As a seasoned gamer and comic book enthusiast with over two decades under my belt, I’ve seen my fair share of holiday anthologies. Yet, none have ever managed to captivate me quite like DSTLRY’s Through the Boughs: A Yuletide Offering. This isn’t your typical feel-good Christmas comic book; it’s a darker, more subversive take on the holiday spirit that harks back to the days before Hallmark took over the winter season.
In the realm of direct market comics, holiday anthologies are quite common, with DC publishing a variety of issues for almost every significant celebration. Marvel Comics also has a superhero-packed Christmas anthology coming soon. However, DSTLRY appears to be aiming to transform popular holidays into platforms for presenting top talents who work beyond the superhero or corporate-owned comics sector. The Halloween-themed “Come Find Me: An Autumnal Offering” was more artistically daring and impactful than usual holiday comic book compilations, while still embracing the eerie ambiance of the season.
DSTLRY plans to create a similar collection for the winter festivities titled “Through the Boughs: A Yuletide Offering“. This Christmas-themed anthology, while sharing ambition with “Come Find Me“, veers away from conventional holiday cheer more than it embodies it.
The subversive nature of the anthology is evident right from the start, with its opening story, “The Man in the Blood-Red Coat” by Patrick McHale and Jim Campbell, creators of Over the Garden Wall. As suggested by the title, this isn’t your typical Santa Claus story. Instead, it presents a unique twist, depicting Santa Claus from a perspective that challenges common holiday assumptions. Unlike young human children who eagerly wait for Santa to bring rewards for their good behavior all year, goblins – who are supposedly naughty by nature – tell a different tale of an unwelcome intruder who leaves strange, undesired gifts. This is a clever story, with hidden depths, beautifully illustrated with a quirky charm. You’ve never experienced true joy until you’ve seen these goblin children enjoying a frozen frog treat.
Sweeney Boo’s “The Yule Beast” presents a striking contrast in mood. This tale revolves around a powerful cat-like creature lurking in the frosty woods, who crosses paths with a resourceful woman and her newborn baby, both trying to escape pursuers. The artwork is captivating, with bold imagery and a glistening winter sheen. However, despite its appealing presentation, the narrative seems somewhat lacking, wrapping up abruptly when it appeared to be just getting started.
[RELATED: Come Find Me: An Autumnal Offering Review: A Collection of Dark Delights]
James Tynion IV and Jensine Eckwell’s graphic novel “Crumbs” is reminiscent of a dark wintery fable. Like “The Man in the Blood-Red Coat,” it explores the theme of Christmas becoming a source of fear instead of delight for a small town. Each year, the townsfolk are haunted by an elf who possesses peculiar and eerie preferences. The narrative is as striking for its artistic style as for its content, with visuals that mimic traditional woodblock prints, featuring vibrant red accents predominantly on the character of Crumbs himself.
Molly Mendoza’s ‘Sol Saunter’ seems designed for leisurely reading during a wintery fog. Its narrative, centered around zodiac symbols, unfolds much like classic ‘Little Nemo’ comic strips, with each page featuring an imaginative layout that the characters occasionally overlook as they casually peek into adjacent scenes. The story’s dreamlike essence lingers, making it a captivating sight to revisit and scrutinize.
“The Goat King’s Son” by Ryan Andrews resonates with the essence of a winter legend. It narrates the saga of a royal household trapped in an eternal cycle of death and renewal. The head of this family embarks on a global pursuit of a goat deity, culminating in its decapitation to free the illuminating force that dispels 12 consecutive nights of darkness. However, the goat is reborn again, reclaiming the light and enveloping everything in darkness once more. Similar to the most potent myths, it skillfully incorporates profound meaning and subtext within a succinct narrative structure. The artwork significantly amplifies the story’s vitality, particularly through the judicious use of color that intensifies its central themes powerfully.
The final chapter of this book features “Pulsar” by K. Wroten, a tale that carries an ethereal, eerie blend of fairytale and mythology. This story is set in a world where the sun’s instability has compelled its inhabitants to live their lives entirely within enclosed spaces. It delves into themes of generational memory and the constant struggle between faith and scientific reasoning. The illustrations are richly detailed, with heavy textured lines, and though the conclusion might be too cryptic for some, it’s likely to leave a lasting impression on readers long after they’ve turned the last page.
“Through the Boughs” – A Yuletide Collection
Published by DSTLRY
On December 11, 2024
Written by various
Art by various
Colors by various
Letters by various
Cover by Jenn Ely
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2024-11-04 17:09