Batman: Dark Victory [Paperback]

Jeph Loeb (Author), Tim Sale (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: October 1, 2002 | Series: Batman

The sequel to the critically acclaimed BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN, DARK VICTORY continues the story of an early time in Batman's life when James Gordon, Harvey Dent, and the vigilante himself were all just beginning their roles as Gotham's protectors.

Once a town controlled by organized crime, Gotham City suddenly finds itself being run by lawless freaks, such as Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, and the Joker. Witnessing his city's dark evolution, the Dark Knight completes his transformation into the city's greatest defender. He faces multiple threats, including the apparent return of a serial killer called Holiday. Batman's previous investigation of Holiday's killings revealed that more than one person was responsible for the murders. So the question remains: who is committing Holiday's crimes this time? And how many will die before Batman learns the truth?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jeph Loeb is a screenwriter/producer whose comic credits include Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight. He is currently writing The Fantastic Four and Daredevil: Yellow. Tim Sale is the acclaimed artist of Batman: Haunted Knight. He is currently drawing Daredevil: Yellow. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 392 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563898683
• ISBN-13: 978-1563898686
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 0.6 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (128 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,375 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #42 in Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Publishers > DC Comics
  • #81 in Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Graphic Novels > Superheroes

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story for any Bat Fan May 16, 2007

By Stella Rosenfeld

Format:Paperback

Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale have done it again. "Dark Victory" begins where "The Long Halloween" ended and creates a new intriguing murder mystery where once again, the obvious answers are the most unlikely and no one can be trusted. It continues to pay homage to the late 30's/early 40's noir style and madness that lurks on (and beneath) the streets of Gotham City.

The Gotham police force is slowly being annihilated by a killer known as "The Hangman" while the mafia families have united in a war against the crazed rogues of Arkham. Unfortunately, they've all escaped and established Two Face as their leader to control the city. Commissioner Gordon's security efforts are strained by the new no-nonsense district attorney, Janice Porter. Despite her prim and firm manners, her intentions are just as vague as the other "Dark Victory" characters.

Batman toils to discover the Hangman's identity but the memory of Harvey's demise still haunts him. Blaming himself for his friend's tragedy, Batman distances himself from close allies and gradually loses his identity as a human being. His relationship with Selina Kyle and Catwoman is a strained romance while his work life becomes a heavy toll worn on by Gordon's frustrations. "The only problem with being alone, Master Bruce, is being alone," Alfred notes.

As the Hangman's noose tightens around Gotham's finest, as the criminal war continues to devour sane and insane men alike, as both Bruce Wayne and Batman slip down the void of despair, he finds himself akin to a feisty but extraordinary person: Dick Grayson. A tiny but determined boy with piercing blue eyes and an adorable pout, Dick is tragically orphaned and finds his destiny interwtined with the Dark Knight. The origins of Robin make this story enticing for any big Bat-fan....

This story isn't about the transition from darkness to light as much as it is about finding inner strength and comfort by finding (and trusting) a friend. There are terrible loses and sacrifices for both Batman and Commissioner Gordon but they find respect for one another. Gordon is reunited with his family just as Batman constructs a surrogate family, a comfort to ease his troubled mind. The Hangman's reign terror cannot stop Dick from his want of justice and opportunity to become a better person. When he chooses to ally himself with Batman, both orphans emerge from the darkness wiser, determined, and no longer alone. Read more ›

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A page turner, a little confusing, but the best Robin story. February 16, 2002

By Ryan Grant

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book, the sequel to The Long Halloween, is yet another winner from Jeph Loeb. All the best from the Batman universe are in here, and his notion of how Robin came to be is the best use of the Boy Wonder I've read yet.

One of the real strength of this one is the use of all the supervillains; every character from The Scarecrow to Mr. Freeze makes an appearance and plays a roll in the story. A part of me wonders if that might not be a continuity error (as Dark Victory is set early on in the Batman universe), but that's certainly a minor quibble. I also really liked the development of Jim Gordon in this book.

The two reasons I knocked this story down: the new ADA, and the confusing elements of the plot. The motives behind the new ADA (the lady who took over Dent's job) aren't really explained that well--more of a backstory would have helped to explain her better. I also thought the book had too many elements at times; three competing crime families, a cast of characters that probably numbers 30+, plus two seperate yet intertwined storylines that both demand a lot of attention. This isn't an inherently bad thing, and the things that I'm still not quite sure of will probably resolve themselves on a second reading.

All in all, a great story. Thumbs up, and highly recommended!

12 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Dualling Identities June 4, 2006

By David Hood VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Loeb and Sale improve upon the Long Halloween with a gripping mystery that succeeds in tension and suspense where I felt the long Halloween failed. More important than the mystery is the continued look at the relationships of the characters in Gotham City. Jim Gordon and Batman, Jim Gordon and his wife. Batman and Selina Kyle in their heart-breakingly unconsummated relationship and Batman and Robin.

We also get to see the interactions of the remnants of the crime families, the new super-villains under Two-Face's lead and a new D.A., Harvey Dent's replacement getting her fingers dirty interacting with both sides. More than the mystery of who Hangman is, it is the characterization of Batman, the D.A., Jim Gordon and Two Face that make this a superior work. Dualism abounds in this work as you would expect in a story about Two Face and Batman. We get to see the two sides of many characters as well as their dramatic foils. I speak not just of the two sides as in alter-egos, but the emotional dualism of each character as well as contrasting and comparing each character such as the quartet of Selina/Bruce/Catwoman/Batman. That's one complex relationship.

The art...well it ranged from good to serviceably abstract. I prefer realism though I understand what Sale was going for. However it wasn't distracting to me so it worked for the story.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It is a Dark Victory Indeed... November 20, 2012

By A True Spidey Fan

Format:Paperback

The first thing I should say is, don't read BATMAN: DARK VICTORY unless you have read THE LONG HALLOWEEN first. You won't be able to understand the plot because it picks up directly from where THE LONG HALLOWEEN left us off, and contains many references to the events of the first book.

Yes, DARK VICTORY is the direct sequel to THE LONG HALLOWEEN, and is a talent of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale that is worthy of recognition. The story takes place six months after the events of THE LONG HALLOWEEN. Alberto Falcone, formerly known as the serial killer Holiday who struck at Gotham's underworld on holiday, has been released from Arkham Asylum and placed under the care of his brother Mario Falcone. Meanwhile Alberto's sister Sofia Falcone Gigante, is struggling to keep ahold of her father's crumbling criminal empire. Even though we saw Sofia fall from the top of her father's penthouse at the end of the last book, we find out that she survived the fall, Only now, she has been confined to a wheelchair and is forced to wear a head brace, (according to her, she can't even go to the restroom on her own anymore). Since Two Face killed her father, Carmine "The Roman" Falcone, Sofia has been replaced as the head of the Falcone Crime family. But the mob's control over Gotham City is slipping, as all of the insane criminals (Joker, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, Solomon Grundy, the Calendar Man, and the Mad Hatter for example) led by Two face, are waging war on the mob that refers to them as the "Freaks." Even as Gotham City is tearing itself apart by gang wars, Batman, the only one who can stop them, has distanced himself from all of his friends, including Commissioner Gordon.... He still feels responsible for Harvey Dent's transformation into Two Face, and he distances himself, as he does not want anything like that to happen again. However, the dark knight is about to realize that he can never truly work alone...

For on Halloween night, Police Chief Clancy O'Hara is found hanged on the Gotham Bridge. Unlike the traditional way of hanging, O'Hara was hoisted up by the noose, and what's even more suspicious is a note attached to his body. The note is from the private case files of former district attorney, Harvey Dent, and has the children's game of hangman, written in blood on it. Batman begins to realize that the "Hangman's" killings follow a pattern like Holiday's, as more cops are hanged on a holiday of each month, including some familiar corrupt cops from BATMAN: YEAR ONE. As Batman continues to solve the mystery of the Hangman killings, he becomes even more separated from those he cares about. Eventually his only hope to figuring out the Hangman's identity will come from a young boy who was orphaned by tragedy just like he was: Robin, The Boy Wonder!

What I truly admire about Jeph Loeb as a writer, is that he's able to drive deep into the heart and soul of Batman. He fully understands Batman's tragic history and his motivation for ridding Gotham City of its criminal element. In THE LONG HALLOWEEN and DARK VICTORY he takes the early Batman and Robin stories from the 1940's, and adapts them for a modern audience! He links Batman's early days with Harvey Dent's transformation into Two Face, the control of Gotham going from the mob to the freaks, and Robin's origin. A feat that only a talented writer like Jeph Loeb could accomplish. His interpretation of Two Face is also my favorite version of the character. Loeb is able to show Harvey's dueling personalities so easily by altering the form of his words and speech bubbles when his Two Face persona is speaking. This was the first time I could tell which personality was speaking in the comics, and gives me the feeling that I'm actually looking at some one with a multiple personality disorder (besides Ventriloquist and Scarface). And of course Tim Sale is always a superb artist when he's teamed up with Loeb.

I like THE LONG HALLOWEEN better, but BATMAN: DARK VICTORY is almost as equally as good! If I could break down Batman's origin into three parts, they would be BATMAN: YEAR ONE (Frank Miller), BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN (LOEB), and BATMAN: DARK VICTORY (Loeb).

Overall, DARK VICTORY is a truly worthy sequel to THE LONG HALLOWEEN! Read more ›