DC Comics is out with another holiday themed anthology just in time for Christmas. With eight tales, ranging from demons “spiking” punch with a not-so-festive liquid, to struggling with what to get a close friend for Christmas, there’s something for even the biggest grinch on your list. The stories can be heartwarming or silly, but all share a cheerful holiday magic that makes them special.
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The book can be divided into two types of stories: those that have a more serious, heartwarming tone, and those that are more playful and irreverent. The John Stewart, Secret Six, Deadman and Dr. Mid-Nite tales tend to stick to a more serious tone, while the stories featuring Constantine, Joker, Vixen and Superman are all a little more tongue-in-cheek.
My two favorite stories of the octet were “Secret Santa” written by Drew Maxey and “Silent Nite” written by James Reid. “Secret Santa” features narration by Bane, as he experiences his first ever secret Santa gift exchange with the Secret Six. In the heat of infiltrating a base swarming with guards, Bane analyzes all of his teammates, trying to figure out who his secret Santa is and how he might be able to determine it based on the gift he receives. This appears to be Maxey’s first comic book writing credit, which is pretty impressive. He does a great job writing the voice of Bane, his cadence and unique outlook on the world around him. It’s also a clever way of re-introducing readers to the Secret Six who might not be as familiar with the members of the team. It’s certainly been a while since Ragdoll or Catman have had a prominent role in any book.
The art by Marianna Ignazzi is done in a realistic style, which suits the mostly serious tone of the story. She does an excellent job showcasing all of the different fighting styles of the Secret Six, from Ragdoll’s contortions to Banshees screams and Catman and Scandal Savage’s brutality – there’s a lot of blood flying around. The extra-sized panel showing off Banshee’s powers is an interesting composition, with guards swirling around the page along with Bane’s narrative text boxes. Colorist Giovanni Niro provides a blue tint to Bane’s flashbacks to his time in Peña Duro, differentiating those segments from the current story. Niro uses a lot of red, orange, and yellow coloring to represent the intense firefight going on throughout much of the issue, while using cooler colors like green shading during quieter moments with less action.
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“Silent Nite” is actually a silent comic, featuring Dr. Mid-Nite. It focuses on the moral gray areas of crime, and shows that not every criminal is a one-dimensional “bad guy.” Some people are just desperate and will do anything to save their loved ones when they feel like they have no other options. It reminded me of that old quote, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” Dr. Mid-Nite goes above and beyond normal crime-fighting and puts on his lab coat rather than his cape to make medicine for the bank robber’s daughter who is suffering some unknown illness. Reid hits at what the holidays are really all about: helping your fellow man.
In a silent comic, the art becomes that much more important, as it’s the only form of storytelling going on. Artist Francesco Francavilla truly rises to the occasion. The story is easy to follow even without any text, and a big part of that is the facial expressions of both Dr. Mid-Nite and the bank robber. You can truly see the desperation, sadness, anger, resignation, surprise and happiness in the character’s throughout. Francavilla also uses a very limited color palette. The comic is practically in black and white, but with some purple-gray shading. It reminded me of old woodblock print Christmas cards.
Final Thoughts
In the end, DC’s Batman Smells, Robin Laid an Egg #1 embodies the true spirit of a holiday anthology—blending humor, heart, and a touch of the unexpected. From the festive chaos of “Secret Santa” to the poignant humanity of “Silent Nite,” the anthology offers a little something for every reader, whether you’re here for laughs or life’s quiet reflections. With a talented lineup of writers and artists, it’s a reminder that even amidst capes and chaos, there’s room for stories about compassion, connection, and celebrating the season in unexpected ways. If you’re looking to add some superhero sparkle to your holidays, this is a stocking stuffer worth grabbing.
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