Loeb/Sale Trilogy
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale have been dynamite duo when it comes to the early years of Batman. Not only do they provide themed stories and epic, year long tales, they manage to show off Batman as a detective. For me personally, they establish how close Bruce Wayne is to insanity, because let's be honest, he is a man who witnessed the murder of his parents and grew up to dress as a bat and beat criminals to a pulp. He is just as crazy as the freaks he swore vengeance against. Also because he is the goddamn Batman!
The Long Halloween
The Long Halloween was the main inspiration for Christopher Nolan's 'The Dark Knight.' At this point, Batman is well known and feared, Harvey Dent is on a slow downward spiral, Catwoman is an accomplished thief and Joker is somehow free and out planning to cause chaos. Freaks Poison Ivy, Riddler, Scarecrow and the Mad Hatter are also active (including Solomon Grundy roaming the sewers). This establishes the idea that Nolan used in his films, where normal criminals and mobsters resort to using 'freaks' to deal with Batman, and eventually the freaks take control.
The story follows a murder happening on Halloween, and then a murder on every holiday there after, hence the title. The killer is dubbed Holiday and Batman comes across all sorts of trouble trying to find the killer, while Dent dealing with the mob is starting to drive him crazy.
The artwork really suits Batman's dark tone and creates a powerful vibe. You really feel engrossed in the city of Gotham. The imagery is incredible. The scenes with Batman, Gordon and Dent talking on the roof near the bat-signal reminds you straight away of 'Dark Knight.' Even little things like Batman with a stubble really shows us all he is human, while his sanity and health is in question, it establishes that Bruce Wayne is the real mask and Batman is who he really is now.
It's only fault is towards the end, when (SPOILERs):
Harvey Dent, now Two-Face, gathers all the freaks of Gotham ready for battle. How is it possible? He doesn't know Scarecrow and Mad Hatter and is enemies with Joker. And Where the hell did the Penguin come from. That little scene just ruined it from being perfect. But it makes up for it with the incredible plot-twist ending, in which i'm still trying to get my head around.
RATING:
Batman Story - 10/10
Art - 9.5/10
Continuity - 10/10
Epicness - 9/10
OVERALL - 9.5/10
Continuity Notes:
The story follows a murder happening on Halloween, and then a murder on every holiday there after, hence the title. The killer is dubbed Holiday and Batman comes across all sorts of trouble trying to find the killer, while Dent dealing with the mob is starting to drive him crazy.
The artwork really suits Batman's dark tone and creates a powerful vibe. You really feel engrossed in the city of Gotham. The imagery is incredible. The scenes with Batman, Gordon and Dent talking on the roof near the bat-signal reminds you straight away of 'Dark Knight.' Even little things like Batman with a stubble really shows us all he is human, while his sanity and health is in question, it establishes that Bruce Wayne is the real mask and Batman is who he really is now.
It's only fault is towards the end, when (SPOILERs):
Harvey Dent, now Two-Face, gathers all the freaks of Gotham ready for battle. How is it possible? He doesn't know Scarecrow and Mad Hatter and is enemies with Joker. And Where the hell did the Penguin come from. That little scene just ruined it from being perfect. But it makes up for it with the incredible plot-twist ending, in which i'm still trying to get my head around.
RATING:
Batman Story - 10/10
Art - 9.5/10
Continuity - 10/10
Epicness - 9/10
OVERALL - 9.5/10
Continuity Notes:
- Returning characters from 'Year One,' like Johnny Viti and Carmine Falcone
- Carmine Falcone has the scar Catwoman gave him in 'Year One."
Haunted Knight
Ignoring the fact that the three stories this is comprised of takes place on three different halloweens, it fits great between 'The Long Halloween' and 'Dark Victory,' especially since Two-Face is mentioned, so this can't take place before 'The Long Halloween.'
This may be skippable, but the Scarecrow story and Mad hatter story are really good, if not the best they have both ever had. Again, as I mention quite often, Bruce is shown to be just as insane as his enemies and all the best writers and stories depict Bruce on the brink of losing his mind or for that matter, near giving up. This story is well worth a read.
RATING:
Batman Story - 8/10
Art - 9.5/10
Continuity - 8/10
Badassness - 7/10
OVERALL - 8
Continuity Notes
This may be skippable, but the Scarecrow story and Mad hatter story are really good, if not the best they have both ever had. Again, as I mention quite often, Bruce is shown to be just as insane as his enemies and all the best writers and stories depict Bruce on the brink of losing his mind or for that matter, near giving up. This story is well worth a read.
RATING:
Batman Story - 8/10
Art - 9.5/10
Continuity - 8/10
Badassness - 7/10
OVERALL - 8
Continuity Notes
- Although it was written before 'The Long Halloween,' and takes place on three separate Halloweens, it is best read after 'Long Halloween.'
Dark Victory
This is the sequel to 'The Long Halloween.' Some criticise it as being almost the same. It is actually longer and with the added edition of an updated origin of the first boy wonder, Dick Grayson.
This time, instead of the Holiday Killer, we have the Hangman. What makes this different to the 'Long Halloween' is the colours in the art is brighter, Batman doesn't seem as worn out and nothing seems to be that much of a threat.
What makes it cool is the origin of Dick Grayson and how he became Robin, enhanced by Alfred's flash backs of Bruce when he was younger following his parents murder. Also, Mr. Freeze is active and Penguin gets more pages, albeit seeming stupid and less of a threat than he did in 'Haunted Knight.'
Quite possibly, the biggest problem where this falls short of its predecessors, is that it is missing an epic plot twist ending. Where it succeeds is that it has more action than its predecessors, even if it did seem a bit rushed in terms of artwork.
All in all this is great read and great addition to everyone's Batman catalogue.
RATING:
Batman Story - 9/10
Art - 9.5/10
Continuity - 10/10
Epicness - 8.5/10
OVERALL - 9/10
Continuity Notes:
This time, instead of the Holiday Killer, we have the Hangman. What makes this different to the 'Long Halloween' is the colours in the art is brighter, Batman doesn't seem as worn out and nothing seems to be that much of a threat.
What makes it cool is the origin of Dick Grayson and how he became Robin, enhanced by Alfred's flash backs of Bruce when he was younger following his parents murder. Also, Mr. Freeze is active and Penguin gets more pages, albeit seeming stupid and less of a threat than he did in 'Haunted Knight.'
Quite possibly, the biggest problem where this falls short of its predecessors, is that it is missing an epic plot twist ending. Where it succeeds is that it has more action than its predecessors, even if it did seem a bit rushed in terms of artwork.
All in all this is great read and great addition to everyone's Batman catalogue.
RATING:
Batman Story - 9/10
Art - 9.5/10
Continuity - 10/10
Epicness - 8.5/10
OVERALL - 9/10
Continuity Notes:
- The origin of Robin as Batman's side kick is retold
- Gordon becomes Commissioner