| Batman: The Long Halloween | |
|---|---|
 First trade paperback of Batman: The Long Halloween | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Limited series |
| Genre | |
| No. of issues | 13 |
| Main character(s) | Batman Jim Gordon Harvey Dent Carmine Falcone Catwoman |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | Jeph Loeb |
| Artist(s) | Tim Sale |
| Letterer(s) | Comicraft Richard Starkings |
| Colorist(s) | Gregory Wright |
| Editor(s) | Archie Goodwin Chuck Kim |
| Collected editions | |
| Trade Paperback | ISBN 1563894696 |
| Hardcover | ISBN 1563894270 |
| Trade Paperback (Titan Books) | ISBN 1840230541 |
| Absolute Edition | ISBN 1401212824 |
| 2011 Trade Paperback | ISBN 1401232590 |
| Noir | ISBN 1401248837 |
| Deluxe Edition | ISBN 1779512694 |
| The Batman Box Set | ISBN 1779514298 |
Batman: The Long Halloween is a 13-issue American comic book limited series written by Jeph Loeb with art by Tim Sale. It was originally published by DC Comics in 1996 and 1997.[1] It was the follow-up to three Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Specials which were reprinted in Batman: Haunted Knight by the same creative team. The series' success led to Loeb and Sale to reteam for two sequels, Batman: Dark Victory and Catwoman: When in Rome, which are set concurrently. A third sequel, a 10-issue limited series entitled The Last Halloween, began publication on September 25th, 2024[2]
The story set during Batman's early days of crime-fighting, the story follows the Dark Knight as he partners with District Attorney Harvey Dent and Captain James Gordon to uncover the identity of a mysterious killer known as Holiday, who murders people on holidays, one each month. The series is notable for its exploration of the transformation of Gotham City’s criminal underworld from traditional organized crime to the emergence of costumed supervillains, and it serves as an origin story for Two-Face.
In continuity terms, The Long Halloween continues the story of Batman: Year One for the characters of Batman, Gordon, Catwoman, and Falcone, and is considered to replace the earlier effort Batman: Year Two in the character's continuity. It also revolves around the transition of Batman's rogues gallery from plainclothes, real-world style mobsters to full-fledged supervillains and tells the origin of Two-Face, incorporating elements of the story in Batman: Annual #14.
Critically acclaimed for its noir-inspired storytelling and character development, The Long Halloween is considered one of the definitive Batman stories. Its influence extends to multiple media adaptations, including Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy (2005–2012) and Matt Reeves’ The Batman (2022). The story was also adapted into a two-part animated film released in 2021, which closely follows the narrative and themes of the original comic.
- ^ Manning, Matthew K. (2010). "1990s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 275. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.
The acclaimed team of writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale reunited to chronicle a dark year of the Dark Knight's past with Batman: The Long Halloween, a thirteen-part limited series.
- ^ "Batman: The Long Halloween Sequel Series Announced by DC".