Review: Naughty List #1

This new book from AfterShock Comics looks at one of the most popular traditions, from a whole heap of countries, mixes them up a little and sprinkles a tad of sarcastic magic dust. That’s right, it’s the origin of Jolly ol’ Saint Nick that you didn’t know you needed.

Nicholas Sinterklass has it all; a lovely wife, a gorgeous child and a life of comfort where its richness is of family and love, not money and wealth. When the soft-hearted Nicholas comes across a beggar child, he makes a wish upon a star…… and thus a legend is born. What follows is the traditional characters of the festive period get an AfterShock makeover. All the trimmings are there; toys, elves, flying reindeer and a naughty and nice list. That is until the naughty list is stolen! What will Nicholas do to get it back?

Nick Santora takes his experience The Sopranos, Law & Order, The Fugitive and Prison Break to deliver a book that, whilst catering to the various aspects of Santa, gives the book a very mature tone. At the start Nicholas is quite innocent, though as time passes, Santora gives the character a modern outlook that if called angry and despondent, would be an understatement. Santora looks to apply logical feeling to a character who started with the best of intentions before his own personal hell became his life. Most of the issue is spent telling an origin of sorts; doing so in one lump does ensure that from issue 2 onwards, the story moves forward, albeit the monologue seems to be retelling events, so does this mitigate out any real threat to the lead character down the line?

Lee Ferguson produces a two-fold book. Firstly we have the idyllic opening settings where everything is twee and nice and warm and soft. Things soon degrade to anger and despair. Ferguson uses a mix of lighter lines against heavier finishes. Ferguson does well to facially show the differences in a young man full of hope and and still young man full of loss and driven duty. Ferguson is help out massively by colorists Pippa Bowland and Juanchoi. I would be interested to how the colouring process was split; did one take the early life and the other the later life of Nicholas, which seems the logical approach or dod the pair work together to create the scheme difference. Letters are supplied by Simon Bowland, a strong letterer who I feel tends to be overlooked at times. Here, Bowland has to manage the meandering monologue ensuring that the pace of the story is not lost, yet is strong enough to display the virulent anger that colors Nicholas’ world view.

Any interesting book, that maybe suffers from an odd release date; a somewhat Christmas themed book coming out after Easter? All things considered, this grump of Kris Kringle, a different type of bad Santa could offer a new insight on what you have to do to make the Naughty List.

Writing – 4 Stars
Art – 4 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars

Overall – 5 Stars

Written by; Nick Santora
Art by; Lee Ferguson
Colors by; Pipa Bowland & Juanchoi
Letters by; Simon Bowland
Published by; AfterShock Comics

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network