Batman / Santa Claus: Silent Knight Returns #1
Written by: Jeff Parker
Illustrated by: Lukas Ketner
Cover art: Bernard Chang
DC Comics
2024
*Maybe some mini spoilers..
Santa comes to the aid of the DCU heroes in the crossover-event sequel you wished for! And you must have been extra good because a wintry mix of DC’s wildest characters arrive this time to face a powerful foe… the Silent Knight!
Alright, let’s dive into Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight Returns #1. Jeff Parker is back writing this wild crossover, with Lukas Ketner on art and Bernard Chang delivering a sharp cover. This time, Santa himself steps in to help the heroes of the DC Universe, and it’s as chaotic as it sounds. If you’ve been wishing for a sequel to the first volume, here it is. But how does it stack up?
To be honest, I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first issue from the original series. It’s entertaining for sure, but it gave me some serious flashbacks to that absurd 2005 movie Santa’s Slay. You know, the one where WCW’s Bill Goldberg played a tough-as-nails Santa? That was a terrible movie, but somehow it stuck with me, and this version of Santa feels like it’s cut from the same cloth—tough guy energy and all.
It also reminded me of that time Lobo—the Main Man himself—was hired by the Easter Bunny to kill Santa in The Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special. That Santa was also hardcore, and now I’m wondering if this might be the same guy. Could DC be connecting those dots? Probably not, but it’s fun to imagine.
As for the story, it kicks off at full speed, no slow build-up here. The premise is intriguing, especially with magic in the mix. I’m crossing my fingers for a bigger role for Zatanna this time around, though—she felt underused in the last series, and this seems like the perfect setup for her to shine.
The artwork? Solid. Ketner does a good job bringing this weirdly festive but gritty world to life. The pacing seems decent for the opening chapter, though I’ll reserve judgment until the story unfolds a bit more.
If you’re into DC’s more out-there crossovers, this is worth checking out, even if it’s not quite hitting the same highs as the first volume. It’s early, though—let’s see where this wild ride takes us.
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