Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight Returns #1 review (2024)

Writer Jeff Parker is back with a follow-up to last year’s holiday hit. This time, he’s joined by artist Lukas Ketner and colorist Marcelo Maiolo for an all-new Christmas caper featuring some of DC’s finest with the help of jolly old St. Nick himself. There’s a new threat called the “Silent Knight” who is draining the life force from innocent civilians, turning them into horrible mummified husks of their former selves. Will Batman, Superman and friends be able to force the Silent Knight to speak, or will this silence echo in eternity?

The Story

From the very first page, the story hits the ground running. Ketner successfully balances big, bombastic action with quieter moments of exposition. Early on, the stakes are clearly defined. Our heroes find themselves in over their heads, battling a magical force none of them are familiar with. It’s up to Robin (Damian Wayne) with the help of Zatanna to discover the secrets behind this unique adversary. Santa Claus of course plays a pivotal role and provides some much-needed background information on this new threat. The group of assembled heroes is an interesting one, and doesn’t just include the standard Justice League members. We get Nubia instead of Wonder Woman, Mera instead of Aquaman and Thunderheart instead of The Flash. It’s nice to see more characters getting their time to shine in the spotlight. Each hero has a role to play and contribute meaningfully, rather than just acting like background props.

Superman acted slightly out of character, in my opinion, losing his cool when trying to talk to the Silent Knight and immediately attacking a different foe later on more or less unprovoked. I would have expected Superman to give negotiation a chance before moving straight to violence. Zatanna and Damian have a fun rapport, and I’m looking forward to how their relationship develops. The Christmas vibes are a little lacking in the issue, as most of it takes place in the desert without any snow or other Christmas iconography.

The Art

Lukas Ketner does an excellent job maintaining a similar style to what we saw in the original series. He takes a pretty realistic approach while designing some really stellar villains. The Silent Knight doesn’t initially seem overtly “Christmas-like” but the red details and square, open face mask reminded me a bit of a classic Christmas nutcracker. The scenes in Gotham are filled with snow and Christmas cheer to really remind us of the holly jolly of it all. Santa makes a fun appearance and is looking primed to kick some naughty butt. Ketner adds fun little details throughout the comic, like Mera is often floating on a jet of water rather than just standing around, and Green Lantern traps the Knight in a construct shaped like a canopic jar – perfect for the Egyptian setting.

Colorist Marcelo Maiolo does an excellent job differentiating the two very different settings of the book. Gotham is glowing with soft tones really amplifying the Christmas mood. The desert and strange liminal space the heroes find themselves in is characterized by darker, sharper colors as well as swirling fog and mists. The colorful superhero costumes create a stark juxtaposition and really pop off the page.

Final Thoughts

In Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight Returns #1, Jeff Parker and Lukas Ketner deliver a fun, action-packed holiday adventure. While the Christmas spirit takes a bit of a backseat to magical mayhem, the unique lineup of heroes and their interplay add freshness to the tale. Ketner’s detailed art and Maiolo’s atmospheric colors bring the settings to life, though some character choices—like Superman’s uncharacteristic aggression—may leave fans scratching their heads. Overall, this festive follow-up strikes a good balance between superheroics and holiday cheer, setting the stage for an intriguing series ahead.