Batman : The Long Halloween (TPB)

A ruthless mob boss. A serial killer on a rampage. A desperate district attorney. A large number of mad criminals. A cunning caped crusader. A city gripped by fear. Batman must put his detective skills to the ultimate test, if he’s going to solve this jigsaw puzzle of a mystery.

The Pros

Wow. What a terrific book, there’s so much to cover here, but I promise, no spoilers. Jeph Loeb (Batman : Hush, Superman : For All Seasons) has written a perfectly crafted whodunit that balances the goofy side of Batman with his multitude of madcap villains and the brooding, serious side of Batman, the cunning masked vigilante/detective waged in a war against crime. This story also focuses on Gotham’s underworld of the mafia, which is rarely seen in Batman comics. Based on what I’ve read anyway. With its twists and turns, the story will keep you guessing until the last couple of pages.

Like Two-Face’s coins, this book’s other side is beautifully illustrated by Tim Sale (Billi 99, Daredevil : Yellow). With the assistance of colorist Gregory Wright, Sale’s drawings have a noir sensibility that perfectly embraces Gotham’s surroundings and its multitude of colourful characters. In an attempt to portray Batman’s Rogue Gallery of villains look crazier, Sale has pencilled them with greatly exaggerated features. They are in fact caricatures of themselves, looks great and it works. Like Frank Miller, his use of shadows & reflections are unprecedented and the few pages in black & white are a nice touch too.

The Cons

Nothing.

The Outcome

Simply put, this is a flawless collection, filled with action, suspense & mystery. It recently made my Top 10 List of Favourite Batman stories. I can’t recommend this one enough. Originally published as Batman : The Long Halloween #1-#13 from DC Comics.