|
The Long Halloween and Year One are the most near perfect Batman graphic novels I have read so far. They both capture the essence of the character very well. As for the Long Halloween by itself, it takes the traditional origin of Two-Face that most fans of the comics know and twists it around to fit into a convoluted murder mystery. This approach in itself merits points for creativity, and its homages to various films from The Godfather to Silence of the Lambs makes it a treat for any film buff like myself.
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. I highly recommend this but I would be more enjoyable if you read Year One prior to this as they are both set in the same time. This book hits on the early interactions of Batman and Catwoman shedding some light into "rocky" relationship.
The story takes place in the Year One era with the same mood and look. In all there is not a ton of action but again that's not why I wanted to read this. What's there not to like.
They also dive into the story of Harvey Dent which was a character in Year One that was used but not expanded on. Tim Sales art is superb throughout the whole book and really brings out the Dark Knight's use of the shadows and fear to take down the city's less desirables. From the fist murder on Jeph Loeb has you eying everyone as a suspect(which is pretty much a prerequisite for murder mystery, right).
The action that is in is great and highlights Batman's swift and great command of the martial arts and the night. It is not crucial to read Batman: Year One but it will add more depth to the story.
As a super critical Batman fan, I look for suspense, mystery, adventure, violence, revenge, and every other dark quality possible in a Batman story. The Long Halloween has it all, and is my second favorite Batman title after Frank Miller's Year One. Jeph Loeb did a great job crafting this story in the spirit of Miller's Year One, and the villains Batman has to face, in addition to the gangs of Gotham, add up to a solid crime fighting comic book. The ending comes out of nowhere, so do not read ahead, as tempted as you may be.
Not much else needs to be said from the title. One of the best Batman stories I have ever read. Get it now
It is nothing short of masterful. This is THE Batman book. Jeph Loeb is a brilliant Batman writer, and while his other works (Hush, Dark Victory, Haunted Knight) are superb in their own right, none of them quite reach the level of The Long Halloween. Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale are in their prime here, crafting a smart, dark and complex tale that epitomizes the character of Batman. Without this story, there is no Batman Begins, no The Dark Knight. This book is such a deep and entertaining read. I recommend first reading Batman: Year One by Frank Miller, then this book, and then Dark Victory, as it is a direct sequel.
|
