The KrampusâSaint Nicholas’ nefarious counterpartâhas been around in European Christmas mythology for hundreds of years, but there seems to be a recent surge of popularity for the be-hoofed bad cop to Santa’s good one. Naturally, new-to-the-scene toy company Warpo â who recently released some Cthulhu action figures, because of course â have decided to coronate Krampus as their next toy property.
Warpo had this to say about their plans to create a brand new version of Krampus in their uniquely 80s retro style:
Acting as a toy company in the 1980s looking for the next great monster property, we felt that Krampus was the perfect folk lore to receive the Warpo treatment! We’ve taken a unique approach to this mythic character positioning him as a scary, but also totally misunderstood monster.
Warpo’s Krampus comes with three “Naughty Kids” that the beast can collect on his Christmas eve travels. Gag Me Gloria, Know-It-All Ned, and Headlock Harryâall very reminiscent in design to classic ’80s subversive trading card characters, the Garbage Pail Kids. The Krampus comes with his own bag, used for collecting the Naughty Kids as opposed to toting around gifts.
In their effort to make their own version of the Krampus feel like something that originated in that gross-out wave of toys and collectibles from the mid-80s, Warpo managed to attract Jim Groman and Donna Miranda to help design their Christmas Demon. Those two worked heavily on classic designs of toys in the ’80s, so creating an authentic period look and feel for the Krampus character was a cinch.
This idea, infused with ’80s nostalgia, is kind of brilliant, and we look forward to the other creatures that Warpo brings to life.
Would you like to cuddle a Krampus? Let us know in the comments below.
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Images: Warpo