. Now he’s back and it appears he won’t stop until he or Santa are dead.
WRITING:
This book is a fantastic Christmas horror story, that really pushes the envelope. Chris Killian & Andrew Sanders bring a really messed up story to the season of joy. The carnage, brutality, and overall messed up family murders were totally unexpected, but in the realm of the Spawn Universe it works perfectly. The back story of Charlie and his initial run in with Santa where he murdered his family and tried to kill Santa is somehow more messed up then the family kill the story opens with.
ARTWORK:
The art in this book matches the messed-up story perfectly. Thomas Nachlik does an amazing job of bringing this violent and brutal story to life with his art. The graphic and gory nature of the story is only overshadowed by how awesome and graphic the art is. Nachlik really brings these murders to life in stunning detail and leaves nothing to the imagination. Meanwhile, Dan Kemp & Dave Kemp put the exclamation point on the art with their color pallet. The art team really hit a homerun with this book and deserve a ton of credit.
Final Grade: 10/10
I Saw Santa #1 is an awesome Christmas horror story that will make all horror fans rejoice. The violence and graphic nature of this book will make it not for everyone. However, if you are a fan of the Terrifier series this book will hit the spot for you. Personally, I can’t wait for the second book and to see what comes next. This is my Pick of the Week and if you are a horror fan you need to run to the LCS and secure your copy NOW!