This being a holiday, I thought it would be a great time to suggest one of my favorite comic trades -well, two actually- The Long Halloween and Dark Victory.  These two twelve issue stories form what is essentially Jeph Loeb’s magnum opus and two of the greatest Batman stories of all time.

It’s easy to vilify Loeb for his recent work.  Ultimatum should be considered a crime against humanity.

But not so long ago, Loeb was one of the best and most prolific comic writers in the industry.  Granted, a lot of his work is high octane fluff, but there’s no denying that most of it was entertaining.

And then there’s The Long Halloween and Dark Victory.  These two year long story arcs are in many ways proof of Loeb’s mostly untapped potential.   Jeph is known for catering his storytelling to the artists he works with, and when he works with Tim Sale it elevates him as a writer.

Both stories revolve around a serial killer.

Long Halloween tells the story of Batman trying to stop a killer named Holiday who commits crimes based on holidays on the calender.  Batman, Harvey Dent and Jim Gordon try to stop both Holiday and the unyielding corruption that runs Gotham’s streets.  And in the midst of the chaos, Two Face emerges.

The story sheds light on the relationship between Batman, Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent.  The Batman’s friendship with Dent is often mentioned, but has rarely been fully explored, and never so fully as it is here.   In fact, in as much as Batman Begins was inspired by Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One, The Dark Knight was arguably partially inspired by The Long Halloween, particularly in regards to Harvey Dent.

Dark Victory takes place soon after the events of Long Halloween.  The Holiday killer is incarcerated in Arkham.  Harvey Dent has been destroyed and turned into the psychotic killer, Two Face.  Gotham’s underworld is undergoing a cold war between the so-called “freaks” and organized crime.  And now a new killer comes along ready to declare war on everyone.  A cop-killer known only as “the Hangman” is tearing Gotham apart, and Batman sets out to take him on alone.  Meanwhile, a young boy named Dick Grayson is prematurely orphaned and taken into Wayne Manor.

What makes these stories great is that they are in many ways long, complex novels.  They are an examination of who Batman is, and why he is that way. Dark Victory in particular is about the cost of his private war.   Every person he brings into the fold finds themselves surrounded by tragedy and death, and yet he cannot go it alone.

Along with this deconstruction is a mystery which takes us on a tour of Batman’s universe.  Classic villains like the Joker and Riddler make appearances without taking center stage.   His relationship with Catwoman is developed and explored. And even characters like Dick and Gordon get their own personal storylines throughout.

Also of note is the fantastic artwork of Tim Sale.   Sale’s art gives this story an epic feel.  Everything is big and dynamic, and yet somehow personal and real. Unlike Loeb’s other major Batman story- Hush- everything in the Long Halloween saga is grounded, almost like it could actually happen.  (Which isn’t to insult Jim Lee- he’s a rock star.)

The one pity of The Long Halloween is that there is the sense that Loeb will never accomplish these feats again.  What I wouldn’t give to see him delve into the well of greatness that inspired these stories.  Right now we could use some great old-fashioned Batman stories.

For more of my thoughts on comics, check out Rebelcomix.com

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