Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on Reddit Share on Pinterest Share on Linkedin Share on Tumblr Santa takes out bad guys in THE LIST #1, a Kickstarter comic funding until Friday created by James Stimpson. The creators are raising money to finish the art and pay for the issue’s first print planned for November 2018. This is the first comic book written by James Stimpson, a game designer from Cambridge. He is a long-time reader of comics who wanted to give back to the medium. Therefore, he found an artist — Liana Recchione, an Italian writer, penciller, and colorist — and they set about creating THE LIST #1. A ComicsVerse Christmas: BEHIND THE TREE: KRAMPUS THE LIST #1 seeks to answer a question Stimpson posed to himself: what if Santa saved children instead of giving gifts? That’s how we got the Santa Squad, a crack team of Santas who make Christmas work smoothly each year. Although some Santas deliver toys, we meet Sal, a Santa in charge of saving children from evil. His tools for fighting evil, as the sample art depicts, include fist, gun, and blade. This is a mature comic; definitely, don’t give it to kids. Image courtesy of James Stimpson. Yet, even if this sounds like a gonzo, splatter-punk story, it looks like there’s a lot more. Sal, our fighting Santa, has a lot of demons he spends the year drinking away. He wants to save more kids, despite his boss at the Santa Squad thinking he does enough. This is an especially bold stance to take when your boss is the Jesus Christ. It shows us that Sal is uncompromising in his desire to eliminate the evil some children face. The “why” behind his zeal promises a good story. Image courtesy of James Stimpson. Why THE LIST #1 Deserves Your Support In the end, THE LIST #1 presents a serious message about gifts at Christmas. Is it right that during Christmas, some kids go to sleep in fear while others can dream of sugar plums? Open yourself to be challenged by this comic and its message. The Kickstarter offers a variety of tiers. Just $7 will land you a digital copy of the comic when it releases in November 2018. But, the higher tiers offer some super cool merch, signed copies, and even the chance to get your face in the comic! Behind The Tree: 10 Alternative Christmas TV Specials THE LIST #1 has already met its funding goal, but you still have an opportunity to support this comic. With your help, this badass Santa will be climbing down your chimney next November. You can support THE LIST #1 here until Friday, December 22nd!