Batman: The Long Halloween

It is vastly refreshing when you find a Batman tale that is both epic and successfully explores the core of a resolutely explored character. Taking as its catalyst a sub-plot from the seminal Batman: Year One, the story revolves around murders occurring on national holidays, the victims connected to Mob boss "The Roman". Dubbed "Holiday", the killer uses an untraceable handgun and leaves small trinkets at the scene. Plenty of suspects are available, but the truth is something the Dark Knight never suspected.

This series scores two major coups: it brilliantly portrays the transfer of Gotham rule to the supervillains and charts the horrific transformation of Harvey Dent from hardened D.A. to the psychotic Two-Face. Both orbit around the sharply portrayed relationship between Dent, Commissioner Gordon and Batman: a triumvirate of radically different perceptions of Justice.

It is always great to see the formative incarnation of Batman, drenched in noir here. Loebs writing is keenly aware that Batman is a detective and Tim Sale portrays a Gotham that is a fertile breeding ground for corruption and madness. Here, Batman is coming to terms with the potent image he projects and the madness it attracts. There are many fine Batman stories, but the ones that capture the spirit with extreme clarity are few.

On this alone, The Long Halloween comes highly recommended. Masterfully executed, this is an excellent chance to revisit the world of Batman as fresh as in the summer of 1939.

Lieutenant James Gordon takes up a new post in the crime-ridden and corrupt city of Gotham, while billionaire Bruce Wayne returns to the scene of his parents deaths, intent on punishing the criminal element. Each faces trials and challenges of their own, only for their lives to become irrevocably and potentially tragically intertwined. And as the shadow of the bat falls on Gotham, so a legend is born.

	Batman: Long Halloween (Batman) AU $34.49 Time Left: 20h 44m
	ABSOLUTE BATMAN:THE LONG HALLOWEEN (HARDCOVER) IN BOX ! AU $119.95 Time Left: 2d 18h 37m
	Batman The Long Halloween SC By Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale - DC Joker Two Face Gotham AU $27.99 Time Left: 8d 18h 34m
	Batman the Long Halloween trade paperback Jeph Loeb Tim Sale AU $29.69 Time Left: 11d 1h 16m
	The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb NEW AU $29.78 Time Left: 24d 5h 6m