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Comics: Batman: The Long Halloween
Mon, 20 Mar 2006

Another quick writeup from my phone..

While putting together some final features for a potential mini-release of Shadow Plan (perhaps I'll go for a 4.4 intermediate release rather than heading straight to 4.5 as originally planned) I've been valiently trying to keep up with the support email inbox. At the same time in the wee hours before falling off to sandland, I've been catching up on the goings-about in Gotham City. You see here, I picked this very fine book up for myself around Christmas but never got around to it.

This isn't the latest Batman or Dark Knight type comic as it was originally published around 1996 if memory serves; life has been busy for all of us of course, so I too have contributed to the death of the genre by tending to pick up the graphic novels or collections rather than the monthlies featured at the local comic shop. This book was a thirteen part series, spanning from one Halloween to the next and featuring a somewhat involved plot as the Batman tracks down a serial murderer who strikes only during holidays. Many characters feature cameos including Catwoman, Joker and some others (avoiding spoilage here) so its a fast and fun read.

The total book comes in around 375 pages give or take, and I'm only part way through so admittedly I cannot say a lot.. rather, I wanted to say something knowing that to remain silent would mean not saying anything at all.. and that my friends would be criminal as this is a very strong piece of work. The artwork is quite good with excellent themes and colours as each month passes (halloween, valentines, new years, etc.), and is typical of the Batman stories -- a lot of dark and brooding scenes as the hero comes to terms with himself, his public perception, his relationship with the denizens (both good and bad) in his city. The writing is fast and fun like any good comic should be (not the Zany and Zing of goofier comics, this is Batman afterall!), and the storyline revolves around Batman and the police force combating a gangster family trying to enforce it's 'Untouchables' on the city. Batman, goodfellas, Catwoman.. how can you go wrong?

Anyway, I'm tired out and need to get a move on, but wanted to at least say.. this is another good one folks.

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