Graphic Novel Reviews: Death Comes for the Toymaker Vol. 1

Title: Death Comes for the Toymaker Vol. 1
Published by: Magma Comix
Written by: Dakota Brown
Illustrated by: Ryan Cody
ISBN: 9781963547047
Ages: 18+

’Tis the season… for Mesopotamian legends.

This is a holiday story like no other. Holiday champion, Santa Claus, has a completely different origin story in Death Comes for the Toymaker Vol. 1. Author Dakota Brown weaves Christmas traditions and imagery with Mesopotamian gods, heroes, and monsters.

Not jolly old Saint Nicholas, Santa is legendary warrior-king Gilgamesh, who would sacrifice anything to achieve his ambitions and immortality. He makes a deal with Death to be spared. Gil will collect souls during his annual global trek to give gifts to children who are on his Nice list.

Before they were the Toymaker and Death, Gilgamesh and Enkidu were friends, but centuries have steadily caused a rift between them that could determine the fate of the gods and the world as we know it. The ending of volume one is complete and does not leave a cliffhanger. However, with such a unique world building, readers will be excited for the next volume.

The graphic novel is told in flashbacks as the reader learns how Gilgamesh gained the magical elements that allow him to travel the world as the gift-giving Toymaker. He is blessed with a cloth of infinity and gifted a winged boar Chimera, Huluppa, to fly through the sky. He uses magic river weed to turn into water to enter homes. The way the traditional story of Santa Claus is interwoven with legendary warrior-king Gilgamesh and other Mesopotamian gods is clever and compelling.

Also woven into the story of the rivalry and friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu are depictions of various Mesopotamian gods such as Tiamat and Marduk. The question of whether gods should interfere with human lives through blessings or curses is also explored. Battles with gods, chimera, and the winged dead keep consistent action.

Not many stories set for the holiday season include all-out fight sequences, this one does as Gilgamesh fights Death and many Mesopotamian gods. There is violence, gore, sexuality, slavery, and mentioned suicide.

The art style successful blends Mesopotamian, modern, and holiday styles and clothes so the immortal characters seamlessly transition through time and challenges. Characters are chiseled with simple shapes akin to a Greek urn. Gods and many magical creatures feature horns. Muted holiday colors of red, green, and yellow maintain a warm color palette and continue the nod at the holiday themes, and the deep black for shadows make the edgier tone of this graphic novel.

Death Comes for the Toymaker Vol. 1 is not festive, family-friendly, or a book that ends up in a traditional holiday section. However, there is a lot of fun and connection with the audience by having new explanations for the familiar elements of Santa Claus’s story. As a mature graphic novel, this title is best for libraries with a strong adult fantasy collection.

For fans of the holiday, folklore, and action mash up style found in graphic novels like Neil Gaiman’s Sandman Universe, books like Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather, and movies like Rise of the Guardians and Red One.