Nothing quite sets the season like Christmas cards of Santa, or as he’s known in Japan “American Christmas Devil.” Brad McGinty received this unique card from his grandfather. “These aren’t personal Christmas cards, but rather leftover cards from my grandfather’s failed attempt at starting a greeting card company a few years after WWII,” claims McGinty.
A few years after my Grandfather returned from the war he decided to start a greeting card company. Armed with one terrible idea and no artistic ability whatsoever, he turned to someone he had met during the war for help, a young Japanese solider he had shot in the face named Haruo. My grandfather spoke no Japanese, and Haruo spoke no English, so how they actually got together is beyond me or anyone else in my family. The idea involved creating American-style greeting cards for both the Japanese and the American markets. It also required Haruo to create all the artwork and handle all of the printing. My grandfather would simply mail Haruo photos of what he wanted, and Haruo would see to the rest.
The dubious story isn’t the only clue that someone’s been naughty. Not only does McGinty bear an uncanny resemblance to his grandfather so does his portfolio, which includes a very similar Japanese illustration of Alien anatomy. But just because it’s all an elaborate hoax, doesn’t make the cards any less cool. And while the story behind them may be fake, the cards themselves are very real. They can be ordered for about $1 each @ Paper Pusher
