Loeb and Sale spun that characterization in a different direction for The Long Halloween by making Harvey Dent one of the good guys. He was originally depicted as a mob-like crime lord with a conveniently menacing aesthetic. Two-Face has historically been a campy, dated villain. The dynamic between the duo makes the reader question if Batman is up to the task while also paying homage to a nearly-forgotten villain. Thus, Calendar Man enjoys toying with the young Caped Crusader as he attempts to unravel a carefully orchestrated series of murders. It became clear early in their conversation that Batman was out of his league with the Holiday killings.īatman is still young and early in his career as The Dark Knight. Nonetheless, the interactions between Batman and Calendar Man are captivating. I think Loeb and Sale purposely use Calendar Man sparingly in The Long Halloween in order to avoid any direct comparisons between Hannibal Lecter and Calendar Man. Credit: DC ComicsĬalendar Man’s appearance and encounters with Batman in The Long Halloween are undoubtedly inspired by The Silence of the Lambs. This is yet another detail Batman fails to discover for himself. Calendar Man is always calm and seems to be aware of the Holiday killers’ identities from early in the story, repeatedly hinting that the killer is both a he and a she (Gilda and Harvey Dent). His white attire, surrounded by an all-white prison cell, adds a layer of discomfort to the already unsettling Arkham Asylum. Jeph Loeb reinvented Calendar Man, making him just plain creepy. The character was always a minor villain and hadn’t made an appearance in over ten years. The Long Halloween did a great job reintroducing Calendar Man to the DC universe. By establishing Catwoman as a morally ambiguous counter to Batman’s set against the back-drop of genuine romantic interest, Loeb and Sale add long-overdo weight to the pair’s relationship. Catwoman is as much of a threat to any criminal as Batman is, and at times a half-step better as Batman never realizes Selina Kyle and Catwoman are one and the same. Ultimately, Catwoman’s assertion is proven to be correct: the two characters are quite similar. Catwoman also divulges her true intentions to Batman when she chooses, despite one or two times when he physically overpowers her. In addition, she manages to discern Bruce Wayne’s alter-ego within a few months of associating with the billionaire by day and the Caped Crusader by night. Catwoman’s detective work involving her father’s true identity is covert and stealth. The Long Halloween proves that Catwoman is comparable to Batman. Finally, it is heavily implied that Catwoman is the daughter of crime boss Carmine Falcone as she is routinely shown doing reconnaissance work in relation to the Falcone family. Second, Catwoman manages to evade Batman several times throughout the graphic novel. Credit: DC Comicsįirst, it’s clear that Catwoman knows about Batman’s secret identity. The banter between Batman and Catwoman is entertaining without being cheesy or repetitive, but Loeb and Sale add significant characterization to each. Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale took the existing foundation between the two and capitalized on the most interesting components. The thirteen-issue maxi-series was an immediate hit, spawning a sequel, a spin-off, and tying into Christopher Nolan’s film trilogy, but is Jeph Loeb’s magnum opus the singular best Batman story of all time? The Bat And The Catīatman and Catwoman have always had a tempestuous relationship: the characters were occasionally allies and enemies throughout their long history prior to The Long Halloween. Following Calendar Man’s subtle clues, Batman is slowly drawn into a web of intrigue involving the Falcones, Catwoman, conflicted District Attorney Harvey Dent, and Commissioner Gordon. In a Silence of the Lambs-esque style, Batman attempts to use the imprisoned Calendar Man to shed light on the mysterious killer. Essentially, someone from the Falcone crime family is killed on each major holiday. The Long Halloween follows Batman as he attempts to catch the Holiday killer. In 1996, Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale decided to pen The Long Halloween as a follow-up to their successful Batman Halloween specials.
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