Batman: The Long Halloween

Sorry folks, M. Deanpool was out of town for the weekend and has been lagging to review the recent pick-ups but we'll be sure to get those out shortly. However, Deanpool did spend part of his travel time reading some graphic novels and has a review for everyone on The Long Halloween. As usual, we'll leave the big spoilers for the very bottom of the post in red. So don't read that section if you don't want to read the spoilers from this great book.

In this novel, Batman takes on Gotham's more "decorated" villains like Joker, Poison Ivy, Riddler, and Scarecrow just to name a few. Even the Calendar Man, Julian Day, becomes strangely relevant to the story. This contrasts with the street thugs and gangs that Batman encounters in Batman: Year One. The art takes a while to get used to and Deanpool even admits that it took the first two chapters/issues before he really became engrossed into the story. But once the story settles and the action kicks in, the artwork takes a backseat to the mystery and suspense of a very gripping story. The story also retells the origin of Harvey Dent and his fall to Two-Face Harvey. Deanpool can't help but notice the similarities and influences that this story must have had on the Dark Knight movie by Christopher Nolan.

The book opens up with a mafia, "Godfather-esque" type of story involving Carmine "The Roman" Falcone pressuring Bruce Wayne to help lauder money. It's common knowledge that The Roman and his crime business are ruining Gotham, which leads to a common bond between Batman, Liutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent. These three forge a type of brotherhood with the basis that they all believe in what Gotham could be if all the crime can be cleaned up from the streets of Gotham. They agree that they must do whatever is necessary to stop Falcone even if it means bending the rules, but never breaking them. Except there's another party involved that is killing off mob members (particularly those related to Falcone) with a .22 caliber pistol using a baby bottle nipple as a suppressor. The murderer even leaves a clue, or trinket that ties in with the holiday of the murder: Jack-o-lantern for Halloween, box of chocolates for Valentine's, etc. These murders are only occurring on holidays and each issue/chapter that make up the novel take on a different theme to match the apporpriate holiday. Starting with the first killing on Halloween (go figure, it's in the title), to Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve, Valentine's, St. Patrick's, April Fools, Mother's, Father's, Independence Day, Roman's Birthday, Labor Day, and back to Halloween. Hence LONG Halloween. The story essentially takes place over the span of a year (actually starts in the summer before the first Halloween). This unknowwn murderer even develops the name Holiday because the murders correspond with major holidays. Anther interesting aspect was that a different villain was introduced each holiday. Could you imagine the Joker who stole Christmas? What more green could you have on St. Patrick's day than Poison Ivy? Or how appropriate is a Batman-Catwoman story for Valentine's Day? Catwoman plays her usual role in Batman stories as it is confusing to both the reader and Batman as to which side she is fighting on or what her true intentions are. On top of Batman trying to keep to his pact made with Dent and Gordon to take down Falcone's operations, he needs to stop this Holiday murderer AND have to deal with whatever villain gets featured for that particular holiday. Yeah, Batman is kciking a lot of ass throughout this book. And the intriguing part about it is how this array of villains aren't portrayed as the mega-super villains that many of them have transformed into in modern comics today, but more as bad guys that Batman is capable of handling in groups or even just on an issue to issue basis (or in this case holiday to holiday). Along the way, Loeb explores the idea that Batman's presence may be the reason that his villains are getting worse (referring to the new breed of villains spawning as the old scene of mobs, gangs, and mafias are beginning to die off) and ultimately, he may be the reason Gotham is becoming a darker place.

Is Deanpool allowed to say Gotham's "Finest" Villains? They're definitely as bad as it gets.

One of Deanpool's favorite features of this books is the gripping mystery that is told within this story. At one point in the story there are as many as four suspects, all of whom had possible motives and opportunities. Loeb's story walks you through the mystery as well as any other mystery story and the twist at the end is worth the read! You really get to see all the aspects that make Batman such a great comic book hero. He showcases his master martial artist side, why he's the world's greatest detective, as well as the genius level intellect as a strategist as he takes on Gotham's worst. Along with seeing the many facets of Batman, there is even a lot of storytelling within the personal life of Bruce Wayne: an interesting relationship with Selena Kyle/Catwoman, his drive to protect gotham, his life as the head of Wayne Enterprise, and the motivation and to be Batman that stems from the death of his parents. Also, what connection does the Wayne family have with the Falcone family (check the spoilers)? One of the biggest storylines told in this novel is the partnership between Batman and Dent in their crusade to clean up Gotham's streets and how it transformed into Two-Face becoming another villain to add to Batman's long list of rogues as Two-Face Harvey.

Deanpool loved the colors used in the novel.

The bond that started it all. 

Julian Day a.k.a. Calendar Man

Detective analyzing the themed clues left at the crime scenes.

Nothing was ever the same after that. Sorry Harvey.

Notice any differences from the photo above? Sorry if the picture is spoiler as well.

The Long Halloween is commonly listed as a Top 5 or Top 10 Batman graphic novel. And Deanpool approves that message. Loeb's mystery story keeps the reader constantly second guessing the identity of the Holiday killer to the very end and is entertained along the way as we see the best of Batman as a detective and Gotham's hero. Deanpool gives it a 9/10 and recommends all Batman readers to add this to their collection.

Looks like a better Halloween than the ones from this book.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Click for spoilers.

Wayne-Falcone Connection?
What role did Dr. Thomas Wayne have with the Falcone family? Well once upon a time, Carmine "The Roman" Falcone's father (Deanpool can't remember the name) brought his injured son to the Wayne mansion and pleaded that Dr. Wayne fix up his son. While Wayne insisted that they bring the younger Carmine Falcone into a hospital, his father demanded that Wayne perform surgery on Carmine's gunshot wounds and save his son. All this with Li'l Bruce Wayne upstairs. Kind of weird to think that one of the biggest crime lords in Gotham is alive because of Bruce's father. Harvey Dent discovered this connection between the two sons and had Bruce arrested thinking that Wayne and Falcone were doing business together or had further connections. However, his persecution turned out to be a bit embarrassing when Bruce Wayne's butler, Alfred, mentioned how Dr. Wayne's original report on the shooting may have been lost due to Gotham's long history of corruption. Interesting thing to speculate about. Bruce Wayne is driven to be Batman to rid Gotham of evil in the name of his parents, yet his father is one of the reasons one of the Gotham's biggest mobster is alive. It definitely put Bruce Wayne himself on a bit of a trip, he learned it himself when Dent brought it to light.

Fall of Harvey Dent
As a Batman reader, Deanpool already knew Harvey was going to somehow become Two-Face, but Loeb did an excellent job incorporating this tale into the story. It's clear that Harvey is just as driven as the Batman and Gordon to clean up Gotham. He believes in Gotham. From the first killing, it's evident that Harvey may have a darker side (darker half? hehe) than Batman and Gordon. When talking about the killing on Halloween he says, "Two shots to the head. If you ask me it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy." Harvey becomes obsessed with the job and the pact made to bring down Falcone. He works long hours, stays late, and even brings his work home. His wife Gilda patiently supports her husband but her one wish is that he'd finish work and settle in at home so they can finally start a family. Just as they make progress and destroy a stash of Falcone's money, a bomb explodes his house. Now his wife is put in danger, spending Thanksgiving in the hospital. All the while, Harvey is going undercover and remains obsessed with the job. His abusive father gives him the trademark two-headed coin. Gilda slowly becomes less hopeful in Gotham, but never loses faith in her husband. Her husband never notices the difference. Harvey goes after Bruce Wayne, desperate for any sort of connection of break in his case. He gets embarrassed in court. At this point, he believes he is the only one who believes in justice and what's right. Harvey believes everyone has turned on him "like they flipped a coin." He finally catches a break when Sal Maroni decides to testify against The Roman. Just before the trial, Harvey's corrupt assistant hands Maroni a bottle of medicine claiming it's for his heartburn. During the trial as Harvey is questioning Maroni, Maroni hurls acid that was in the bottle in Dent's face, hideously disfiguring half his face. Harvey stabs his doctor and escapes the hospital that was treating him. He is now broken, but his work is not finished. He frees inmates at Arkham Asylum, most of them the ones Batman ran into during the novel. The escapees, Harvey or now Two-Face, and Catwoman confront Falcone. Batman and his impeccable timing intervenes. An awesome fight ensues with Batman taking down a handful of his biggest villains all at once. Reminds Deanpool of Batman: The Animated Series. However, he is unable to prevent Two-Face from killing The Roman. Two-Face also got revenge on his ex-assistant, Fields. Doubt many readers were upset with that part. Now here's what really shows off Two-Face/Harvey Dent's character: after all this killing, he doesn't follow the villain stereotype and leave in the nick of time or fight until Batman ultimately puts him in a position where he can no longer fight back. Nope, he believes in justice, law and order. He turns himself in to Gordon. But he doesn't leave without revealing that there are in fact two Holiday killers. The last remaining part of Harvey Dent died with The Roman. The three Gothamites set out a year ago to rid Gotham of the Falcone's, and in a dark way the job is done. That final act essentially completes the transformation to Two-Face Harvey. No longer a bond between himself and Batman, Two-Face is more likely to be on opposite sides of Batman from here on out. He joins the ranks of Batman adversaries at the asylum with rest of Batman's rogues, where he now belongs. "A friendship that would be shattered forever."

Holiday(s?)

So who is Holiday? Deanpool dedicates a post to it here. But as far as a synopsis goes: it turns out Alberto didn't actually die on New Year's Eve. On Labor Day, it was hinted by Calendar Man that Holiday was going to strike at Maroni by the end of the day. A clever ruse by Batman and Gordon lead to them discovering that Alberto was Holiday (at least in this case) after he shot Maroni twice in the head. Batman nearly beats Alberto to a pulp, needing Gordon to hold him back from almost killing him. Alberto goes on to confessing to all murders as Holiday, despite his father begging him to only pleading guilty to Maroni's murder. The reader is left believing that Alberto was actually the Holiday murderer. Two-Face's mention of a second killer is attributed to his own murders the night of the following Halloween. He even mentions that "the Long Halloween" is over after the Roman's death, which could be accrediting himself as the other killer. Even Batman came to this conclusion. The twist comes when a couple month's later Gilda is seen packing up things around the house on Christmas Eve. In a personal monologue, she talks about how she read in Dent's case files about how to remove serial numbers off a gun and how a bottle nipple can suffice as as suppressor. She is then seen throwing a .22 pistol into the basement furnace, along with a coat and hat that is familiarly recognized on the silhouette of the Holiday killer throughout the novel. Gilda goes on to confessing that she started the Holiday killings in an attempt to lighten Harvey's workload so that he'd come home and start a family with her. She really wanted a child that badly that she resorted to killing. She also believes that Harvey took up the killings on New Year's Eve and that Alberto is lying about being Holiday the entire time. She ends the story insisting that she believes in Harvey, and that he will eventually be cured and that things will get better. Three of the main characters end the story with this type of monologue that highlights the key to their characters: Gordon believes in Gotham, Bruce Wayne believes in Batman, Gilda Dent believes in Harvey. So who is Holiday? Loeb himself won't tell. Maybe it's meant to be left open for however you want to interpret it. Loeb did say that all the clues needed can be found within the text... Like it's stated earlier, Deanpool has a post about it. Check it out if you want to hear some crazy theories. Who is Holiday?