REVIEW: ‘Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight,’ Issue #4

Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight #4 is published by DC Comics, written by Jeff Parker, art by Danny Kim and Stephen Segovia, colors by Alex Sinclair, and letters by Pat Brosseau. This is the final issue. Santa Claus and the DC heroes must try to defeat Krampus’ horde of monsters and rescue the kidnapped Robin.

This final part of the series ends with the same energy and intensity as it started. Even though the enemy has remained the same, each issue has added something new. Now, along with the other gigantic mythical creatures, there is also a possessed Superman to deal with. How that problem gets solved is dramatic and drastic. There is always some form of conflict in this book, whether it be physical or some other form of confrontation.

The book actually fuses the mythology of Santa and Krampus further into that of the DC Universe, using well-known dimensions to influence what happened to make Krampus so angry and evil. There is a superb callback used as well, with the punishment of children seen early in the series now coming back to haunt the heroes. Except in this instance, the child is the son of Batman. This is the comic in which the spirit of Christmas returns, with a touching final act that encapsulates the holiday feeling. It’s light, refreshing, and extremely satisfying.

The characters are at their best in Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight #4. This issue has been exuberant and delightfully fun. The dialogue is often in good humor, even when stepping into darker territory. Characters are interacting in this issue that haven’t ever done so. Santa encapsulates both the modern, typical side of him and the history steeped in folklore. There is a workshop, reindeer, a sleigh, and a form of elf. But there’s also the woodsman and the monster hunter established within these four issues. More heroes are added to the final part of the book to round out the full cast.

Krampus is also very notable as he is explored fantastically. There are so many sides to him, providing something different than a solely evil entity. And Robin is also terrific. As the only actual child of the group, how the hardcore, childhood-deprived vigilante responds to the existence of Santa grows more heartwarming by the page. He’s hysterical whilst held captive, having to resort to acting to try and free himself.

An unexpected feature of this last issue is the change in artists. Taking over are Kim and Segovia, who have certainly altered how the issue looks. There’s more detail and alterations to the character designs, and many of them are spectacular. Santa looks more gruff and beefier, now looking like a WWE heavyweight instead of a rugged hunter. Blue Beetle is spindly, reflecting the bug-like element of his name. The idea of the possessed Superman is intensified through the details added by this new team. There’s a sadistic grin on Clark’s face, gleeful as he attacks his friends. The expressions are more dramatic in general, and Krampus has a total revisit of his design. The final page is a magnificent holiday image featuring the biggest DC heroes.

The colors are polar opposites, using an interesting palette for the last chapter. Out in the cold, an icy blue lingers on everything, transforming even the red of Santa’s uniform. But in Krampus’ lair, there is a vibrant and ominous red. If a color breaks through either of those colors, it means you have to pay extra attention. The lettering is fantastic and effortless to read.

Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight #4 concludes a really cool crossover. Reading this series has led to some of the most fun I’ve had in a long time. The novelty of the festive season and the guest stars has not diverted from remarkable storytelling. The action scenes have been fluid and frenetic, the art has been sensational, and the characters have been riveting. And it’s not just a tale trapped in its own timeline; this fits into DC’s canon and could have consequences. It’s been so interesting to get glimpses of the folklore surrounding Santa Claus and the rest of the legends that have been brought up in the confines of this comic. And even if this book tried to step away from tradition and cliches, it is what it has to fall on to finish, but it’s hard to resist a smile.

Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight #4 is available where comics are sold.