Santa Claus is coming to town, and that town is Gotham. Again. Last year writer Jeff Parker and a team of artists, led by Michele Bandini, brought us a terrific team-up between Father Christmas and the Justice League. And here’s the sequel, with Lucas Ketner replacing a busy-in-Santa’s-workshop Bandini. Happily, the visual quality remains high, and I doubt Jeff Parker could write a bad comic if he tried (please don’t try!).
The book opens with a horrifying wraith murdering people in the Valley of the Kings, and the Leaguers arriving off panel.
That top hat, it can only mean The Shade!
Or even Zatanna, duh, where is my head? It’s half a day later and while smoking shaman John Constantine is being threatened by a gaggle of goblins, he’s still able to warn Zee about the murderous demon.
Damian Wayne, it turns out, was with the League as they tackled ‘the Silent Knight’.
That’s an interesting line-up, with League veterans Superman and Batman, occasional fill-ins Green Lantern John Stewart and Atlantean ruler Mera, newish member Nubia and, as well as Damian, Thunderheart aka Irey West, one of Flash Wally West’s super-powered, super-capable twins. Irey’s the biggest surprise here, being pretty new to the family business, but she’s proved fast like Wally and as smart as writer mum Linda put together. Her mini-team up with Damian shows what an asset she is, getting the Boy Wonder off the battlefield as spooky forces threaten to overwhelm them both.
Damian seems a little defeated by the time he reaches Zee, knowing demons with magical swords are far out of his league.
But if Zatanna’s brand of magic isn’t going to be enough, who can help?
Classic! To see how Santa pops up, grab this first of four issues, it’s in shops now but if you subscribe to DC Infinite, it’s also there, one month earlier than the usual schedules would have it, which makes sense – good as this issue is, having the first part of a weekly Christmas serial drop in Christmas week itself wouldn’t be ideal.
Parker links this to last year’s story but you don’t need to have read that to enjoy this sequel – Santa knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you’re awake, and he knows when you need a recap. The story is straightforward, the fun comes with how the characters react to the various plot elements and each other. This isn’t a grouping of heroes we’d usually get (though Justice League Unlimited aims to change that) and it’s terrific to see the likes of DC queens Nubia and Mera side by side.
The horrific figure mummifying people is visually reminiscent of old DC fantasy hero the Silent Knight.
Surely not? Last year, ‘Silent Knight’ referred to Santa, aka Klaus, it’d be a fun twist to have the original DC Silent Knight involved this time… just so long as whatever evil force is possessing him is kicked out by the end.
Ketner’s art is big and bold, perfect for a high fantasy superhero tale, with the standout character so far as ‘acting’ is concerned being Damian, his various moods captured with style and gusto. Santa once again looks physically formidable and the monsters are, well, monstrous.
Colourist Marcelo Maiolo makes Zee’s apartment feel like the warmest place on Earth, and I expect he’ll have a chance to bring out the cold crayons soon enough. Pat Brosseau’s smart lettering adds the finishing touch, while illustrator Bernard Change and Maiolo contribute the cracking cover – dig those manic reindeer!
Last year I begged for a sequel to Batman – Santa Claus: Silent Knight and here it is, and it is terrific. I must have been very good indeed.
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