Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One (2021) Review

A stone cold classic comic Batman: The Long Halloween came out in 1996 and 1997 as a 13-issue DC run written by Jeph Loeb with art by Tim Sale. Continuing the sensational story laid down in Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli in Batman: Year One the setting see’s Bruce Wayne early in his career as the caped crusader on the hunt for the Holiday Killer who is striking fear into Gotham’s gangsters.

Brought to the screen by the amazing Warner’s Animation team it seems at this point the sensational studio really can do no wrong. With a back catalogue including Space Jam, The Iron Giant and Batman: Mask of the Phantasm after taking a brief break they have stepped things up even further since 2014 producing all the Lego movies, the terrific Teen Titans films and the imaginative Scoob! which brings to life a whole Hanna-Barbera universe.

Whilst pumping out a stream of straight to DVD Scooby Doo movies and Lego spin offs it is in their Direct-to-video comic conversions that things become far more interesting as the studio uninhibitedly and artistically explores the dark side of the DC universe.

From famous tales such as the death and rebirth of Superman to more obscure oddities such as Batman verses Jack the Ripper in Gotham by Gaslight, the studio have tried to innovate and experiment to appeal to a more adult audience keen to see the cult comics and graphic novels they love brought to life.

Taking its artistic cues from the brilliant Batman Animated Series, The Long Halloween, Part One looks amazing and places us in an art deco dream that is being turned into a nightmare by the criminal, gangs and super villains running rouge on the streets of Gotham.

Opening on Halloween we watch as the first slaying take place and we instantly see the shockwaves it throws through the illegal underworld. Soon after, Batman (voiced by Supernatural’s Jensen Ackles) is summoned by Police Captain James Gordon (Billy Burke from Twilight) along with a single faced District Attorney Harvey Dent (Josh Duhamel) to tackle the case which seems unsolvable.

Charged with uncovering the killer each work different sides of the law but when Dent’s family is targeted he seems to abandon his legal powers in favour of more direct vengeance. As Thanksgiving and Christmas throw up two more gruesome murders, Batman is on a countdown to New Year and another death unless he can stop the Holiday Killer.

A fresh faced vigilante interestingly Batman is under the impression that violence and fear are the only weapons he needs in his arsenal to tackle crime in Gotham however as victims fall and suspects mount up he soon sees that detective skills are as vital to being the bat as everything else.

Adding in a flaw to the legendary super hero due to his naivety and inexperience brings not only humanity to the Dark Knight but a sense of fallibility and frailty rarely ever brought out in Batman in any of the live action films or TV incarnations of the character.

Rated as a 15 The Long Halloween is no kids cartoon and there is plenty of blood and brutality to gain it the status of adult entertainment. This is seen in the Holiday Killer’s precisely staged murders and the mayhem that the Joker (Troy Baker) unleashes when he escapes Arkham.

The action is excellent with a particularly faced paced and exciting clash in China Town that sees Batman face off against three martial arts experts helped along the way by Catwoman voiced by the late Naya Rivera who passed away in 2020 and gives one of her final performances.

The home release is packed with more extras than Batman’s utility belt including a sneak peek at Part Two of The Long Halloween, a ton of trailers from other Animated DC Universe Movies, a DC Showcase called The Loser and two cartoons From the DC Vault.

A perfect translation from page to screen, as always by remaining faithful to the letter and the spirit of the original comic the creative team behind The Long Halloween have succeeded where so many live action adaptations have failed. Another stunning addition to the creatively superior catalogue of animated DC movies it also proves there is definitely one area where DC supersede Marvel.

All that’s left to say is bring on Part Two!

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