By Jake Weatherill from Lewisham Branch
It’s a well-established fact amongst the team that I am Lewisham Library’s resident Grinch. It’s not so much that I am a scrooge, more I don’t like the festive season that much. It’s partially down to it having lost some of its magic to me as I have got older, partially for what might be called soapbox reasons which I shan’t go into here.
There are however things that I don’t dislike about Christmas. Christmas Pudding, Pigs in Blankets, Mince Pies, Seasonal Coffees. Mainly food admittedly (why are these things only available once a year? I shouldn’t have to wait for December to scoff mince pies). Oh and the odd bit of seasonal literature too. You would hope so, right? I mean this is a reading blog after all, it would be disappointing if I didn’t.
The question was what book to go for as my unofficial Christmas Special Review? I mean I could have been very lazy and gone very generic, or really obscure like the wannabe hipster I, deep down, am. Ultimately, I met in the middle in the only way I could.
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| Library Copy of A Christmas Carol |
The answer to that is a question. What happens when you combine the Charles Dickens’ Christmas Classic, and Gotham City’s Caped Crusader? Batman: Noël. The story is set in Gotham in December. It’s cold, bitter, and dusted with snow. Everything looks very picturesque. Almost peaceful. But Gotham being Gotham appearances can be deceiving. Our narrator is Bob Cratchit. Down on his luck and desperate for cash he has taken a job dumping a parcel in a bin for someone.
That someone is swiftly revealed to be The Joker, and dealing with Joker means you’ll probably draw the attention of The Bat. In Bob’s case pretty much immediately. Having seemingly convinced Batman he knows nothing Bob is allowed to go, but not without Batman slyly planting a tracking device on him, in the hope Bob’s failed drop will lure out The Joker.
Upon Bob’s return home he discovers his disabled son Tim attempting to spread festive cheer with a very DIY Christmas Tree and Decorations. Bob however is a bit too preoccupied to notice. To be fair, I think when you’re caught between the The Bat and The Clown Prince of Crime it’s maybe not that unacceptable to be oblivious to your surroundings. Little does Bob know that Batman is using him, and by proxy Tim, as bait.
Once he (eventually) catches Joker, The Dark Knight discloses to Alfred he will throw Bob in jail, and simply hope it will scare Tim straight. Alfred, recalling what happened to Jason Todd under similar logic registers his disagreement as Bruce hacks and coughs. During the night Mr Wayne has a visitor who will set in motion a train of events that will embroil our hero in a transformative adventure.
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| Library copy of Batman: Noel |
Written and drawn by Lee Bermejo, who has previously drawn critically acclaimed The Joker and Luthor Graphic Novels alongside all-star writer Brian Azzarello, Bermejo comes in with an impressive track record, so it’s no wonder that he produced something as lovingly crafted as Noël.
Noël gives us an inspired retelling of one of the true literary classics. Using storytelling devices that he has picked up off of Azzarello, Bermejo gives us a different narrator than we’re used to. On top of this he uses familiar characters in way we haven’t seen before, acting as versions of the same spiritual Sherpa’s who guide Scrooge from irredeemable to a man with a heart of gold.
The fact it likely is set at some point not too far on from the Death of Jason Todd (hence Alfred’s reference) is useful for explaining why this mash up works so well. After the fall of the Second Robin Batman/Bruce certainly starts heading down a darker and darker path in the aftermath of The Joker’s (who else?) murder of Todd, to such a point where a young Tim Drake tries to persuade Dick Grayson to give up being Nightwing and return to the Robin persona to pull Bruce back from the edge of the abyss.
So Bruce needing a transformative experience isn’t that outlandish, and Bermejo manages to execute it in the perfect way.
It’s also worth highlighting the starkness of Bermejo’s art work. It’s jagged lines give a brutality that suits the harshness of Gotham, but it still honours the classic designs of Bats and Joker (amongst others) in its own way.
While I can appreciate the art work isn’t for everyone (art is ultimately about personal taste and opinion after all) it works. Like really works. There are certain comic artists who you feel are fated to write particular characters, and it’s like Bermejo and The Bat were made for each other.
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| Oxford Art Online- Available free with your Lewisham Library Card |
So this Christmas/Festive/Holiday/December Season why not try something a little bit different for your evening reading? Why not go for Batman: Noël?
I shan’t wish you Merry Christmas or a Happy Holidays because that’s just not me, but I will see you in the New Year. So stay safe. Look after each other.
And here’s hoping 2021 doesn’t start off with an Alien Invasion.
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