Batman: The Long Halloween

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I can see how this novel helped to inspire Nolan's Batman Trilogy (note: I'm not sure if this directly inspired Nolan's movies, but I definitely was reminded of The Dark Knight while reading this novel).

The artwork was refreshing. It had this gritty, non-polished look to it. And I loved the renditions of infamous Batman Baddies like the Scarecrow and Joker. What I didn't love about the art was the depiction of “ordinary” civilians. Bruce Wayne, Alfred, Gordon, Harvey Dent...they all kind of fell flat for me. It took me a while to recognize them; however, those narration bubbles really helped me out.

4 out of 5 stars from me. Took off points for some of the art as well as the pacing of the novel.

Okay but ultimately unfulfilling. This was recommended to me because I said I wanted some Batman stuff that showcased some of the cool villains. That's exactly what this is, but I should have been clearer about what I want – this is a showcase and nothing more. What I guess I really wanted was something that explored one of the villains in-depth. But that doesn't really happen here.

Decent story for what it is but it feels like Batman: Dilletante Edition.

In The Long Halloween we get to see the downfall of Harvey Dent and how he ultimately becomes Two-Face. I was never very interested in Dent or Two-Face, to be honest, and the Batman Forever film might be to blame.

However, in this comic I found Dent to be a fascinating character. You can see how the perversion of the city gets to him little by little. It's difficult for me not to compare the stories with Year One because it was the first one I've ever read but, in my opinion, Harvey's feelings, seeing how his city is getting more rotten by the day, are very similar to how Gordon felt as he moved to Gotham in Year One. That despair and the sense that nothing can be done to change the ways of Gotham are what finally breaks Dent.

I also liked the side characters in the story. Barbara and Gilda help us get a glimpse of the effect all the killings had on Gordon and Dent. Alfred continues to be awesome and I keep wondering why the title of the world's greatest detective is not given to him, instead of Bruce.

The mystery part of the story didn't appeal to me as much as seeing how Dent's character develops throughout the comic. As it happened before, I felt the investigations are an excuse to see the characters' reactions and interactions and did not interest me as much. Even though I wasn't as interested in the mystery aspect, I was still trying to figure out who the culprit was and I love the plot twists at the end.

I've wanted to read this one for quite a while and it didn't disappoint.

First things first. I love the noirish take on the Batman mythology. It grounds Bruce Wayne's back story; gives validity to the killing of his parents. Also, it gives a basis for the rising of the super villains. One of the things that I prefer about Batman over other super heroes is that he is a real person - rich, yes, but not anointed with super powers. The gritty, dark, organized crime-ridden version of Gotham does the same thing to Batman's villainous foils as well. We see how those with a particularly narcissistic bent can grow out of a world where crime is rampant, the police force is corrupt, and villains and crime bosses are looked at as the heroes. The Long Halloween embraces this view of Gotham and Batman and expands on it with skillful precision.

Here's another thing that I appreciate about this graphic novel. Since, as I've noted, Batman is one guy with a lot of gadgets yet no superpowers, he needs the police to help put away the criminals he out-duels. Batman carries no more authority than any other citizen, so it is in his best interest to see a clean police force so that his job - cleaning up the streets - ultimately comes to an end. In this sense, Batman fights two forms of evil - overt criminals and villains who commit heinous crimes and a more subvert corruption that erodes away the goodness that does exist. While Gotham's populace wants to see the villains put away, Batman knows that this erosion is the real evil that will bring the city down.

The Long Halloween follows Batman, Gordon, and Harvey Dent as they investigate “Holiday”, a new serial killer on the loose who only kills on holidays. The twist - the killer primarily kills the mob and is systematically ridding Gotham of Carmine Falcone's and Salvatore Maroni's henchmen. Batman, Gordon, and Dent know that Holiday has to be caught and brought to justice and Jeph Loeb does an admirable job at presenting their ethical struggles as they almost appreciate the decline of the mob at the hands of Holiday. Loeb also integrates a number of Batman's traditional foes - Joker, Poison Ivy, Riddler, Catwoman - and their frustrations with Holiday and the headlines he grabs. These villains are employed by the mob to seemingly aid the mob and take care of Holiday and it is interesting to see them fail in doing so.

Tim Sale's art is on point with the theme of the novel. I particularly like the contrast in black/white and color. All-in-all, it adds to the dark theme and reinforces Gotham as a place in need of saving.

I would be remiss in not discussing the theme of family employed throughout. As with any real location, the families of the good and evil are inevitably intertwined, as were the Waynes and Falcones. There is the constant infighting within the Falcone family - as well as the Falcone crime “Family”. There is the competition between the Falcone and Maroni families. Loeb does a skillful job of characterizing Bruce's own struggles in dealing with his family's legacy and his own calling. Dent and Gilda wish to start a family and it is circumvented. Gordon makes his peace with Gotham and seems more comfortable in keeping his family there. Throughout, Loeb reminds us what is important and he stakes Batman as the head of a trio of heroes committed to protecting the family's importance.

In truth, I was not as enamored with Year One nearly as much as The Long Halloween. While some may be turned off as to the length of The Long Halloween, I feel the length gives the author enough time to explore the story and make it feel authentic.

Finally, I fully realize the connection of this graphic novel to the Batman trilogy of movies made by Christopher Nolan. In fact, the edition of the novel I own has a brief forward by Nolan. While I will freely admit that I loved Nolan's movies, I cannot say that this novel is inherently better or worse than the movies. In fact, the novel makes me like the trilogy of movies better. Nolan did a terrific job of using Year One and The Long Halloween as influences and created his own story of the Batman mythology. Pretty cool stuff.