Slay Bells is a Christmas in July special from Bad Idea. Santa snapping is practically a sub-genre of itself. In comics alone, the most memorable case comes from the illustrations of Rob Liefeld. So how can Bad Idea out camp the insanity of Santa The Barbarian? Well let’s find out.
Why Is Santa Killing?
Murderous Santa Claus pieces are something that exaggerates the naughty or nice list to extremes. The notion of a killer charitable figure fits right into the “So Bad, It’s Good” meta. As a fan of camp, I find myself a fan of reactions to these pieces. Atop-The-Fourth-Wall’s reactions to Santa The Barbarian makes me laugh every time I see it.
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How Slay Bells Stands Out
So how does Slay Bells out camp what comes before? By capturing the essence of the over-the-top reactions to shocking events. With Robot Chicken writer Zeb Wells penning this gonzo plot, David Lafuente and Ulises Arreola illustrate the overreactions.
It all starts with a mundane hunting trip with a father and son on Christmas Eve. They’re a low income if happy family just trying to enjoy the holiday. But when a deer they shoot turns into Santa’s sleigh crashing with the reindeer all dead, things end up bad.
The grotesque manner in which the reindeer end up is enough to drive anybody into shock. It’s the parallels between the hunting Hampton family and Santa that drive this story. Everybody’s looking for joy in Slay Bells where the scary thoughts are all but a dream. But when the mundane interactions turn into absurd reactions, that sense of equilibrium is gone.
Ho, Oh No!
The art and writing have a synergy when it comes to dramedy. The Hampton son Bobby is off the nice list per his father’s instructions. A father who really doesn’t want to spoil the holiday cheer because of his actions. Then there’s the widow Bridgette who’s looking for love in old St. Nick after the death of her husband. When Santa does show up, he’s in a state of shock after a bad cop gives him a hard time. When Bridgette offers up some comfort, the police overcompensate with a SWAT team and kill an innocent woman.
So Santa has to whip out his holiday powers to deliver some karmic payback. It’s too hard not to look in awe at the utter ridiculousness of it all. Ever wonder how an old fat guy gets through a chimney? He turns into smoke! And the magic sack is a very dangerous weapon too. The cartoony slapstick leaves quite the impression.
Slay Bells A Jinglin’
Slay Bells is one shot that I’m going to keep for the campy joy it brings. Because it’s a piece that barely needs a reaction video. Oh but if anybody wants to recommend this Linkara, feel free (Hint-hint-wink-wink). For reviews, I give this an 8/10 for pure enjoyment.