Batman: The Long Halloween

As I first began my journey into comics (specifically Batman) this story arc appeared on many top-read lists. Even Sweeney suggested this one to me explaining he had heard much of it was used as the bases to Nolan's The Dark Knight. After finishing this, some of that definitely holds to be true. Basically this story arc serves as an origin story to Two-Face, all spilled out over a 13-part series. It's actually quite inventive. The first comic takes place on Halloween, with each following issue occurring on a specific holiday in chronological order. So as you progress through each issue, you slowly make your way through one full calendar year eventually concluding the epic back on Halloween of the following year. Let me give you a little taste of what this story has to offer.

Gotham's crime ring is controlled by two main mob families - Falcone and Maroni - each struggling to gain the upper hand on one another for wealth and power. Meanwhile, to put a stop to these dangerous thugs, Batman, Gordon, and Dent have made a pact to take these guys down at all costs. At this point they hint that they may have to push the boundaries of the law to be successful in locking these guys up. Halloween comes along right after this. It's during this night that one of Falcone's men get whacked while in the bathtub - gunned down by an unknown man. At the crime scene, the murderer leaves the pistol that was fired, a rubber nipple to a baby bottle (used as a make-shift silencer), and a jack-o-lantern symbolizing the holiday. This unknown murderer becomes known as the Holiday Killer.

These murders continue on with each passing month. Always occurring on a holiday (Christmas, New Year's, etc.), always killing a Maroni or Falcone and always with the same set of evidence left behind - substitute the jack-o-lantern with a trinket appropriate to the corresponding holiday. As we head through the year, Batman battles most of Gotham's typical villains (many of the regulars make an appearance) who all seem to either be angry with the Holiday Killer for doing their job of terrorizing the city (Joker) or are hired by Falcone (Poison Ivy, Scarecrow) to help out with his struggling crime operation. Even though Holiday Killer runs free with no leads on who it could be, the pact Batman, Gordon, and Dent have made to bring down the mobs is actually working. Maroni, scared with most of his men killed off, has turned himself into Gordon and Dent for safe keeping from the Holiday Killer in the agreement that he'll testify against Falcone. During this court hearing, with the eradication of the crime organizations so close at hand, Maroni betrays Dent tossing acid in his face...

He ain't going to be pretty no more!

So is the beginning of Two-Face. Maybe his origin isn't the same story that was represented in Nolan's The Dark Knight, but I believe there was a flashback to this scene in the movie Batman Forever. Anyways, with the birth of Two-Face all hell breaks loose. After escaping from the hospital, he enters Arkham Asylum and releases each inmate based on the flip of his coin.  Everything culminates as Two-Face - along with just about every Gotham villain - heads for a showdown at Falcone's house where Batman has to do his best to intercept and kick some major ass. There's also the long awaited reveal of who the Holiday Killer really is.

I've got to say, the ending to this book really surprised me. Won't ruin anything. Just, wow. There's also a bit of a love story between Bruce and Selina (Batman and Catwoman) - she manages to save Bruce when he falls under the hypnotic spell of Poison Ivy - but nothing ever really culminates. I suppose that's how their relationship always carries out... he's the hero, she's the villain. Still, it would be interesting to see something actually pan out there. Maybe there will be in the upcoming Batman film. Who knows? Anywho, another Batman comic down. Don't really know where to go from here? There is The Dark Knight Strikes Again (Frank Miller's follow-up to The Dark Knight Returns), but I'm not sure what else to read. All of these books I've been reading so far have been downloaded onto my iPad via an app called Comixology, but to be fair... the app kind of sucks. Many of the story arcs that look somewhat appealing are incomplete. Tried to find Bane's origin story, but could only download one of the multi-issue story arc. Pointless. Also, The Dark Knight Returns isn't even on available. What do they expect from me? To actually drive to a book store! 

Ugh... I'm headed to bed. Feel free to suggest any other comics you think might be worth my time reading... and are hopefully within a fingertip's reach.