The Long Halloween. A serial killer strikes on holidays early in the Dark Knight’s career. One of the greatest Batman stories of all time. Jeph Loeb and the late Tim Sale debuted the murder mystery in 1996. It was an instant hit with readers and produced a sequel, “Dark Victory” in 1999.
Loeb and Sale reunited 25 years after the story’s debut for 2021’s “Batman: the Long Halloween Special”. This sparked a return to their Gotham City storyline. Unfortunately, Sale passed away in 2022.
Loeb stated in an interview: ““About a year later, after speaking with Mark Chiarello and Richard Starkings, my partners on the previous Long Halloween titles, we decided the time was right to move this forward as a tribute to Tim, who continues to be with us in spirit.”
Batman: The Long Halloween: The Last Halloween #1 by Jeph Loeb, Eduardo Risso, Dave Stewart and Richard Starkings (DC COMICS) begins the final installment of the “Holiday Saga”.
Let’s take a closer look at how this series unfolds.
Batman: The Long Halloween: The Last Halloween #1 by Jeph Loeb, Eduardo Risso, Dave Stewart and Richard Starkings (DC COMICS) cover: Tim Sale
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Loeb doesn’t delay in bringing forth the lingering aspects of Holiday on Gotham’s residents. The opening play with the Dents carries a high sense of tension. Batman’s monologue is haunting as the pages unfold. Featuring Gordon’s sub plot is a solid companion piece. It shows readers the stretching reach and effect what Holiday has done.
As for the caped crusader, Batman investigations take a familiar twist. His presence gets outshined by an overly-eager Robin. The writing presents a very naive Boy Wonder forcing his way into the case. It offers a small break into the drama but ultimately loses out to Batman and Two-Face. The closing act leaves readers with a shocking end as the mystery of Holiday looks to enter a whole new realm.
Risso leads off an all star lineup of artists for this series. The opening two page splash of the Dents sets a dark feel and tense pace. It carries into the terrifying Gordon plot. Readers see a switch in gears as the dynamic duo are gifted a tremendous two page image as they chase an evading Catwoman.
Stewart’s coloring raises the emotions of a very worried Gordon family. The panels pour with the frightening aspect of what has happened to the child. It is counters with a more somber image of Gordon shrouded in the shadow of the Bat signal. This all builds toward a steady final sequence. The parting image will leave readers wanting more answers to an ever developing puzzle.
FINAL POINT: 9.2
The Long Halloween’s final trilogy starts off on a very high level. Loeb’s writing easily constructs a city still gripped in fear. Risso and Stewart bring out the many elements and feelings of Gotham’s citizens as the scariest day of the year gets even more dangerous. Get ready for one hell of a saga.
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