Preview: Brom’s tale of Krampus, the Lord of Yule and mortal enemy of Santa Claus.
By Val Victory on Oct 10, 2012 with Comments 0
“Santa Claus, my dear old friend, you are a thief, a traitor, a slanderer, a murder, a liar, but worst of all you are a mockery of everything for which I stood.
You have sung your last ho, ho, ho, for I am coming to take your head. I am coming to take back what is mine, to take back Yuletide… I Krampus, Lord of Yule, son of Hel, bloodline of the great Loki, swear to cut your lying tongue from your mouth, your thieving hands from your wrists, and your jolly head from your neck.”
Recently while attending a small local Comic Book show in Seattle, called Jet City Comic Show I got to meet with longtime Fantasy artist Brom. [Gerald] Brom has been a long time fantasy artists who has done some superb artwork for all areas of sci-fi, fantasy world. From Novels, to Comic Books, as well even illustrating Magic the Gathering gaming cards. While his art is often loaded into the same category as Frank Franzetta, his style is all his own, a little bit darker often mixing in the elements of Horror, Fantasy, and Science-Fantasy into his work; a sort of visual fusion art, if you will.
While speaking briefly with long time artist Brom at Jet City, he told me about his upcoming book that releases this October titled KRAMPUS, the Yule Lord. Needless to say I got a little excited about this due to the use if this ancient European Christmas Legend as the basis of fantasy novel. If you don’t know about Krampus he is a mythical creature recognized in European alpine countries. According to legend, Krampus accompanies Saint Nicholas during the Christmas season, warning and punishing bad children, in contrast to St. Nicholas, who gives gifts to good children. When the Krampus finds a particularly naughty child, it stuffs the child in its sack and carries the frightened child away to its lair, presumably to devour for its Christmas dinner. (And yes Krampus was introduced to me via a certain episode of Venture Brothers.)
Brom’s new book is just in time for both of the upcoming holidays, Halloween and Christmas! While this story is technically a Christmas story the art seems just perfect for a Halloween read, and I’d read it out for both.
Brom’s Krampus
The synopsis of Brom’s new novel is as follows: One Christmas Eve in a small hollow in Boone County, West Virginia, struggling songwriter Jesse Walker witnesses a strange spectacle: seven devilish figures chasing a man in a red suit toward a sleigh and eight reindeer. When the reindeer leap skyward taking the sleigh, devil men, and Santa into the clouds, screams follow. Moments later, a large sack plummets earthward, a magical sack that will thrust the down-on-his luck singer into the clutches of the terrifying Yule Lord, Krampus. But the lines between good and evil become blurred as Jesse’s new master reveals many dark secrets about the cherry-cheeked Santa Claus, and how half a millennium ago, the jolly old saint imprisoned Krampus and usurped his magic. Now Santa’s time is running short, for the Yule Lord is determined to have his retribution and reclaim Yuletide. If Jesse can survive this ancient feud, he might have the chance to redeem himself to his family, to save his own broken dreams…and help bring the magic of Yule to the impoverished folk of Boone County.
Brom’s Santa Claus
With what looks to be some great art and fantastic writing I’d check out this novel right away, it’s sure to be a good and fun read. To learn more about KRAMPUS, the Yule Lord book debuting this October, or to see more of Brom’s work please check out his website at: www.BromArt.com
Krampus will be available via Amazon or you can find it on Barnes and Nobels shelves as well.
Hardcover: 368 pages
ISBN: 978-0062095657
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Val Victory
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Filed Under: Comic Book Previews • Comic Books • Featured
