Batman: Noel

OK, you want me to tell you a story? Batman: Noel is quite a graphic novel. It takes a tip from Charles Dickens and creates its own version of "A Christmas Carol," minus the ghosts. It is a commentary on the Dark Knight, a vigilante who tends to cross the line that others would fear to cross (Gordon said that). It's a narrative piece, where someone (we find out who at the end) is telling his kid a story, about Scrooge (Batman) and how he meets three people who make him take a look at his life and make some changes. As the novel says, some people need a wake-up call like getting hit with a baseball bat before they change! The hint of Christmas is muted in favor of a story of a guy (Bob) who is running some money for the Joker. The Batman jumps on Bob in his search for the Clown of Crime. The Bats has a run-in with Catwoman (who is nicely drawn) and Superman. The final confrontation with the Joker is meaningful and exciting in its storyline and art. Lee Bermejo draws some great panels. His use of shadow and light and conveying mood and mystery is really exciting. If I could nitpick, it's in the way he throws sweat and spit around. It's a good device to use, but it's over and over again to a point where the "spit" loses interest for me! Lee also wrote the story and the man really has a talent for the written word. Minimal, yet keeps it informal and interesting. Bottom Line: This is NOT an adaptation of Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It's a deep, dark and sometimes frightening look at a man who has crossed the line and has lost all hope in his quest to beat down the criminal element and "reduce the criminal surplus population!" It's a story that a man can change with some conviction and some tough love! Highly recommended.

Batman Noel is a spectacular graphic novel. First, the art is amazing. It is dynamic and really contrasts between lights and shadows. I've seen some different Batman art forms and this is one of my favorites. Not only that, but the other characters in the novel (I won't give any away) are drawn and colored to really show off their personalities, which greatly enhances their role in the novel. They go from static, side characters to containing a sense of depth that can only come from great art. ***Minor Spoiler*** As Batman is displayed at different times in his life, the art even goes the extra mile to show his personality and disposition which adds a lot to the story. Speaking of the story, I am hard pressed to not say that the story in Batman Noel is one of the better graphic novels I have read in a long time (which makes me feel a little bit like a traitor because I am a huge fan of Superman and I even enjoyed Batman Noel a little more than the recent novels I have read with Superman). I won't give any details away about the plot or overall story line, but the creativity that went into showing Batman and Charles Dickins side by side blew my mind. It seems kind of silly to put Batman and A Christmas Carol together but somehow this just works in Batman Noel and makes for an excellent read. You don't even need to know a lot about Batman to be able to pick up the novel and read it, so those unfamiliar or new to Batman should not be discouraged. I strongly suggest that anyone interested in Batman picks up this amazing novel and gives it a try. I seriously doubt you will be disappointed.

You know the story of "A Christmas Carol." Even if you've never read the original book by Charles Dickens (which you absolutely should), you know this story. You know this story because EVERYONE has done a version of this story. Disney, the Muppets, the Looney Toons, just to name a few of the stranger (but well done) versions. Add "Batman:Noel" to that list. Easily the best thing about this book is the artwork. Put Lee Bermejo up against someone like Jim Lee, Ivan Reis, or Greg Capulo, and he will hold his own. This book is just gorgeous to look at. The realistic artwork is just beautiful in almost every panel. The backgrounds are extremely detailed, giving Gothom a Gothic appearance (which it should have had from the beginning, if you think about it). (Be warned now: there is one panel of Tim's face that, while well drawn, is terrifying. Sometimes more realistic is not the best choice. It is one panel, but it's worth mentioning.) But never fear: Bermejo is almost as good a writer as he is an artist. Drawing from the source material when necessary, this is a story with a double meaning. Batman is portrayed as both the Dark Knight, and himself being Scrooge. The narration, taking place over the story of Batman hunting down the Joker, gives the impression that Batman is so focused on solving crimes, he's forgotten a bit of his humanity. The way the story is told is fantastically done. You have to buy "Batman:Noel." It is one of the best comics I've read, and a great Christmas story to boot. Seriously, go buy it. Why are you still reading this? Why haven't you bought this book yet?!

A Christmas Carol with Batman as Scrooge seems like such an inspired idea that it's a wonder no one has written this book before. I knew Lee Bermejo's work from Joker, so my expectations were very high. And when it comes to the art, Bermejo does not disappoint. This book is gorgeous. The attention to detail and the way he lays out a page is striking. Every time I open this book I am again taken aback by how good it looks. The characters feel so real they're almost tangible. The ghosts of Christmas Past and Christmas Yet to Come are especially good. Visually, this is one of the best Batman books I've seen in years. It's the writing that's not quite up to the same level. This is Bermejo's first time as a writer for a comic, and he does a fine job. The story stays very true to Dickens's version. There are no real twists and turns here; it hits all the major beats of the sources material. But with source material as good as Dickens's classic, that's not really a bad thing. A Batman Christmas Carol is what the book promises on the cover, and that is what it delivers. But there've been so many versions of A Christmas Carol over the years, that I just kept finding myself wanting a little more. The story is good and enjoyable, but it doesn't really say or explore anything new about the Dark Knight. Overall, I enjoyed Batman Noel and am proud to have it sitting on my shelf. The story is a fun holiday read, but it's Bermejo's artwork that is the real selling point here. It's almost worth picking up this book just to look at the pictures. If you're looking for a fun, but not entirely innovative, Batman holiday story, you won't be disappointed.

Visionary artist Lee Bermejo (Joker) draws upon Charles Dickens' literary classic "A Christmas Carol" for this original Batman graphic novel. Entitled Noel, this graphic novel finds Batman in a sort of bad state. Using a low-rent hood as bait to find and take in the Joker has clouded the judgment and methods of the Dark Knight, leading to visitations by those who serve as his "ghosts" of the past, present, and future. While I'm not too much of a fan of Bermejo's characterization of Batman in the opening of Noel, it means little as the story kicks into full gear and features his brilliant artwork as well. Though it is awfully short, Noel is more than worth picking up for Batman fans, and is probably one of the most enjoyable recent Batman stories you'll find out there today.

No Notes...but I'll try ARTWORK ARTWORK ARTWORK!!!! Beautiful work. It captures the feeling of the city, the essence of the characters, the vibe a Charles Dickens. Look at how the artwork directs you where to read. The way the lines, shadows, and color palette manifest people, buildings.. in freaking fire and diamonds! The artwork is a treat for graphic novel lovers. The story is a Batman story that embodies A Christmas Carol. Just saying. It's now in my December rotation. This is a beautiful book and a fun version of a holiday classic.

In his first book as both writer and artist, Bermejo weaves a redemptive Batman story around the storyline of Dicken's classic A Christmas Carol. This is a Dark Knight Batman, after Robin's death. The story follows a very generalized narration of Dicken's A Christmas Carol overlayed on a Batman story paralleling the narrative. Unlike the Dicken's tale, there's not much to like in either of the primary characters at the outset, and the redemption and change must come for both the Scrooge and the Cratchet parallels. An interesting twist and comment on the darkness of life in Gotham. Bermejo's use of light and darkness are gorgeously colored by Barbara Ciardo, as you can see by the panels I've included here. I also love Bermejo's creative, non-traditional layouts and beautiful sense of movement. Gotham is gritty and cold and windy and you can feel every bit of that on the page.

This book is amazing. The art is the the most gorgeous thing I think I've ever seen in a graphic novel. The design and flow of the book is very creative and unique as well. Really shows the potential of the craft. Well written too; I understand if some of you are skeptical of what's basically the Batman version of A Christmas Carol, but it's pretty clever and to me the story was very relatable. The message was also a perfect one for the the modern world, these hard times we live in. Does that sound cliche? I dunno, this book seriously inspired me. A must-own if you're a Batman fan or an art lover!

Awesome storyline and keeps you guessing

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Great art. Super interesting take on Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

Ottima storia del cavaliere oscuro, che lo vede protagonista di una rivisitazione riuscitissima del famoso "A Christmas Carol" di Charles Dickens. La storia, narrata in terza persona da un tirapiedi del Joker, vede Batman (che riveste i panni dello Scrouge di Dickens) durante la notte di Natale affrontare tre "fantasmi" che lo porteranno a riflettere sulle conseguenze delle sue azioni. Disegni e colori meravigliosi!

Dibujo impresionante. Historia entretenida.