REVIEW: ‘Batman/Santa: Silent Knight,’ Issue #3

Batman/Santa: Silent Knight #3 is published by DC Comics, written by Jeff Parker, art by Michele Bandini and Trevor Hairsine, colors by Alex Sinclair and letters by Pat Brosseau. More heroes are drawn into the fight against Krampus, who has unleashed more monsters into the world.

With each issue, this series expands. The plot and the pacing are amazing, fitting as much into the book as possible. Parker jumps across the Earth to London, depicting another fight and detailing that this is more than just a problem surrounding the main body of heroes. With Superman and Blue Beetle now involved, as well as Green Lantern, Black Canary, and more, the threats have also gotten more powerful. Each battle is exhilarating, pitting DC’s best heroes against monsters. The concept of Christmas is incorporated more, fitting the folklore approach that the writer is taking with this holiday series, and it is creating a completely new direction. It’s opened up an avenue of mythology within the DC Universe that it would be a shame to die off after this series concludes. The rapid pacing takes the book from fight to fight, with an entirely different set of circumstances each time. Krampus’s trump card is hinted at a second before it happens, but it opens the door for the most dangerous creatures we’ve seen so far.

The characters and the dialogue within the issue are a bundle of fun. Now packed with heroes, Batman/Santa: Silent Knight #3 provides room for the newer entrants to have their moments to shine. None of the heroes are there based on name alone—they are given a reason and have entered on their own merit. Although there is a hardcore element with the monster hunting and the really enjoyable action, there is also a goofiness to the energy of the book, pivotal in something with a Christmas theme. That energy is captured by the reaction that each hero has when Santa is first introduced to them, reducing these immensely powerful beings to their childlike backstories. The issue steps away from the vampires slightly in lieu of other monsters, and the folklore angle brings in beings that aren’t always seen in horror stories. They can be found in Norse and other Scandinavian legends, with other classic myths emerging too.

Santa himself jumps in and out of the book, not present for much of the issue. He may be the star of the series, but having an extended presence might dampen the drama and the energy that is generated when he does appear. Likewise, Krampus is treated as the final boss of this issue. He is more chaotic than Santa, invoking the notion of punishing sinners.

The art is split in two. It’s similar to the second issue, with Hairsine essentially having an individual section, but it’s not a flashback. The story in London sees a small team of heroes fight a flock of harpies. The second page, depicting Hawkgirl wrestling monsters off of a burning helicopter, is just the intro the issue needs. The extra details and crosshatching give the first part of the book a horror quality, and the harpies look extremely bestial. It’s action-packed and violent, with extra shadows that cast a darkness over the situation. Santa is not in London, and so any hints of a festive atmosphere have evaporated.

From there, Bandini’s side of the comic takes over. The heroes are gathered next to a snow-covered pine tree, with a wintery, friendlier approach to the series. It’s a small thing, but the many capes flowing in the breeze in Bandini’s opening panels look amazing. The new designs for every creature that emerges are terrific, formed with the exquisitely clean art style. Even friendly figures have creepy characteristics, serving as constant reminders that these are creatures from legend, not Christmas cards.

The fights are phenomenal, utilising the combination of powers on display. It’s a tight space, often leading to the characters being knocked into each other. The goofiness can also be discovered in the art and through the intricate and incredulous facial expressions of the characters.

The colors show adaptability to Sinclair’s palette. During the battle for London, the colors are drained from the scene, leaving a greyscale that causes the harpies to appear more ghastly. But there is color in the heroes, characters that have notable and iconic costumes that rely on their shades to be visible. There is also green on the screens of the crashing helicopter, and orange flames. Lack of color is not the case for the rest of the book, where the variety of superheroes draws out some intensely vibrant tones all clambering for space. Even the background will have passionate shades, either a rich purple for the falling sun or a deep blue to represent ice, among some other brilliant inclusions. The lettering is fantastic and effortless to read.

Batman/Santa: Silent Knight #3 is turning into a sensational crossover. What started as a team-up between Batman, Robin and Santa has started to include just about every other hero possible. It’s impossible not to grin with each addition. It’s a book that is always finding another level, vastly evolved from what was expected of it. It has the fight scenes, cast and intensity that measures up to some of the biggest events. From the monster hunting to the banter between the heroes, the comic features endless amounts of fun.

Batman/Santa: Silent Knight #3 is available where comics are sold.