Raymond Briggs Winter Graphic Novels

Raymond Briggs is one of my favourite writers and illustrators of all time. A master of the graphic novel format, he has written several iconic stories, some of which have even been adapted for TV. These are two of his best, perfect for enjoying throughout the cold winter days.

Title: The Snowman.
Author/Illustrator: Raymond Briggs.
Publisher: Hamish Hamilton.
Published: 1978.
Format: Hardback.
Source: My own copy.

This is no doubt Briggs' most iconic work, made particularly famous by the numerous animated TV specials and stage shows. It tells the magical yet bittersweet story of a boy who builds a snowman that comes to life one night. Whilst a fantastical tale on the surface, it also delves into the idea of making the most of the time you have. What makes the book especially charming is that it is left ambiguous as to when the events occur, so you don't have to only read it at Christmas time.

The best aspect of the book though is that it is told without any words. Instead, it relies on the actions and emotions of the characters as well as the setting itself in order to communicate its message, making plenty of its scenes more powerful in the process - in particular the final panel. There is a version of the book that comes with words, but you will not find any need to read it as the pictures already tell you so much about what is happening.

Title: The Complete Father Christmas.
Author/Illustrator: Raymond Briggs.
Publisher: Hamish Hamilton.
Published: 1978.
Format: Hardback.
Source: My own copy.

Father Christmas is a real character - rather than the kindly, wise figure we see in most media, he's a comical curmudgeon who finds it hard to get into the same Christmas spirit that he spreads to other people, complete with his "blooming" catchphrase. Instead of living in a fantasy wonderland and having a whole team of elves at his disposal, he has to get on with the work by himself in a house that looks like one you'd find on your average suburban street. In a way, he takes on a life of his own in these tales and has arguably become just as iconic as the traditional portrayal.

There are two stories in this omnibus to enjoy. The first one, Father Christmas, focuses on the titular character delivering all of the presents around the world, sometimes to some famous places like Buckingham Palace, before celebrating Christmas himself. The second one, Father Christmas Goes on Holiday, consists of him struggling to find the perfect place to spend the summer and the mishaps he has along the way. These stories are incredibly funny with plenty of moments to make you laugh, and they will present a whole new side to everyone's favourite holiday spirit that we rarely see captured in other works.