Hello comic lovers and new readers of tales of thoughtfulness, So yeah in someway or other I will admit that I have been so full of wanting to read this particular comic trade that I had got a couple of weeks ago when I had picked up my recent comics at Adventures Underground in uptown Richland. This trade consists of four issues from around last Christmas time by Decetevice Comics with their top comic superhero known as Batman, in what I am reviewing right now Batman-Santa Claus《Silent Knight》. Which is written by Jeff Parker (Batman '66, Aquaman) with artists Michele Bandini and Trevor Hairsine. Together these three comic creators brought fourth a yarn of ideas as odd as Santa Claus being a darker version of himself while fighting his own foe with the greatest set of heroes around at his side! When carolers whom are not named expect for a gentleman known asTodd but my guess, is they represent the Batman editorial department, are singing songs of yuletide to the citizens of Gotham city are attacked by winged creatures called the Draug. For true Batman comic readers his Robin here is his actual son,which he had with the daughter of his enemy Ra Al Ghoul in the story known as "Son of the Demon" which is written by Mike O Bar. In that story Batman has a son, yet is not mentioned for years. His son is named Damien Wayne. Recently a few years ago I had seen a whole Robin comicbook trade where Damien had to prove his chance at being not only Bruce's son, also his reasoning for being his dad's partner in being a crime fighter. Yet I am unsure if I happen to have that very trade from when I saw it at Adventures Underground... Batman- Santa Claus《Silent Knight》came out in December of 2023 with these covers
So how issue one this very series opens up is Bruce Wayne and Damien Wayne as Batman and Robin are investigating a crime scene of where some creatures have attacked some Christmas Carolers in uptown Gotham city and the creatures look like this
and Batman comes as he always does with a backup plan and sent a call out to Zatanna who come to Gotham from Europe via a snow-transport spell. She is the one on Santa's lap on the upper left variant cover. Zatanna I believe is one of Decetevice Comics answer to Marvel's sorcerer supreme better known as Doctor Strange, the only thing so far that I know is definitely different is Zatanna announces her magic spells backwards. Then
By the end of the first arc (issue) , we learn that Santa has come to to Gotham to help the world understand that he is here to help fight his own darker self known as Krampus. In the Second issue we the readers learn of the history between Kris Kringle and his as ( I described it...) a darker version of himself. The writer Jeff Parker knew that he had to have a great diversity against Santa Claus that he had history with... so Jeff remembered the stories he had learned from when he was growing up and what he knows from the internet, along with his own ideas of the creature called Krampus. Here is what both Santa and Krampus are
like during this Christmas theme tale. Oh one thing that I forgot to mention was in issue one, Santa even with Batman and his friends and family's help couldn't stop one of the wounded Draug that had covered Zatanna with a unknowable pollinating from a colorful set of flowers that rise from the dead creature chest... and cover her in green goo. That takes her out for the remainder of the story. Besides learning about the history of Krampus and Claus in issue two we the readers are treated to seeing other members of the justice league... ( Which to my understanding of the D.C. cannon universe hasn't been seen since twenty two I believe? I could be mistaken but I also may be right, and that's me being honest actually). With the heroes now not having a personal ace of a magical chance against the dark side of Kris Kringle, the justice league slowly starts helping Batman and Santa Claus because they see they Draug creeatures effects on each of their own existence and cities as well.... As Krampus fearfullness spreads through out the world even the need of a certain Kryptoniten is felt by all. And when Kal or as he is better known to the world arrives Superman is definitely surprised to finally be meeting Santa Claus!
In the opening of issue three this world spaning Christmas tale, Krampus forces of hostile harpies are on a all out attack on Hyde Park, in London on Christmas Eve morning brings out Hawkgirl, Jo (the youngest of the female Green Lanterns), your general understanding of the Green Lanterns knowledge is mostly male oriented as is mine I am sure for the generation you are apart of. I mainly know the main Green Lantern as Hal Jordan.... How many do you the reader of this know if I could please ask.) And finally the best known female character of the D.C. universe has joined in on helping Santa Claus fight his darker side, she is known of course as the Amazonian warrior princess
Wonder woman. ( Now if you are to ask me if I like the design of Diana Prince I am not entirely certain if I know for cretain because I have always known her main costume as a bathing suit more like this
but at the same time I can honestly understand why comic companies have a set of changes to accommodate a series of comic arcs storywise. Yet some fans like what they do love). Throughout this particular part of the story Krampus is building his strength as Batman and the justice league of this world as small as it ( I will explain more about it a little bit later), is joining Santa Claus and his elk known as Prancer.... sorry but no Rudolph and I think that is because Jeff Parker liked/loved Prancer more than any other reindeer from the classic song. This issue also has a Spider-Man like character known as Blue Beetle who transports the non flying heroes to an island with a tree to finding another friend of Kris Kringle's named Peppermint Jon who comes the North pole's toy workshop to take them all to Port of Aheim, Vanylvs FJORD, Norway... where the team fight off a sea serpent and Krampus together... and yes by this point Krampus has the upper hand by not only kidnapping Damian Wayne, He finds a way to make Superman his toy puppet and uses Superman to unleash all kinds of monsters on December twenty third.... In the fourth and final issue of this story opens on Christmas Eve of a Batman tale featuring him and Santa Claus going on with their battle with Santa's darker side known as Krampus with the help of some members of the Justice League, helping them to save the holiday itself. Now the team is in Greenland and are trying to find a way to take down a possessed Superman who has Krampus' soul inside of himself this very night, while also trying to find his son Damian who is in a magical cage in one of the many forrests of Greenland. The youthful Blue Beetle character has way to fight the Krampus spirited filled Superman that nearly kills both of them.... As to what it is you are going have to find this very trade because I don't want to spoil it for Ye who really wants to know.... oh before I get into my overall grade of this Christmas yarn from twenty, twenty three and start this year's Batman Santa crossover because there is one yes, I want all of you comic fans to know that the regular Justice League title of the main D.C. universe hasn't been around for at least since twenty, twenty one if I am not mistaken as to why that is entirely I know that I haven't a real clue about how long the real team will be gone for? Maybe one thing that I can think about as a answer is maybe someone or some company outside of Decetevice Comics has bought the rights for a while to using the characters for a while... like back when Marvel comics filled for bankruptcy in nineteen ninety six to survive the sold the rights of several characters like X-MEN, SPIDER-MAN, and the Fantastic Four to cretain studios to keeping ownership of the characters in Marvel's ownership and form that time in nineteen ninety six, till twenty twelve Marvel used the Fantastic Four characters very little in their main comic continuity. For they were co owned by twenty century fox films. But who knows if something like that is the reason for the Justice League not having a title for so long is! As to my grade of Batman-Santa Claus Silent Night story I will give it a B plus. Because it has done something no other Decetevice Comics title did... it has me wanting to read more of their comics and that's rare thing seeing me with a comic from that company unless it's something I really love that is being published by them!