1/30/2024 0 Comments Batman the long halloweenEnemies such as Scarecrow, the Joker, Mad Hatter, Poison Ivy, and the Riddler, among others, also make appearances. The story also ties into the events that transform Harvey Dent into Batman's enemy, Two-Face. He instead riddles and gives Batman hints from his Arkham Asylum cell. This novel also acted as a re-introduction to the DC Universe for one of Batman's most elusive foes, Calendar Man, who knows the true identity of the Holiday killer but refuses to share this with Batman. Working with District Attorney Harvey Dent and Captain James Gordon, Batman races against the calendar as he tries to discover who Holiday is before he claims his next victim each month, while attempting to stop the crime war between two of Gotham City's most powerful families, Maroni and Falcone. Taking place during Batman's early days of crime fighting, The Long Halloween tells the story of a mysterious killer named Holiday, who murders people on holidays, one each month. The series' success led to Loeb and Sale to reteam for two sequels, Batman: Dark Victory and Catwoman: When in Rome, which are set concurrently. It was the follow-up to three Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Specials (which were reprinted in Batman: Haunted Knight) by the same creative team. It was originally published by DC Comics in 19. While many creative teams diminish over time, Loeb, Sale, and company are still hitting comics out of the park.First trade paperback of Batman: The Long Halloweenīatman: The Long Halloween is a 13-issue American comic book limited series written by Jeph Loeb with art by Tim Sale. Overall, The Long Halloween Special is a triumphant return to an iconic tale that works as a standalone issue of Batman goodness and an eerie, worthy continuation of The Long Halloween saga. But the grim, haunted noir vibe we fell in love with back in the day continues here. Two Face’s inner rot is reinforced by contrasting pinks and greens.ĭo I think the line-work could be tighter and less smudgy at times? Sure. Batman is cloaked in grays, blacks, and purples, but they’re startlingly punctuated with simmering oranges and reds that hint at Bruce’s guiding anger. The opening scene is painted in moonlight blues, enhancing the gothic visuals, reminding us of Steranko. Also: the way Sale fills and expands space with shadows is second-to-none.Īnd the colors? Brennan Wagner’s palettes are bold in their monochromatic vigor. While many artists struggle to figure out the right mix of details per panel and page, Sale’s pages are minimalist but far from bare. Familiar Long Halloween motifs are back, where pages with murderous intent are in black and white, and every once in a while we’re given a striking full-spread page to accent a beat.Ī compositional master, Sale fluidly and powerfully uses worm and bird’s eye views. Tim Sale’s art does not disappoint with his stunning art deco, chiaroscuro style reminiscent of Batman: The Animated Series. Robin, while a small player, helps bring out the positive, paternal aspects of Bruce, as does Chief Gordon. But there are grace moments that remind us why deep down at the end of the day Bruce is dedicated toward bringing good will to good people. Having grown cynical, especially because of Harvey Dent’s turn, Batman gives no pause before pummeling criminals into submission and making risky deals with devils. What’s almost surprising is how brutal Batman is here. However, there’s plenty of great stuff for fans because this is an excellently written and illustrated work, functioning as both a solid Batman one-shot AND a continuation of an iconic tale. Granted, I quite enjoy the meandering, shaggy-dog approach to Long Halloween, but if you’ve been kept from enjoying the OG work because of its plotting, this Special is all the more for you. So a huge plus in regards to this special is how lean it is: we’re given a very specific villain who has a specific plan that Batman can hone in on. Just about every Batman villain or anti-hero finds their way into the series and it can be difficult to plow through the 13 issues because the central mystery is so crowded by extraneous scenes and details. However, if one were to make a criticism of Long Halloween, one could say it’s overstuffed.
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