Batman: The Long Halloween

Batman: The Long Halloween
First trade paperback of Batman: The Long Halloween
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Limited series
Genre	Superhero noir
No. of issues	13
Main character(s)	Batman Jim Gordon Harvey Dent Carmine Falcone Catwoman
Creative team
Written by	Jeph Loeb
Artist(s)	Tim Sale
Letterer(s)	Comicraft Richard Starkings
Colorist(s)	Gregory Wright
Editor(s)	Archie Goodwin Chuck Kim
Collected editions
Trade Paperback	ISBN 1563894696
Hardcover	ISBN 1563894270
Trade Paperback (Titan Books)	ISBN 1840230541
Absolute Edition	ISBN 1401212824
2011 Trade Paperback	ISBN 1401232590
Noir	ISBN 1401248837
Deluxe Edition	ISBN 1779512694
The Batman Box Set	ISBN 1779514298

Batman: The Long Halloween is a 13-issue American comic book limited series written by Jeph Loeb with art by Tim Sale. It was originally published by DC Comics in 1996 and 1997.^[1] It was the follow-up to three Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Specials which were reprinted in Batman: Haunted Knight by the same creative team. The series' success led to Loeb and Sale to reteam for two sequels, Batman: Dark Victory and Catwoman: When in Rome, which are set concurrently. A third sequel, a 10-issue limited series entitled The Last Halloween, began publication on September 25, 2024.^[2]

Set during Batman's early days of crime-fighting, the story follows the Dark Knight as he partners with District Attorney Harvey Dent and Captain James Gordon to uncover the identity of a mysterious killer known as Holiday, who murders people on holidays, one each month. The series is notable for its exploration of the transformation of Gotham City’s criminal underworld from traditional organized crime to the emergence of costumed supervillains, and it serves as an origin story for Two-Face.

In continuity terms, The Long Halloween continues the story of Batman: Year One for the characters of Batman, Gordon, Catwoman, and Falcone, and is considered to replace the earlier effort Batman: Year Two in the character's continuity. It also revolves around the transition of Batman's rogues gallery from plainclothes, real-world style mobsters to full-fledged supervillains and tells the origin of Two-Face, incorporating elements of the story in Batman: Annual #14.

Critically acclaimed for its noir-inspired storytelling and character development, The Long Halloween is considered one of the definitive Batman stories. Its influence extends to multiple media adaptations, including Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy (2005–2012) and Matt Reeves’ The Batman (2022). The story was also adapted into a two-part animated film released in 2021, which closely follows the narrative and themes of the original comic.