Written by Ed Brubaker.
Art by Scott McDaniel; Andy Owens; Roberta Tewes; Wildstorm FX; & John Costanza.
Cover Art by Scott McDaniel & Patrick Martin.
SUMMARY:
Entitled “Santa Klaus is Coming to Town,” DC Comics released this self-contained issue for February 2002. Temporarily residing at Wayne Manor, Sasha Bordeaux good-naturedly tries to brighten a Scrooge-like Bruce Wayne’s lonely Christmas. Meanwhile, Batman aids GCPD Detective Renee Montoya’s squad pursue a mind-reading serial killer disguised as Santa Claus. The psychotic’s present M.O. is delivering explosive gifts to Gotham’s unsuspecting citizenry with naughty (but not necessarily criminal) secrets.
Previously dubbed ‘Santa Klaus,’ this psychotic villain adds two young teenagers to be his present-delivering ‘elves’ to further the holiday camouflage amidst this rampage. Late into Christmas Eve, Batman must work fast to defuse the maniac’s ultra-destructive masterpiece in downtown Gotham.
REVIEW:
Strictly speaking, it is a formulaic holiday Bat-caper with decent writing and reasonably solid visuals. Yet, there is virtually no plot depth. For instance, neither the villain’s source of explosives nor Bruce’s meaningful Christmas gift is revealed, let alone explored. By no means a must-have, Batman # 598 is more for comics fans who enjoy an obligatory dose of Gotham City mayhem in his/her stocking.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
There is an abbreviated “Bat Signals” letters-and-answers column.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5½ Stars
