- Batwoman
I knew this entry was going to be the hardest to do. Do an entry with superheroes? Sure, that's feasible. However, it had to be something in a television show or film since those are easy gateways for people. By picking a superhero comic book as an option of discussion, I'm taking a very big risk for readers by giving them an excessive baggage of canon, back stories, and characterization. But I chose this specific comic book because its one of my favorites and one of best to present a showcase of Christmas and the other holidays in the world of super-men and women.
After a very complicated crossover event called Infinite Crisis, DC Comics chose to present their readers an unique but still complicated story decision that impacted all of the books. The event ended with the Trinity - Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman - taking some volunteer and mandatory time off for one whole year in time. All of the on-going stories would jump forward under the label One Year Later. A separate comic book called 52 would tell what happened to the world with the absence of the three popular heroes. As evident by its name, the story would be told by each week of the year and the book's issues would be released to the public as well in real time. However, instead of focusing on popular heroes, 52 's team of four writers looked at C-list heroes and several new characters. They created a truly fantastic book filled with great suspension and drama, redeeming many superheroes and creating a new future for DC Comics. "Week Thirty-Three" was a brief calm before the major storms to follow, celebrating the major holidays of December and multiculturalism while ridiculing stock and trade Christmas plotlines and showing the depressing aspects of the most wonderful time of the year.
I'll break down each story to make it easier to read and explain. The issue starts on December 23, where a drunk Ralph Dibny is walking through a section of a museum dedicated to his superhero years. The former Elongated Man lost his loving wife horribly in a previous event and is on a mystical and spiritual mission to bring her back. Already, this issue starts off with the darker aspects of the holiday season, as Dibny is clearly in need of help both for his reminiscing of his late "real friend" Barry Allen and stealing a loaded gun from the museum's storage. The fact that he is still not over Barry's death is very distressing, as is his own self-esteem problems with his superhero days ("This would be a wing, not a closet.").
The next story is probably my favorite of the issue, as it is a great little moment of human compassion and comedy of errors. After beating a villain off-panel, the newly christened Batwoman enjoys her Christmas Eve by watching a children choir conducted by Alfred. Dick Grayson, former Robin and then-current Nightwing, drops in and gives her a Christmas gift. Batwoman first dismisses the gift, a batarang, before Dick showboats its unique functionality. There is a lot of humor coming from these three pages. Dick is clearly hitting on her by giving a Christmas gift and displaying his mental knowledge while seemingly flexing in subtle ways. Readers already or would learn later that the inside joke is that Batwoman, real name Kathy Kane, is Jewish and is a lesbian. This joke also makes it to the cover, where Batwoman has a "what-the-hell?" face while Nightwing does a suicide jump with a smug expression. Dick's humorous generalization aside, I enjoy that this moment is DC Comics' hidden display of acceptance of Kathy Kane to the Bat family. I also like that the singing is used as background sound effects, making this segment very film-like and more three-dimensional.
Next, we have pure grade black comedy. Main villain Lex Luthor is flamboyantly dismayed by his life. His Everyman science project, which grants any citizen with superpowers, is working and successful but has some subjects dying from the DNA manipulation. His superhero team filled with annoying young adults are spoiled by his presents and leave him with nothing in return. He also learns that his genetic makeup can't accept the process. "I want some glimmer of Christmas cheer" he beckons to his assistant before good news does come in. This story is all done with goofy body mannerisms and hammy dialogue. Of course, it is for a specific reason. These elements are contrasting against the normal nature of Luthor, a ruthless man with a iron grip and tongue. He doesn't bat an eyelash when one subject of the Everyman process, Luis Dominero, turns into a "genetic fluke" and is about to die. Luthor only sees it as a dream assignment for the publicity department. And when Luis pulls through by adapting the process through an unknown factor, Luthor sees the Christmas miracle as his own Christmas present. While enjoying some champagne, he has Luis killed for an autopsy and examination of the factor.
Former police detective Renee Montoya starts the next plot looking at Kathy Kane's menorah and the outside snow storm. Her wish for a holiday miracle is interrupted by Vic Sage, her dear friend and known superhero The Question. His slow agony from lung cancer has currently robbed him of his senses as he sees Renee as several of his old loved ones and keeps pushing her away. After finally putting him back in bed, Kathy arrives to consult Renee. This is certainly the most depressing part of the issue, as it shows the often real pain many people experience when losing a loved one close to the holidays. There are some good things in return; the plot brings a respectable tone to religion and holiday tolerance and homosexuality. Kathy and Renee represent the future, both for superheroes and for social morals.
The only diversion from the five plots of the issue is a double-page montage spread. It features quick looks at other celebrations featuring superheroes with different tones. Some are joyful, such as Superman getting frisky, a party for Commissioner Gordon, and the family get-togethers of the Jordans and Green Arrow's. Others are sad, such as the darkened homes of Batman and Steel and Red Tornado's missing head left in a garbage head. These are bordered with two panels focusing on Animal Man and his family. Buddy Blake's wife blows a kiss into the air while Buddy himself realizes he's getting closer to Earth after a long journey in space. What connects the two is the star Alpha Lyrae (Vega), modelled to be the Star of Bethlehem.
The final story has the anti-hero Black Adam returning to America on Christmas Day. He brings along his new family: his wife Isis, his brother-in-law Osiris and comical sidekick Sobek. Willing to clean up his former public image, Black Adam is over-joyed with his family to give the world a Christmas present. They present their alter-egos live in person to show that, "We are as human as the rest of you." However, despite their nice intentions, the story cuts to the powerful Amanda Waller, who still sees them only by their previous actions and possibly their skin. The issue ends with an introduction to her new version of the black ops group Suicide Squad.
Even though there is a minor need for knowledge of the previous issues, "Week Thirty-Three" is a great stand-alone issue to read for those further seeking the superhero side of Christmas and the other holidays. In a kinda weird alternate reading, one of the first things that comes up when I re-read this often is a Broadway song. Odd but interestingly, this issue is very similar in its content and tonal shifts with the song "Christmas Bells" from the musical Rent. A Latino woman's strained relationship with a dying man. A brief focus on holiday celebration with two gay individuals. A dealer who has many people demanding for his product. A police force waiting patiently to crack down on someone's celebration. These two works of art are seemingly parallel to each other. Both also end their different plot sections with repeated lines. While Rent has "And it's beginning to snow", 52 has "Merry Christmas" or a variation of it.
TOMORROW'S ENTRY: Two VHS tapes of holiday compilations that I watched each year as a kid.
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