I don't generally like mafia stories, but one consistent exception is when they are Batman mafia stories.

The art was what kept me a long time from reading the Long Halloween. But once I started to read it I noticed Tim Sale's art is perfect for this type of story and it become one of my favourite, if not my favourite, Batman stories.

I thought Holiday was Alberto and Gilda. Gilda started out, then after Alberto faked his death, she thought Harvey took over (but it was actually Alberto). Harvey thought the two Holidays were Alberto and then himself (Harvey thinking he became the second Holiday when he killed Falcone).

_The Long Halloween_ is actually the story I typically recommend to people who want to get into Batman: The art fits the mood perfectly, most of the big names in Batman's rogues gallery make an appearance, it does an excellent job at showing how Batman interacts with both law enforcement and criminals, *Batman is actually a detective in this story* (something that needs to happen more often), & its all around a good story.

I'd like to see Chris' top 10 Batman stories.

That pumpkin never stood a chance.

Me: "Man, Those intros never get old, oh ... You caught me reminiscing about how Comictropes intros are always entertaining" 😉

An interesting point I heard from another reviewer is the concept of "the long defeat." Basically the battle between good and evil is eternal. The story shows that Batman ultimate desire to rid Gotham of crime is futile. The story shows at the end Batman will either die or become like Harvey Dent that's basically his only two ways his life can end. "Either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain."

Spouse? For real? Are congratulations in order? The Long Halloween is a classic.

Do Batman: The Cult Which seems to be the origin of Dark Knight Rises but in an insane 80s way High points: batman & robin driving a monster truck through the city shooting everyone they see with a mounted machine gun and batman stealing a picnic 🧺 basket to eat the hard boiled eggs inside shell and all, like he’s yogi bear

I don't recall that "Har V. Dent" note. Holy cow. Great eye.

Found a local comic book store near me, this might be the first comic I'll get!

One of my favourite title from one of my favourite comic book duos! Together Jeph Lobe and Tim Sale have made a lot of great comics

I love how a story can be so great that it redefines a character decades afterwards. You mentioned Two-Face and Joker, but I'd say BTAS's Mr Freeze fits as well.

I like when the story focuses on Batman being a detective and solving mysteries

The opening of this video looks like one of those infomercials. "Don't you hate when this happens? It doesn't need to happen to you with new Blumco Pumpkin Grip Gloves."

I really loved how long how Batman long Halloween really focus on Harvey dent becoming two- face. And to me I felt like a long Halloween was a sequel to Batman year One. A continuation of some characters that we never really knew what ever happened to that Frank Miller kind of left with any real acknowledgement of whatever happened to them. Like Carmine Falcone and his family. This story really took its time of making you feel while you're reading it that you're also in the shoes of bat bad but also argued that try to figure out who was the holiday killer yet left you with so much suspense. It truly was a great story because you saw the fall of Harvey. Great story

Year One and Long Halloween are my favorite Batman stories.

great video! I love how down to earth you are, even doing a video about a story that isn't among your personal favorites. Instead of rolling your eyes and being sarcastic about, you gave us a great documentary. Thanks!

Great one Chris the long Halloween is one of my favourites

One of my fave Batman stories. Just found your channel recently (through the Moon Knight video) and have enjoyed going back and watching older videos. Subscribed. Keep up the good work.

I love this story as well as your channel! Keep up the solid work, and keep reading comics!

I knew there was a reason I enjoyed your analyses. Watching this and you repeat things I'm saying in my head as I think it, you are totally on the money. Keep on keeping on. Your content enriches.

I loooooove The Long Halloween. I think it’s the most cinematic batman comic ever made. A lot of that is by design, I know, there’s tons of mafia movie, film noir, and especially Godfather references and style. However, I never got distracted by them. I feel like they make it a stronger story as a whole. They make the themes richer and give the story more to say. I think it’s a masterpiece. Dark Victory is also very good but I don’t think it’s as stylized or has as much to say as The Long Halloween.

One of my favorite comics of all time! So happy you talked about it!

One of the best Batman comics, been waiting for this one for a while

It is always a joy to watch your videos.

I loved how the pumpkin broke in a really unsatisfying way. Made it somehow funnier.

Oh Hi, you caught me believing ComicTropes is one of the best comic channel creators #LuvinIt:p

Another great watch. Thanks, Chris!

I absolutely love Tim sale's artwork

My read on the resolution to the mystery was that Gilda did the first three murders and then Alberto did the rest. I thought she was only imagining that Harvey Dent was Holiday 2 due to her hero worship and also being kind of out of her mind. Granted, it still doesn't explain the entirely coincidental good timing of the "changing of the guard" - how Alberto knew when to start killing and Gilda knew when to stop - but it's still just as messy the Gilda / Harvey / Alberto way if not more so.

Another amazing video. Great stuff, great stuff. Love this channel.

Liked this while the Comic Tropes theme was playing. Couldn't help myself. Luckily the episode was more than worthy. Great work Chris. 😁👍

Thanks Chris I really enjoy your videos

My favourite Batman story... Read this so many times, love the story, love the art, it is just brilliant.

Insightful take and a satisfying analysis. I’d only ever heard of this story by name and high up on Nolan’s choice cuts for his Dark Knight. I’m truly impressed by how good the writing is. No wonder much of it was translated to screen without any alteration or modification whatsoever. I need to get clued up on the team behind the creation of source material like this. It’s interesting to note its flaws too, the pacing and overwrought narrative seem like some kind of unavoidable contrivance from what I can only presume were behind-the-scenes comic industry business decisions or something. Fantastic insight was gleaned through your thorough video-cheers man!

Chris I love your videos, you analyzed this book very effectively and I’m glad you gave criticism without flat out bashing the story. Great video!

This would have been the perfect episode to transition from horror month to crime month

Honestly the greatest comic book related channel on KZfaq and in KZfaq history

Oh hi! You got me again! Love the channel! Keep making content!

great video! I love the story and I had the good fortune to meet Tim Sale at the 2019 fan expo canada.. he's a nice down to earth kinda guy

Please do Dark Victory! I love your take on the long Halloween

Thanks for this one Chris. Because of you I'm now the proud owner of : The Long Halloween & Dark Victory & Catwoman when in Rome and MAN they're awesome yes the art is a bit weird but absolutally loved it for being so surrealistic.

Great video! You mentioned so many stuff I noticed and more that I did not! Looking forward to rereading it. Also please make a video on its sequel Dark Victory as well or on Batman Hush. Do you think Jeph Loeb did as well on that mystery reveal? Cheers!

My favorite Batman story. I read it every year around Halloween.

You dropped the pumpkin. YOU DROPPED THE PUMPKIN. ...That phrase could be a DANDY euphemism for something. Good vid, mate. I personally never felt this one as much as some people, and the resolution was a big part of why, but it's a decent enough read. Not TDKR or Year One levels, but not many people could write Batman like Miller could back in the '80s.

Love your honesty in these videos. Have to say I really enjoy Tim Sales art. It was almost like a Kirby experience for me, as in it took me a while before I truly enjoyed the style, although I will say sometimes it does cross the line, becoming a little too cartoonish. The Long Halloween could easily be the definitive Two-Face story as you mentioned, and we all know The Killing Joke to be the definitive Joker story. What would everyone consider is the definitive Riddler story? If there is one

Alberto Falcone committed all the murders after the first 2. Golda merely thought Harvey had taken over when she heard of Alberto's disappearance, and remembered him coming home late that night.

My favorite Batman storyline, thanks for the video Chris. 😊

Man, I love your videos.

Thanks for another great video. Can’t wait to see what’s in store when you go to Japan!

Great review .. u make some valid points especially about the art but I'm surprised this didn't make you're top 10 its probably in my top 3

I always like the face fore-shadow-ing of Harvey, and how Tim Sale renders lighting in general

I love your & channel & your videos.

when I was a kid I had a tradition of dropping my jackolanterns off of an overpass walkway into the street below. playing it off as an accident was essential to avoiding confrontation with any bystanders. that intro sure brought back some memories.

I love Loeb/Sale Batman stories, but another weakness is that for most villans Loeb only seems to really write Two Face well. Scarecrow & Mad Hatter have nothing to say. Joker & Riddler have very little to say they all just recite schtick to greater or lesser degrees. Year One & Long Halloween are among my favorite Batman stories though, I love the gangster stuff infinatley more than a Justice League Batman. I just finished Dark Victory and with this refresher on Halloween it's really got me thinking about aspects of that book. Year One, Long Halloween and Dark Victory work as a fantastic arc.

Great review of that great series. It would be amazing if the new Batman movie follows this storyline, but also very challenging.

I think Dr Wayne operating on Falcone was a nod to the classic story where Lew Moxon had him operate on after kidnapping him from a masquerade party where he was wearing a proto Bat suit. I can't remember the name of the story, but I'm pretty sure it's from 1948.

The art looks so cool

I loved the Long Halloween and it’s sequels. I hope you might look at those. Loeb and Sale are a great team. Their stories were as different from the main line of Batman as there had been. I have them in my collection. I haven’t been a regular reader or collector as I once was because I haven’t truly seen what in my opinion is anything really new or different in comics in years. I still read books in my collection and occasionally visit the comic book store I spent a lot of time in looking for story lines to follow. Thank you Chris for rekindling my interest again with your Comics Tropes presentations.

These are the aspects of Batman that get lost in the shuffle currently. There are to many creative ideas that are not being explored in just the base criminals, serial murders, rapists, sadist and insane that the comics should explore more then just the super heroics, mystic angles that Bruce is currently involved in. This story is a perfect example.

Nice review. While this remains (possibly) my favorite Gotham story, your critiques are totally valid.

I never enjoyed the triple twist that Harvey's wife was the second killer, always thought it was annoyingly cheap. I liked the idea that it was Alberto in trying to destroy all his father built, as well as a new villain.

Awesome video dogg 👏👏👏

Lighting looks fantastic!

One of my favorite Batman stories, also, it's awesome you have an Atari Force TPB...you need to do a cast on Atari Force.

I will go revisit this serie. The art is pretty interesting.

Masculinity is a major theme in the story, represented by contrasting figures like the hulking, muscular Batman and the slender, androgynous joker, or Carmine's veneer of poised sophistication versus his son's effete neuroticism. Notice also the contrast between dashing, classically handsome Harvey Dent and both the wiry Alberto and the seemingly (but deceptively) retiring and passive Gilda. Very often we see outwardly powerful men humbled or embarrassed in ways that undercut their strength and assertiveness, like when the Joker pulls a comically large gun on Maroni and declares, "Mine's bigger!" or when Maroni's father orders him "Be a man," only for Maroni to be rendered helpless by his father's murder moments later. Batman, too, falls victim to this trope, as we see the Scarecrow infantilize him with grief over his dead mother, and Poison Ivy subverts not only his free will but his public image as a man of integrity.

Your intros are drop dead adorable.

Great video as always. You mentioned Long Halloween is not in your personal Top 10. I would love to know what IS in your Top 10! I'd really like to see a series of videos where you go over your Top 10 comics in various categories and then overall. Thank you.

I love the Yacht Rock intro throwbacks!

So, what ARE your top 10 favorite Batman stories?

I love stories about Batman being a detective, which is the main problem I have with this story. It is ostensibly centered around a mystery, but Batman completely fails to do any detecting, and the solution makes no sense and doesn't matter. Literally anyone could have been revealed as Holiday at the end without changing anything earlier in the story. Compare it to another Tim Sale-illustrated story, James Robinson's "Blades" from Legends of the Dark Knight 32-34. Batman is hunting "Mr. Lime," a serial killer targeting the elderly. It's not even the main focus of the story (which is about The Cavalier), but the mystery "plays fair" - the killer is someone we've seen in the story but likely never suspected, and Batman deduces their identity through information available to the reader. That's much more satisfying than Jeph Loeb seemingly making shit up on the fly just to have a twist ending.

Great work! TLH is one of my Top5 Batman stories. Since you said it wasn´t even in your Top10, I was wondering which are your favourite? Saludos desde Xalapa.

i look forward to you covering the sequel one day (or at least i hope you do at some point).

Please vlog from Japan as well! Great episode!

If you think about it Alberto Falcone is Michael Corleone if instead of wanting nothing to do with his dad Vito's criminal empire was so obsessed with getting his father's approval and becoming a part of it that he was willing to kill his dad's enemies.

Now I want a top ten Batman Stories list

Harvey wasn’t talking about himself when he said there were two killers. He was talking about Gilda and Alberto. Dent only became a killer AFTER he had become Two-Face.

I hear this guy talking about the art work and as much as I love Byrne, Perez,Bucsuma,Bagley,Kane,Infantino,etc. I think the art work here although exaggerated fits and also moves the story along.

I hope the new Batman movie takes inspiration from the Denny O'Neil, Scott Snyder and Tom Kings runs

You missed the chance to make an intro where everything looks black and white before Holiday shoots you.

One of my absolute favorites

This mans intros are a thing of beauty

This is great.

Even though Batman has endless amounts of money, fights villains like the Joker, a clown, killer moth and poison ivy. He lives in the same world as Superman but despite this goofiness he is really grounded which always keeps him interesting

I missed draw October; how did I miss 30 episodes that were live? :( oh well something to listen and sneak a peak between work. :)

I loved the Long Halloween. I haven't read it in awhile: might be time for a re-read.

Wtf came back to this after your live stream and I'd definitely say some weirdness is going on with sub recommendations. maybe people were getting tired or live stream notifications? Idk but keep it up Chris once more regular content keeps coming they will return

When you see Oh hi.... At the beginning of the video you are in dor a good one I enjoy these videos

Jeph Loeb was such a great writer and then he just fell off a cliff and he was not good at all

Can you do a video on New X-men by Grant Morrison?

This is probably the one and only Batman story with a twist I didn't see coming a mile away. It is plausible because she knew he picked it up but he didn't know who the original was. If the baby nipple worked at all, it would only be for the first shot, and the tiny .22"be

The ending of The Long Halloween has always reminded me of the plot twist in the Harrison Ford movie Presumed Innocent. Maybe the writers used as an inspiration of sorts.

Yes, Chris...offer up your top 10 Batman stories

One of the best Batman stories ever made .

What're your thoughts on dark victory?

💥Wow... This series looks very interesting 🤓The artwork looks a little weird at first 😬 but in context, it does seem to fit this type of story well 👏

I love the Long Halloween, I see now that I need to get the English edition. When are we getting your top 10 Batman stories?