Christmas would not be the identical with out Santa Claus. Inspired by plenty of mythological and spiritual figures, from the Christian Saint Nicholas to the European spirit Father Christmas to the Norse god Odin himself, Santa has turn into the icon of the vacation season. He represents the enjoyment, compassion, and magic of the Christmas season. Our trendy view of the basic character (a rotund man in a red-furred coat driving a sleigh pulled by reindeer) originated within the late 18th and early nineteenth centuries via the work of varied authors and illustrators, and that picture has turn into synonymous with Christmas itself.
With Santa’s many appearances throughout popular culture, in cinema and literature, it solely is sensible that the character has made a number of appearances in comedian books. However, only a few of those iterations have made their approach into cinematic variations, possible as a result of many differ significantly from our typical preconceptions of Kris Kringle. With that in thoughts, listed here are ten of the very best comedian e book iterations of Santa Claus. These variations of the beloved Christmas icon deserve extra consideration, and with the recognition of comedian e book films at this time, now could be the right time to convey them to the large display screen.
10 Robert Kirkman’s Santa Claus - Battle Pope (2007)
While he’s identified at this time for his work on The Walking Dead, Robert Kirkman started his comedian e book profession with Battle Pope, a blasphemous superhero parody starring the lecherous Pope Oswald Leopold II and his adventures to rescue St. Michael. In the Christmas Pope-Tactular, Pope’s sidekick Jesus Christ (I am unable to make this up) is depressed that his birthday is overshadowed by the gift-giving vacation, whereas Santa is left unemployed in spite of everything the great youngsters are whisked away within the Rapture. While Pope battles demons and will get fortunate with the Virgin Mary, Santa and Jesus duke it out in an all-out brawl for Christmas supremacy.
Kirkman Questions the True Meaning of Christmas With This Inebriated Santa
Robert Kirkman’s Santa Claus possible did not begin out that completely different from our conventional splendid, however what units him aside is his place within the story. Without a job, he is not all that jolly, and it truly is hilarious to see him go towards Jesus over the course of the problem. There’s one thing actually surreal about seeing a drunken, depressed Santa, and Kirkman pulls it off extraordinarily properly. While Battle Pope would not actually deserve a deeper evaluation, this battle can be attention-grabbing on a philosophical degree, illustrating the divide between the non secular and cultural elements of the vacation. It’s a weird story, however for a mature viewers, it will make a brilliantly humorous movie.
9 DC’s Santa Claus - Spreading Cheer and Frustrating Gods
The Santa Claus of the DC Universe has made appearances all through the corporate’s lengthy historical past, usually within the pages of varied vacation specials. His origins are scattered, however the historic determine Agios Nikolaus, born in Turkey in 270 CE, is believed to be the character’s inspiration, although his stays had been destroyed by John Constantine’s ritual in Hellblazer #247. Despite this, he nonetheless exists as a robust entity, bringing items to the great and coal to the unhealthy. He demonstrates this in 1998’s DCU Holiday Bash #2, the place he goes on his annual sojourn to the planet Apokolips, evades its many defenses, and hand-delivers a lump of coal to Darkseid himself.
DC Comics’ Santa Could Bring a Touch of Holiday Cheer to the New Cinematic Universe
While Santa’s canonicity in DC Comics is unsure, few can deny the enjoyable his character brings to the web page. With James Gunn heading the brand new section of DC’s cinematic universe, the upcoming movies will possible have a much less critical contact, and with the recognition of his Guardians of the Galaxy Christmas Special, it is fully doable that the identical remedy shall be given to DC’s movies. It can be an ideal alternative to adapt a number of the character’s extra fashionable tales, and the possibility to see Superman, usually depicted as a real believer, enthusiastically interacting with him is one thing we would pay to see.
8 Nick St. Christopher - Sensational She-Hulk #8 (1989)
Nick St. Christopher is certainly not Santa Claus. Ignore his lengthy white beard, pink and inexperienced outfit, and penchant for utilizing chimneys to interrupt into folks’s houses. No, Nick St. Christopher is nothing greater than a easy New York City personal eye in Sensational She-Hulk #8. Jennifer Walters is on the hunt for proof in a homicide investigation, and the diminutive sleuth arrives to offer his help, utilizing his skills to get them each into the killer’s house. As the problem ends, we uncover that Nick St. Christopher is, actually, the true Santa Claus, and his frequent flirting with She-Hulk has earned the ire of his spouse.
She-Hulk Season 2 Would Only Benefit from the Introduction of Nick St. Christopher
Sensational She-Hulk was well-known for making the character self-aware, permitting her to interrupt the fourth wall and delve into meta-commentary. This run is among the most memorable within the character’s historical past, and that sense of enjoyable is simply amplified by the looks of this red-coated weirdo. Nick St. Christopher can be an ideal addition for a She-Hulk season 2 episode or arc, bringing a brand new ingredient of humor and whimsy to the MCU. The first season was already wild, so this introduction would not really feel too misplaced, and the chance to introduce an attention-grabbing thriller alongside it should not be neglected.
7 Santa Claus - Fables (2007)
Bill Willingham’s seminal comedian e book collection Fables is a masterwork of fantasy storytelling. After their world was taken over by the Adversary, the Fables had been pressured to flee to our world. Among these entities, Santa Claus is among the strongest. One of Hope’s Paladins and a servant of the Winter Wolf, not solely is he largely omniscient, capable of doc the morality of individuals around the globe on his well-known listing, however on Christmas Eve, he even demonstrates a degree of omnipresence, showing in each house around the globe in a single instantaneous. For anybody that spots Santa, they’re given a selection: both get a gift or ask Santa any query.
Santa Claus Beautifully Builds on the World of Fables
This entry is basically my enchantment for a real Fables adaptation. The collection is brilliantly made, with second-to-none characters and world-building, and this iteration of Santa Claus matches proper in. He provides to the lore, increasing on the ability these entities achieve from perception and the retelling of their tales. Santa is actually godlike on this world as a consequence of everybody’s immense perception in him. He would not seem usually throughout the comics, however when he does, it is an ideal likelihood to study extra about how this world works. Willingham’s Santa Claus brilliantly brings the parable to life inside the world of Fables, and we have to see it tailored for the large or small display screen.
6 Rob Liefeld’s Santa the Barbarian (1996)
Rob Liefeld, creator of Deadpool and co-founder of Image Comics, has made a long-lasting impression on trendy comics, for good and unhealthy, however one in every of his extra obscure releases is that this Christmas gem from 1996. Inspired by a buying and selling card drawn by Liefeld, Santa the Barbarian solely obtained a single subject, containing two separate tales from writers Robert Loring Flemin and Pop Mahn. In the primary, the Naughty listing has gotten out of hand, and Santa realizes that solely excessive violence will curb the tide of wrongdoing on the planet. In the second, the elves insurgent towards Santa’s tyranny, sicking a large machine monster after their employer.
A Santa the Barbarian Adaptation Could be Simple, Dumb Fun
Admittedly, there’s nothing deep about Santa the Barbarian. It is pure ’90s comedian e book extremism, as indicated by the Rob Liefeld pedigree. It is bloody, violent and unnecessarily sexualized (taking a look at you, Mrs. Claus), and but, it’s nonetheless a enjoyable, shut-your-brain-off learn. It would not all the time need to be a shifting introspection of human nature. Sometimes, you simply wish to watch a buff dude rampaging via a bunch of thugs. It labored in Violent Night, so why could not it work with Santa the Barbarian? With the suitable actor behind the character, it might be an ideal likelihood for a Christmas beat-em-up fantasy movie in contrast to every other.
5 Marvel’s Santa Claus - Mutant? Supernatural Entity? Who Knows?
The origins of Santa Claus in Marvel Comics are considerably unsure. The usually accepted background for the character stems from three separate sources: Saint Nicholas, the Norse god Odin, and the British spirit Old Winter. The perception in these three entities bonded with non secular vitality, creating the standard model we all know. However, within the 1991 Marvel Holiday Special, the X-Men had been shocked to find that Cerebro listed Santa as probably the most highly effective mutant ever registered. So what’s he actually? No one actually is aware of, however his interactions with the heroes and villains of the Marvel Universe are legendary.
Another Great Holiday Special for the MCU?
Marvel’s Santa Claus has appeared in a number of the most enjoyable tales in Marvel historical past. Whether battling Deadpool or wielding the Infinity Gauntlet, his tales are typically ridiculous and over-the-top fare, and that’s the place the magic lies. The MCU is not afraid of dipping into the weird, and whereas this has led to blended success, it will nonetheless be fascinating to see them convey the Christmas icon to the large or small display screen. Maybe that is only a plea to get Iron Man-constructed Reindeer introduced into MCU canon, however particularly when the mutants totally get launched into the universe, it will be an ideal alternative to convey this apparently Omega-Level mutant to life.
4 Santa Claus, Justice League of America Recruit - JLA #60 (2002)
In 2002’s Justice League of America #60, author Mark Waid and artist Cliff Rathburn instructed a narrative titled “Merry Christmas, Justice League - Now Die!” In it, Justice League member Plastic Man is trying to place his nephew to mattress with a narrative and decides to narrate the time when Santa Claus joined the Justice League. After Neron, basically the DC universe’s model of Satan, started to make toys of his personal that corrupted the youngsters of the world, Santa invaded his workshop and used his nice superpowers to battle again. After he’s captured, although, the Justice League is pressured to come back to his assist and battle the demonic overlord.
Santa’s Place within the Justice League of America May Not Be Canon, however it’s Needed
Right off the bat, JLA #60’s portrayal of Santa Claus is not canon. Even with the handful of common reboots which have taken place, he wasn’t even canon when this story launched. He’s merely a determine of Plastic Man’s creativeness, his makes an attempt at attempting to get his nephew to imagine. Still, that makes his look in an upcoming undertaking extra possible, as filmmakers do not have to totally incorporate the character into the DCU canon. They might open a Christmas-time movie with somebody telling this story, just for it to chop to the true motion. Either approach, a Santa with warmth imaginative and prescient is de facto the one Santa to imagine in, and this story wants some type of adaptation.
3 Kris “Crusher” Kringle - Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special (1991)
Lobo is one in every of DC Comics’ greatest and crudest antiheroes, and within the Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special in 1991, he tells readers about his biggest journey, one that will take him to Earth’s North Pole to kill a Christmas icon. The elves, fed up with Santa’s years of abuse and tyranny, have employed Lobo to take out the jolly, fats man. Lobo takes on the job, however shortly discovers that this Santa would not fairly match the tales. Kris “Crusher” Kringle is constructed like a brick home, with muscular tissues bursting from his sleeves. Even with Lobo’s highly effective therapeutic issue, he won’t stand an opportunity towards the pure brute pressure of the Crusher and his pet gorilla.
Kris “Crusher” Kringle Could Clearly Hold His Own within the DC Universe
This is one other story that was by no means canon within the DC Universe. It’s merely Lobo boasting, however in contrast to JLA #60, this model of Santa Claus is the hilariously grim villain. It’s a enjoyable twist on the parable, reworking Santa right into a brutal slave-driver, and this leads to some nice battle sequences. There is not something notably nuanced about this iteration (although I suppose it does convey up the plight of the elves), nevertheless it does end in some bloody, violent enjoyable. Much like Santa the Barbarian, this might present an ideal senseless motion film, and the truth that it solely exists in Lobo’s unhinged thoughts makes positive it would not have an effect on the canon of the DCU.
2 Santa Claus, Vampire Hunter - Batman-Santa Claus: Silent Knight (2023)
Written by Jeff Parker, Batman-Santa Claus: Silent Knight is a 2023 launch that transforms Santa Claus into one of many DC Universe’s biggest warriors. A collection of ugly murders in Gotham City simply earlier than Christmas have drawn the eye of St. Nick, the famed Santa Claus of legend. Now, teaming up along with his former scholar, Batman, Santa is decided to find the wrongdoer. However, because the vampiric menace grows, and a monstrous entity from his previous steps out of the shadows, Santa goes to wish the assistance of all of DC’s superheroes as a way to save the world… and Christmas.
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, with Sword in Hand
The latest entry on this listing can be one of the enjoyable. It brings collectively so many parts from all these iterations. It builds on the standard imaginative and prescient of Santa (his interactions with Superman are the very best), whereas amplifying them with the background of an utter badass. This is the Viking Santa Claus we did not know we wanted, and the truth that he’s accountable for coaching Batman and searching vampires simply makes him that a lot cooler. We nonetheless do not understand how canonical this story truly is, however in the long run, it would not matter. Batman-Santa Claus: Silent Knight wants a devoted live-action adaptation. There’s nothing extra to say.
1 Klaus - Grant Morrison (2015)
While DC’s 2023 model of Santa Claus is among the greatest and most hard-core, Jeff Parker wasn’t the primary to convey this angle to the character. Every Christmas, Grant Morrison releases a narrative primarily based on the planet of his hit comedian e book collection, Klaus. In the unique story, the medieval city of Grimsvig is below the tyrannical rule of Lord Magnus. He works the lads of the city to loss of life within the mines, all in hopes of awakening an historical evil. The solely hope for the city is an remoted trapper exterior of Grimsvig’s partitions. After this preliminary journey, Klaus turns into a legend and one thing of a superhero, taking up supernatural threats throughout time and house.
Klaus is a Brilliant Take on the Classic Icon
Grant Morrison is well-known for plenty of unimaginable tales, largely with DC Comics, however Klaus sadly flew below the radar upon its launch. However, it is among the greatest Santa Claus origin tales ever launched. It blends the identified mythologies of Christmas and different holidays, together with plenty of the inspiring pagan parts. It then brings Santa into the superhero realm, giving him a sword and setting him to battle towards some extremely intense threats, nevertheless it by no means forgets the standard view of the character. It’s an interesting collection, and it is a disgrace that popular culture as a complete hasn’t but embraced it.
