Absolute Batman: The Long Halloween [Hardcover]

Jeph Loeb (Author), Tim Sale (Illustrator), Christopher Nolan (Introduction)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Loeb produces and writes for the hit TV series Heroes; Sale paints the prophetic paintings that figure prominently in it. Before their small-screen work, they collaborated on comic books that viewed with imaginative new eyes the early exploits of iconic superheroes. This ambitious Batman caper ran for 13 months, from Halloween 1993 to Halloween 1994. In it, the Caped Crusader joins with police captain Jim Gordon and district attorney Harvey Dent to get the goods on Mob boss Carmine Falcone. Meanwhile, a mysterious serial killer targets members of Falcone's gang. Contrasting with that Godfather-inspired story line are early appearances of such colorfully garbed Batman adversaries as the Joker and Catwoman. Long Halloween exemplifies the creative team's hallmarks: Loeb's intricate plotting and gift for updating the venerable characters while keeping true to their long-standing portrayals, and Sale's expressive illustration, with its gauntly elegant figures and attractively designed compositions. Here accorded DC's Absolute treatment—hardcover and board slipcase, accompanying creator interviews, original proposal, and early sketches—Sale's already impressive artwork becomes genuinely spectacular at oversize scale. Flagg, Gordon

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (April 7, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401212824
• ISBN-13: 978-1401212827
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 2.1 x 12.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #202,174 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Batman Story Gets the Absolute Treatment, April 9, 2007

By 

Grant Waara (Lusk, Wyoming, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Absolute Batman: The Long Halloween (Hardcover)

Released in 1996 to 1997, Batman The Long Halloween was one of DC's most popular titles in the year the mini-series was released in monthly installments. I vividly recall Wizard Magazine's enthusiasm as they ran many articles speculating on who "Holiday" was.

Now ten years after it's initial run, DC has given the story the "Absolute" treatment. The result is what you can expect from the Absolute editions. A first rate production, the color is crisp, the pages thick, the extras include an interview with creators Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. Again, it would have been nice to see some of Loeb's scripts, but the inclusion of the series proposal and their discussion of the series striking covers makes up for the lack of scripts (for me it does anyway). If you are a fan of The Long Halloween, or Tim Sale's art, this is a must have. I wonder what the next Absolute Edition will be...Dark Victory perhaps?

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Woow, wooow, WOOOOOOOW!!!!!, June 12, 2007

By 

Andre Heeger (Germany) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Absolute Batman: The Long Halloween (Hardcover)

For any Batman fan - I needn't write this, but you should have it. It's amazing!
For those of you unfamiliar with the story, just a few words on that later on. But, to be honest, who is new to this?! It was one of the best Batman storylines ever, with the most awesome artwork. Tim Sale to me is the most "European" of the American artists, his images - each and every cell - can be framed and studied for ages for perfect composition, lighting, pencilling, inking and coloring. So much style and class, woooow!!!
I already read the series as it came out, then waited for the HC back in 98. So why bother? Man, am I happy that I got this. The printing is fabulous! Thick paper, not glossy but matt like the original, deep wonderful colors almost like serigraphies (a huge compliment to the folks at DC! You can see that to them it has also been a work of love to get this out to us)
Now to those unfamiliar with Batman (?!?!) or comics(?!?!?!) Buy this, please, just to get a feel for what is is that all these others are enjoying so much year after year after year.
Unlike many other Batman stories you don't need to know who is who. You can read it as the series' introduction. All the villains are present.
For those of you familiar with the usual suspects, don't worry, the storyline never gets boring. The introductions are perfectly woven into the tale without pausing it for a second.
It's a murder mystery to be read and watched over and over again.
Without spoiling anything, I'm just giving you the original DC introduction from 98:
A costumed hero learning he can trust no one.
A serial killer using the holidays to mark his handiwork.
A crime lord trying to hold onto a crumbling empire.
A city beset by gangsters becoming a haven for freaks.
An honest district attorney hiding a terrible secret.
A dark woman tempting the Dark Knight detective.
And a friendship that would be shattered forever.

P.E.R.F.E.C.T. !!!!! Buy this!!!!! And enjoy for ages.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some of Loeb's Best Work, November 16, 2007

By 

Corbet Griffith (Northwood, OH United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Absolute Batman: The Long Halloween (Hardcover)

Absolute Batman - Long Halloween is an amazing hardcover set of a great Batman story. I really enjoyed the overall packaging of the book - it features oversized art, a beautiful cardboard book cover, and a ribbon placer. This graphic novel contains 13 issues and a decent amount of bonus materials. I found myself reading this 100+ page comic in one night because I was glued to it. I really enjoyed Tim Sale's art - it has a simplistic stylized look to it. One thing I didn't like about this is the fact that it is missing the entire 2nd half of the crime drama, Dark Victory, but it is a great story in its self. The story is a great crime drama / detective story. It really brings back Batman to his detective work that was present in earlier Batman comics. Overall I'd highly recommend Absolute Batman - Long Halloween to anyone looking for a great detective comic or anyone who is a fan of Batman.