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Manga Claus
When Jingle, an angry elf, puts an evil spell on Santa's secret stash of Ninja teddy bears, chaos ensues as these fluffy warriors threaten to destroy Christmas--until St. Nick morphs into his butt-kicking alter ego Manga Claus and saves the day with his Blade of Kringle!
80 pages, Hardcover
First published September 14, 2006
About the author
Nathaniel Marunas
6 books1 followerNathaniel Marunas is a writer living in Brooklyn, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 5, 2022
Santa must take on a horde of possessed ninja teddy bears...and the stuffing's gonna fly! Love books like this; bizarre combinations of characters that tell a different story. I would venture to say that it is going to take years of cookies and milk for this to blow over - on the naughty list for the next decade!
December 18, 2014
It's up to Samurai Santa to save Christmas after a disgruntled elf accidentally creates a destructive squad of ninja teddy bears.
Go, go, Power Kringle!
That's basically all that happens here, but Craddock's artwork and attention to detail make this worth a look.
P.S. - I wish there had been more of the ninja nutcracker. He was adorable!
Go, go, Power Kringle!
That's basically all that happens here, but Craddock's artwork and attention to detail make this worth a look.
P.S. - I wish there had been more of the ninja nutcracker. He was adorable!
December 8, 2015
Just in time for the season!! Samurai Santa has to save Christmas after a disgruntled elf accidentally creates a destructive squad of ninja teddy bears. :) The picture of Santa with a six-pack (abs!) and looking like Hulk instead of his flabby-assed self is pretty darned funny. Okay, it's not even a great story, but it is still pretty funny. Mostly visual. Enjoy! :)
December 19, 2019
Nonsense. But very fun nonsense.
June 15, 2016
This was a fun quick read and a welcome distraction given the last week or so.
A disgruntled elf unleashes a possessed ninja nutcracker to try to prove his worth. This of course backfires and results in hundreds of possessed ninja teddy bears taking over the North Pole. Thankfully, Santa studied with the samurai centuries ago and is ready to kick some ninja teddy bear ass.
Really liked the simple black/white/greyscale/red panels of artwork.
A disgruntled elf unleashes a possessed ninja nutcracker to try to prove his worth. This of course backfires and results in hundreds of possessed ninja teddy bears taking over the North Pole. Thankfully, Santa studied with the samurai centuries ago and is ready to kick some ninja teddy bear ass.
Really liked the simple black/white/greyscale/red panels of artwork.
March 25, 2018
Although I’m not into comic books this one was OK. It had some humor that made it a more interesting quick read but I still didn’t really like it. The main character Fritz, an elf, felt like wasn’t needed and could be more useful but, Santa wouldn’t listen to him so he turned some toys evil and told them to destroy everything. Which almost ruins Christmas and Santa has to fix everything. This isn’t a topic I’m interested at all but, it was somewhat funny.
January 22, 2022
This is hilarious! Quick read and lots of fun. It's a great story for both kids and adults, although perhaps for older children as some of the graphics may scare the younger ones.
June 28, 2026
(3.5 rounded down) Short, silly, and oddly a bit graphic for slicing stuffed ninja bears. I wanted more background on the samurai at the beginning!!
August 23, 2010
GENRE: Fiction, graphic novel, humor, adventure.
SUMMARY: Just before Christmas, a disgruntled ambitious elf (Fritz) with a poor attitude animates a ninja toy and orders it to wreak some havoc in Santa's factory. Fritz's plan involves showing up at just the right time to save the workshop from the evil ninja. Yet things go awry when an army of teddy bears become animated and turn evil, proving too much for Fritz to handle. He summons Santa, who must use his ancient Japanese swords to defeat the ninja bears and ensure that Christmas will still continue as scheduled.
EVALUATION: I expected this to be hokey and silly, but I ended up liking it. I enjoyed its irreverent humor, and it was more odd and kooky than silly, which are good things in my book. I also like this style of artwork: bright, colorful, and well drawn.
WHY I WOULD INCLUDE IT: This would be a good title for the reluctant reading tween, or the tween that is not at the same reading level as their peers, although other tweens will like it too. They will all get a kick out of the unlikely situation of Santa Claus wielding a sword, and feel accomplished for having another title under their belt. It's weird and funny, and involves martial art!
READER'S ANNOTATION: In an effort to save Christmas, Santa Claus turns into the katana-wielding Manga Claus, and takes on an army of ninja bears.
ITEMS WITH SIMILAR APPEAL:
• Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas by Tim Burton.
• Elves Don't Wear Hard Hats by Debbie Dadey.
• Confessions of a Reluctant Elf by Page McBrier.
SUMMARY: Just before Christmas, a disgruntled ambitious elf (Fritz) with a poor attitude animates a ninja toy and orders it to wreak some havoc in Santa's factory. Fritz's plan involves showing up at just the right time to save the workshop from the evil ninja. Yet things go awry when an army of teddy bears become animated and turn evil, proving too much for Fritz to handle. He summons Santa, who must use his ancient Japanese swords to defeat the ninja bears and ensure that Christmas will still continue as scheduled.
EVALUATION: I expected this to be hokey and silly, but I ended up liking it. I enjoyed its irreverent humor, and it was more odd and kooky than silly, which are good things in my book. I also like this style of artwork: bright, colorful, and well drawn.
WHY I WOULD INCLUDE IT: This would be a good title for the reluctant reading tween, or the tween that is not at the same reading level as their peers, although other tweens will like it too. They will all get a kick out of the unlikely situation of Santa Claus wielding a sword, and feel accomplished for having another title under their belt. It's weird and funny, and involves martial art!
READER'S ANNOTATION: In an effort to save Christmas, Santa Claus turns into the katana-wielding Manga Claus, and takes on an army of ninja bears.
ITEMS WITH SIMILAR APPEAL:
• Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas by Tim Burton.
• Elves Don't Wear Hard Hats by Debbie Dadey.
• Confessions of a Reluctant Elf by Page McBrier.
May 4, 2012
The only reason that I didn't give this book five stars on fire is because it is so short. It took me about fifteen minutes to read. But those ten minutes were some of the best of my life. This story of a Santa fighting bare-chested with his daisho against an army of demon-possessed teddy bears to save Christmas is heartwarming, filled with ridiculous violence, and a fast paced story with kinetic art. There is a two-page spread near the end with four different images of Santa tearing through the bears where all the images blend together and his swords work together to create implied panel borders and lead you through the page in such an effortless way it took my breath away. This book is very funny and absolutely worth your time.
January 7, 2008
In a story soft enough for children, but hard enough to please adults, Santa Claus must defend the North Pole from possessed teddy bear ninjas bent on the destruction of his workshop. It’s an interesting single serving graphic novel that has the look of a Manga, but does not adhere to printing style (something I’m grateful for). The story opens with Santa at his Sensei’s home where he receives his katanas and ends with a really neat battle sequence befitting the greatest of kung fu movies. It’s a quick easy and fun read.
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October 24, 2013I just read a great book by Nathaniel Marunas the story starts with the elves working the main character is Santa the best parts are when Santa fights the nutcrackers and when the elf made the evil nutcracker the main characters are Santa elves and nutcrackers I liked this book because of the action I din't dislike this book if you like books about fanasty or magic I recommend this book for you
December 18, 2008
This book is made of awesome. Samurai Santa fighting evil ninja teddy bears . . . what's not to love? This is great for older kids and adults with a slightly twisted sense of humor; there are plenty of sly little details in the artwork are fun to catch, as well.
December 12, 2009
Did you know that Santa was a ninja? He will fight evil with his Miyaguchi Daisho swords, and deliver present to the children of the world. Who wouldn't love this kick-ass Santa and his stupidly ripped physique?
July 1, 2009
awesome, simply awesome.
September 10, 2009
I like the fact they recognize Santa is a ninja in this short book I read every Christmas season. It's hilarious and makes me wish Santa were real ... killer teddy bears too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2010
Inverting the classic manga formula, here is a frivolous book that doesn't take itself too frivolously.
December 19, 2011
I thought this was hilar-I want a ninja teddy bear!
July 16, 2013
Absolutely, hysterically funny. The sword-slashing Santa will be a huge hit with grades 3-6.
April 12, 2016
Made me giggle!!
December 8, 2017
A funny re-imagining of Santa's origin. Santa is a ninja! One day before Christmas and Santa has to face evil possessed bears who are bent on destroying his factory and everything else on the North Pole. All because of one magical elf who felt rejected.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2022
The usual reaction to get to this book is “really?” Yes. Yes.It is Christmas and a good martial arts flick combined in something that is not violently excessive. Granted, it’s a bit of a niche interest, but it’s a seasonal favorite of mine.
March 5, 2020
This was wonderfully ridiculous! Manga Santa Claus has to fight off the evil spirit-possessed teddy bears. As cheesy as I hoped for and twice as funny.
May 4, 2023
To battle the evil teddies, Santa himself must break out his ancient samurai swords, imbued with the spirit of the season, and become MANGA CLAUS guardian of giving and protector of presents!
July 12, 2012
Santa uses a mix of technology, magic, and honest-to-goodness teamwork to make Christmas happen every year. They haven't missed one yet!
While balancing production quotas, Santa must also balance employee relations, especially when one elf, fed up of laundry detail, wants to move up to production. When he's denied this promotion he conceives of a plot to make him a hero, leaving Santa no option but to reward him for his bravery.
Unfortunately, his misguided magic goes awry, leading an army of ninja teddy bears to begin destroying the workshop. The elf must struggle to redeem himself and help Santa retrieve his katana and wakizashi -- the only blades that can save the day. But will he get there in time?
+
The title caught my eye as a perused the library shelves, and I can honestly say I didn't expect to find something so tongue-in-cheek funny! There's great, simple conflict in here, some amusing, dialogue-free scenes. I can imagine this as an animated feature and it would be similar to the Powerpuff Girls. Take your time to enjoy the art and the silent frames. There's a feeling there that adds some funny to the serious plot.
While balancing production quotas, Santa must also balance employee relations, especially when one elf, fed up of laundry detail, wants to move up to production. When he's denied this promotion he conceives of a plot to make him a hero, leaving Santa no option but to reward him for his bravery.
Unfortunately, his misguided magic goes awry, leading an army of ninja teddy bears to begin destroying the workshop. The elf must struggle to redeem himself and help Santa retrieve his katana and wakizashi -- the only blades that can save the day. But will he get there in time?
+
The title caught my eye as a perused the library shelves, and I can honestly say I didn't expect to find something so tongue-in-cheek funny! There's great, simple conflict in here, some amusing, dialogue-free scenes. I can imagine this as an animated feature and it would be similar to the Powerpuff Girls. Take your time to enjoy the art and the silent frames. There's a feeling there that adds some funny to the serious plot.
December 15, 2009
In this extremely cute graphic novel Fritz the elf tries to get Santa to give him a promotion. Santa refuses and Fritz tries to prove his worth by casting a spell on a nutcracker to destroy the North Pole compound. Of course the spell grows out of control and infects the teddy bears creating tons of ninja teddy bears. The evil ninja teddy bears are the cutest villains ever and I hope some marketing genius somewhere turns them into a toy. Santa's cuss words are also extremely humorous. The only flaw is that the ending came a little too abruptly with no consequences for Fritz's actions. Although this is a book for children, older readers will enjoy it simply for it's silliness.
August 10, 2011
I picked this up at the library because I thought my son -- who is into ninjas -- would like it. I think he will because he's into that place where cute and violent mix together. I can see the image of Santa chopping through two stuffed teddy bears with a single swing of his blade, where the stuffing is just starting to spill from the bears, really appealing to his sense of humor. For me... well, it's good to know that whatever dark magic threatens the season of Christmas, Santa is fully ready and willing to deal with it.
May 7, 2015
Pure silliness. At the end of the samurai era, Santa is given two ancient swords by his sensei. Fast forward to today and Santa has to deal with a disgruntled elf. Determined to make himself important, the elf magics a ninja nutcracker to sabotage the works at the North Pole, but it goes horribly wrong and soon the place is overrun with evil ninja teddies. Can Santa save Christmas? HAHAHAHAHA! Cute.
Would never have found this, but a three year old picked it up off the Adult Graphic Novel shelf and handed it to me.
Would never have found this, but a three year old picked it up off the Adult Graphic Novel shelf and handed it to me.
July 17, 2014
This book was as ridiculous as I expected, if you take it seriously, its bad, if you don't its pretty good and this book does not take it self seriously zoo... yeah.
ok book:
ok book:
November 18, 2007
The first graphic novel I've ever read... I think kids that like Captain-Underpants-esque books that are a little wrong will like this tale of a tough Santa. Very short-- a 20 minute read. The cover will make it go out during the Holiday season.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews