A Pastors also need a break from heavy theological reading! So here’s a Batman comic book review!
Lee Bermejo. Batman: Noël. New York, NY: DC Comics, November 2nd 2011. 112 pp.
4 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
A Batman Christmas story? Can it be? Indeed! I enjoyed this comic book that is a Batman’s version of Charles Dickens’ famous story A Christmas Carol, but modern and updated in the world of Gotham. I enjoyed it perhaps more than some of the reviewers online and hope some of the people’s negative remark might not turn people away and perhaps my review can add some balance consideration!
While this story is based upon the Christmas Carol, there are some twists and turns. For the first few pages I didn’t know who Scrouge will be and was surprised at how the writer will focus on as “Scrouge.” Still there is some explanation of why this person was Scrouge given his view of life that often the end justifies the means. The three “spirits” of Christmas were various characters in Batman’s universe and there is more a naturalistic feel than the more ghost like spirits in Dickens’ story. I thought it was well done, of capturing this man’s past, present and future! What an incredible way of telling this classic tale in the form of a drama leading up to a battle between Batman and Joker!
The artwork is amazing. The colors of the paintings are incredible and makes a good glossy splash for readers delight. I also enjoyed the details of the city of Gotham in the background, the facial expression of the characters and a Gothic kind of feel with a lot of wintery wonder land feel.
Batman fans and also those who enjoy Dicken’s classic story will enjoy this work!
My favorite story is “A Christmas Carol” (we watch at least 6 versions each holiday season), so I will probably check this out!
Wow which is your favorite rendition?
Top 3 (no particular order): Patrick Stewart, George C. Scott, and Jim Carrey animated. Next are are Alastair Sim and Muppets.
Thank you for your teaser and review, Jim! Tweaking a little bit of Bruce’s personality can make him be like that of scrouge; aggravated by his focus on his life’s mission. A good trigger for the writer to delve into is the fresh Jason Todd event that made the protagonist a scrouge (for justice or vigilante actions) sans his wealth here. And just like the Dicken’s story, there were lessons in the end for the protagonist and the involved citizens. There are many adaptations of the Christmas Carol (in comics, movies, and musical) and loosely based ones like that of Scrouge McDuck and Bugs Bunny but one movie that I like that has elements of the original and that is “The Family Man” a 2000 film.
I’ve not heard of The Family Man; even though it was twenty years ago! Can you tell how I don’t watch a lot of movies and TV lol. Thanks for letting me know about it, saw the trailer on Youtube and notice its played by Nicholas Cage. Maybe the reason why the Christmas Carol theme is so prevalent is that for us as humans we deal with regrets, life decisions that could have been different and also dealing with being jaded. Oh how we need His grace to see things rightly and also having our identity in Him
Amen!
Ha! Looks like a fun read, seeing Batman jump through “A Christmas Carol” hoops. Thanks for the review! Poor Batman. He is such a “tortured soul.” Back in the Silver Age days, Batman was DC’s most Marvel-like character but he’s obviously become even more tormented since then. This reminds me that I have to stop at the comic shop tomorrow to pick up the next issue of LSH.
Wow I’m looking forward to future review of LSH! By the way I am surprised comic store are still open where you are at; can you go inside them? Here the one near me has been closed and was open a few weeks ago but you stand outside and they get what you need…sigh.
The comic shop near me is open Wednesday thru Saturday only. A limited number of people are allowed inside at a time, so I get there early on Wednesday/release day. They only stock a couple issues of LSH at this point, which tells me there’s not a lot of demand.
No doubt comic shops took a big hit in this pandemic.
I love it, a Batman Carol!
What, Batman ISN’T theology? 😉