Batman: The Long Halloween - The Last Halloween #2
Kevin Rossi
Recap
Hoping to bring an end to the terrible tragedy that has struck Gotham, Batman and Robin descend into the hellish depths of Arkham Asylum seeking answers and come face-to-face with some of the city's most nefarious criminals.
Review
Ask any seasoned comic reader what their favorite Batman story is, and there’s a good chance they’ll say Batman: The Long Halloween. The 13-issue series was written by Jeph Loeb with art by Tim Sale and was published from 1996 to 1997. The series was followed by Batman: Dark Victory in 1999 until 2000 and Catwoman: When in Rome in 2004. A one-shot released in 2021 reignited excitement for a true follow-up, but with the tragic passing of Sale in 2022, many readers lost hope, and for good reason. However, Loeb and DC have come together to bring readers a true follow-up while still honoring the wonderful Tim Sale. Batman: The Long Halloween – The Last Halloween #2 is written by Loeb with Klaus Janson, the prolific inker and artist, as artist, David Stewart on colors, and Richard Starkings returning as letterer.
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale were one of those pairings in comics that readers enjoyed no matter what, so even though nothing has topped the original The Long Halloween, it is always a blast revisiting that world. Unfortunately, a huge part of that world is Sale’s distinct style. Having guest artists on each issue is a great way to give readers this follow-up because now it acts as a memorial for Sale’s body of work. Janson leaned away from digital means when working on the art in this issue which led to a rougher visual feel much like Sale’s. Janson’s inking alone has contributed to some of the best Batman art, so readers will be able to see Sale’s influence in Jansen’s distinct style. There are small things like Robin’s pants that may annoy readers, but this truly felt like reading a comic from twenty years ago. Dave Stewart is a fantastic choice as a colorist. Stewart’s work is extremely recognizable but he also has a talent for working with artists with distinct styles. He can be counted on to capture and maintain a certain tone throughout and that’s exactly what he did here. Right now, the story has been pretty straightforward and in the same vein as its precursors. Loeb is hitting many of the same story beats, though there may be some twists and turns to come.
Final Thoughts
Batman: The Long Halloween - The Last Halloween #2 is another solid entry in the series. Klaus Janson and Dave Stewart are great additions and capture a certain era of Batman comics. The series is still getting going so not much has happened, and so far things have been predictable. It’s been twenty years since readers have returned to this story, and that gap is felt. However, it works as a great way to honor Tim Sale while contributing to an iconic saga.
Batman: The Long Halloween – The Last Halloween #2: It’s Happening Again
- Writing - 7/107/10
- Storyline - 7/107/10
- Art - 7/107/10
- Color - 7/107/10
- Cover Art - 8/108/10
