Death Comes for the Toymaker by Dakota Brown is a graphic novel about the Toymaker and his deal with Death. In this story, Death and the Toymaker were once friends. Their relationship now revolves around a bargain: the Toymaker is granted eternal life, while Death gets a vacation. One day out of the year, the Toymaker delivers both gifts and death while Death takes a holiday.

The story feels like American Gods meets Clash of the Titans. Set in an alternate world filled with gods and monsters, the mythology blends Christian, Greek, and Roman traditions. The gods have different names, but their stories echo familiar legends. Brown’s deep knowledge of mythology is evident, and the writing is sharp and thoughtful. The story explores universal themes such as ego, youthful ambition, friendship, regret, and aging.

The artwork by Ryan Cody is excellent. The emotions are palpable on the page, and he clearly enjoys illustrating the mythological creatures scattered throughout the story. The relationship between Death and the Toymaker is the emotional core of the book and easily my favorite aspect.

The story takes place in the present day, just after the annual holiday when the Toymaker delivers both presents and death. The Toymaker is broken and desperate to end both his suffering and the deal he made with Death. Through flashbacks, we see how the world of gods began, the friendship and rivalry between Death and the Toymaker, and finally the deal that sets the plot in motion. The storytelling is fun and well-paced. There were a couple of moments where I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening, but the story quickly clarified itself.

Death Comes for the Toymaker was published on November 26, 2024, by Magma Comix.

Why Did I Read Death Comes for the Toymaker?

The cover and the premise—Death battling Santa Claus—immediately grabbed my attention. I’ve known Dakota Brown, the writer, for over 12 years. Long ago, I directed him in a Western segment for a web series. I had seen him promoting this comic and graphic novel online and loved both the cover art and the concept.

I try to support the local art scene whenever I can. I bought a ticket to the Chattanooga Comic Con, saw that Dakota was attending, met him there, and purchased a signed copy of the book. I went in hoping it would be good since a friend wrote it,but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the book is genuinely excellent. I didn’t have to question whether I was being too harsh or too generous.

Plot Summary:

Gil is hundreds of years old and is known as the Toymaker. He loves toys and the joy they bring. Once every year, the Toymaker delivers both gifts and death. He hates killing children, but the deal he made forces him to continue. During this time, Death takes a holiday, leaving the Toymaker to fill in.

Once close friends, Death and the Toymaker are now rivals who coexist uneasily. Gil is done with the deal and is willing to do anything to end it, even if that means killing Death himself. He believes he has found a way, but it involves killing a god.

What I Liked:

The writing is very strong. It doesn’t hold the reader’s hand, it’s smart and expects the reader to keep up. There were moments where I wondered what was happening, but the story takes its time connecting the dots, and when it does, it’s brilliant.

The humor is excellent. Seeing Death and the Toymaker casually going for coffee together is genuinely funny. The action scenes are well-paced and intense, and the artwork makes every panel feel epic. I loved how deeply the mythology is woven into the story. The Toymaker being Gil, short for Gilgamesh, is a fantastic reveal, and anyone familiar with that myth will appreciate the layers added here. I love how the Toymaker gets his magical bag and what Death’s scythe is made out of.

I also picked this up hoping for a bit of a Christmas vibe. I wasn’t sure I’d get that from a story involving Death, but by the end, the book absolutely delivers a powerful and satisfying Christmas moment.

What I Disliked:

There is one obvious plot point where a character gets everything they want, takes a nap, and then loses the very thing they needed. While this mirrors the story of Gilgamesh, it felt like a case of sticking too closely to the source material.

I also wish I’d known going in that this story takes place entirely in an alternate world. I kept waiting for it to transition to our Earth, but that never happens.

Recommendation:

Death Comes for the Toymaker is a hidden-gem graphic novel. If you want a fun and accessible way to engage with the story of Gilgamesh, this book is perfect. If you enjoy epic tales of mythological gods, monsters, and rivalries, this is for you. And if you just want a great story with humor, heart, and epic fight scenes, this delivers. I’m genuinely excited for my friend he absolutely knocked it out of the park, and this book blew past my expectations.

Rating:

Death Comes for the Toymaker by Dakota Brown. I rated 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Death Comes for the Toymaker is an independent graphic novel and could be hard to find. I did provide a link below. I do not profit from this in any way. I just think it is a good book that more people should read.

Death Comes for the Toymaker