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Batman by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale #2
Batman: Dark Victory
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?
This volume collects Batman: Dark Victory #0-13.
This volume collects Batman: Dark Victory #0-13.
391 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2000
About the author
Jeph Loeb
1,508 books1,246 followersJoseph "Jeph" Loeb III is an Emmy and WGA nominated American film and television writer, producer and award-winning comic book writer. Loeb was a Co-Executive Producer on the NBC hit show Heroes, and formerly a producer/writer on the TV series Smallville and Lost.
A four-time Eisner Award winner and five-time Wizard Fan Awards winner (see below), Loeb's comic book career includes work on many major characters, including Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Hulk, Captain America, Cable, Iron Man, Daredevil, Supergirl, the Avengers, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, much of which he has produced in collaboration with artist Tim Sale, who provides the comic art seen on Heroes.
A four-time Eisner Award winner and five-time Wizard Fan Awards winner (see below), Loeb's comic book career includes work on many major characters, including Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Hulk, Captain America, Cable, Iron Man, Daredevil, Supergirl, the Avengers, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, much of which he has produced in collaboration with artist Tim Sale, who provides the comic art seen on Heroes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,243 reviews
March 16, 2019
A year after Holiday was brought to justice, a new killer haunts the nights of Gotham City. The Hangman is killing cops, cops that seem to be linked to Harvey Dent in some way. Is Harvey Dent The Hangman?
On the heels of Batman: The Long Halloween, I just had to read this. Fortunately, I snagged it on the same trade-in deal when I acquired The Long Halloween.
Dark Victory and The Long Halloween share a similar structure. The Hangman only strikes on holidays. Each issue is centered around a different murder. Batman and James Gordon race to catch the Hangman before their heads wind up in nooses. Meanwhile, on the periphery of the case, Holiday is out on bail and something is brewing in the Gotham Underworld.
To be honest, it felt like a retread of The Long Halloween for a while. Not bad but not really anything new. However, once the added wrinkle of some shady shit going down at the Haly Circus surfaced, I was all in.
I've had a lot of favorite comic characters in the past four decades but Robin was the first. While I normally don't like retellings of characters origins, I enjoyed Loeb and Sale's take on Robin's origin quite a bit and it fit seamlessly with the rest of the day. The conflicted relationship between Harvey Dent and his former friends drove the rest of the book very well.
I complain quite a bit about decompression in today's comics but it works great when Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale use it to tell a slow-burning mystery like The Long Halloween or Dark Victory. Just like the Long Halloween, the clues were in place but I missed them. Tim Sale's cartoony, moody art did a great job setting the tone, although I don't care for his Joker or Scarecrow. Loeb and Sale do a great Batman, too, complete with Kevin Conroy voice in my head.
As far as sequels go, Dark Victory did a great job following up The Long Halloween. Four out of five Batarangs.
On the heels of Batman: The Long Halloween, I just had to read this. Fortunately, I snagged it on the same trade-in deal when I acquired The Long Halloween.
Dark Victory and The Long Halloween share a similar structure. The Hangman only strikes on holidays. Each issue is centered around a different murder. Batman and James Gordon race to catch the Hangman before their heads wind up in nooses. Meanwhile, on the periphery of the case, Holiday is out on bail and something is brewing in the Gotham Underworld.
To be honest, it felt like a retread of The Long Halloween for a while. Not bad but not really anything new. However, once the added wrinkle of some shady shit going down at the Haly Circus surfaced, I was all in.
I've had a lot of favorite comic characters in the past four decades but Robin was the first. While I normally don't like retellings of characters origins, I enjoyed Loeb and Sale's take on Robin's origin quite a bit and it fit seamlessly with the rest of the day. The conflicted relationship between Harvey Dent and his former friends drove the rest of the book very well.
I complain quite a bit about decompression in today's comics but it works great when Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale use it to tell a slow-burning mystery like The Long Halloween or Dark Victory. Just like the Long Halloween, the clues were in place but I missed them. Tim Sale's cartoony, moody art did a great job setting the tone, although I don't care for his Joker or Scarecrow. Loeb and Sale do a great Batman, too, complete with Kevin Conroy voice in my head.
As far as sequels go, Dark Victory did a great job following up The Long Halloween. Four out of five Batarangs.
June 29, 2020
Aaand with this the long Halloween sequel comes to an end!
Even though at times i felt like i was reading the long Halloween again this was great and didn’t mind it all that much!
Jeph Loeb wrote another mystery worth guessing and with Tim Sale’s art being feast for the eyes!
4,5/5
Even though at times i felt like i was reading the long Halloween again this was great and didn’t mind it all that much!
Jeph Loeb wrote another mystery worth guessing and with Tim Sale’s art being feast for the eyes!
4,5/5
January 13, 2023
8.7/10
'Holiday' is gone, but Gotham city doesn't stay peaceful for long.
The Falcones and Maronis, once rival families and on the top of Gotham's organised crime. Now they are working together in an attempt to take back full control of the city. Control that they lost to the so called "freaks". Freaks like the Joker, the Penguin and more.
On top of all that there is a new threat. Enter 'Hangman', a serial killer who takes the lives of police officers.
Commissioner James Gordon and Batman have to join forces once more, and try to stop all this madness.
An excellent sequel to it's highly acclaimed predecessor.
'Holiday' is gone, but Gotham city doesn't stay peaceful for long.
The Falcones and Maronis, once rival families and on the top of Gotham's organised crime. Now they are working together in an attempt to take back full control of the city. Control that they lost to the so called "freaks". Freaks like the Joker, the Penguin and more.
On top of all that there is a new threat. Enter 'Hangman', a serial killer who takes the lives of police officers.
Commissioner James Gordon and Batman have to join forces once more, and try to stop all this madness.
An excellent sequel to it's highly acclaimed predecessor.
August 12, 2011
I've read Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale's Batman books in the order they've written them with Haunted Knight coming first followed by The Long Hallowe'en and finally coming to Dark Victory. I suppose Loeb ought to be congratulated for bringing the Batman stories back to their original format, that is detective/crime stories, where he brings the mob and Batman side by side as natural enemies.
Here's the story: a killer is killing people by hanging them on holidays (Hallowe'en, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc) and leaving notes on their bodies with the hangman game on. Early on Arkham is attacked and the Batman's best loved villains escape (Joker, Two Face, Penguin, Poison Ivy, Riddler) and as the bodies pile up the pressure is on for Batman to stop this killer but he'll need help. Enter Robin.
This ain't exactly gripping stuff. If you're like me and have read a fair number of Batman you'll already know this storyline reeks of The Long Hallowe'en. The storyline is practically identical with the holiday killer (this time not the weird Falcone guy but he's in this story too) being renamed the hangman killer and the villains all escaping and Batman encountering them laboriously one by one. Also do we need to hear the same old Robin origin story?
This book is nearly 400 pages! 400 pages of rehashed material with nothing new at all. It's a chore to slog through even if you're new to Batman. Loeb can't seem to get out of 2nd gear while I'm beginning to see Sale as one of the worst Batman artists out there. Joker looks ridiculous, his smile isn't disturbing or grotesque it's stupid. It covers his entire face so that it's just a giant toothy smile with a tiny face above it. Bruce Wayne appears to be 7 feet tall. And what's with the tedious mafia characters? They're all boring stereotypes, eating spaghetti in restaurants thats a cover for smuggling operations! Come on. The press all have pieces of card with "PRESS" written on them and slotted into their hats.
This is really a miss. If you've read The Long Hallowe'en then you can count reading this too as it's completely the same. Only difference is Robin and if you know anything about Batman you'll know what happens there. Give this a miss, it's a dull, dull story and for a character as interesting as Batman that's criminal.
Here's the story: a killer is killing people by hanging them on holidays (Hallowe'en, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc) and leaving notes on their bodies with the hangman game on. Early on Arkham is attacked and the Batman's best loved villains escape (Joker, Two Face, Penguin, Poison Ivy, Riddler) and as the bodies pile up the pressure is on for Batman to stop this killer but he'll need help. Enter Robin.
This ain't exactly gripping stuff. If you're like me and have read a fair number of Batman you'll already know this storyline reeks of The Long Hallowe'en. The storyline is practically identical with the holiday killer (this time not the weird Falcone guy but he's in this story too) being renamed the hangman killer and the villains all escaping and Batman encountering them laboriously one by one. Also do we need to hear the same old Robin origin story?
This book is nearly 400 pages! 400 pages of rehashed material with nothing new at all. It's a chore to slog through even if you're new to Batman. Loeb can't seem to get out of 2nd gear while I'm beginning to see Sale as one of the worst Batman artists out there. Joker looks ridiculous, his smile isn't disturbing or grotesque it's stupid. It covers his entire face so that it's just a giant toothy smile with a tiny face above it. Bruce Wayne appears to be 7 feet tall. And what's with the tedious mafia characters? They're all boring stereotypes, eating spaghetti in restaurants thats a cover for smuggling operations! Come on. The press all have pieces of card with "PRESS" written on them and slotted into their hats.
This is really a miss. If you've read The Long Hallowe'en then you can count reading this too as it's completely the same. Only difference is Robin and if you know anything about Batman you'll know what happens there. Give this a miss, it's a dull, dull story and for a character as interesting as Batman that's criminal.
May 30, 2019
Rating: countless-god-damn-Batman-stars. I have so much love for this glorious volume and its prequel, Batman: The Long Halloween.
Batman: Dark Victory continues the story of The Long Halloween, it concludes .
Dark and gritty is the only way to go for Batman!!! The plot and the murder mystery is more neatly and more skillfully written than The Long Halloween (), the artwork and the air of the darkly attractive noir continues to be awesome. It literally is one of the best American comics I've ever read.
(Link: http://metro.co.uk/2016/03/23/batman-...)
Though I must admit as much as I like this volume, I still can see how the story borrowed so heavily from the Hollywood crime-noir e.g. The Godfather...*coughs* I mean *coughs* the horse head scene and all those crime families thingy. (they are actually called 'The Five Families' too in the comic)
See, even Joker's line is taken straight from the Hollywood noir movie Chinatown!
PS: I believe it was during the reading progress of this book, I'd exclaimed for the first time when I saw Batman had a freaking dinosaur in his cave!
Review: Batman: The Long Halloween (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
Review: Batman: A Death in the Family https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review: The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told Vol. 1 (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
Harvey. Grundy. Myself. Each of us lost pieces of our lives......and hid what was left in the dark, is this what I want for myself? A world that exists only in darkness?
Batman: Dark Victory continues the story of The Long Halloween, it concludes .
"I know there's something about me you want. I can tell. You go all rigid when I'm around."
"Let's do it. Right now. Take off the masks. No Secret."
"What is your relationship to the Falcone crime organization?"
"Happy Valentine's Day. Your Loss."
Dark and gritty is the only way to go for Batman!!! The plot and the murder mystery is more neatly and more skillfully written than The Long Halloween (), the artwork and the air of the darkly attractive noir continues to be awesome. It literally is one of the best American comics I've ever read.
(Link: http://metro.co.uk/2016/03/23/batman-...)
Though I must admit as much as I like this volume, I still can see how the story borrowed so heavily from the Hollywood crime-noir e.g. The Godfather...*coughs* I mean *coughs* the horse head scene and all those crime families thingy. (they are actually called 'The Five Families' too in the comic)
"She is my sister and my daughter!"
See, even Joker's line is taken straight from the Hollywood noir movie Chinatown!
PS: I believe it was during the reading progress of this book, I'd exclaimed for the first time when I saw Batman had a freaking dinosaur in his cave!
Review: Batman: The Long Halloween (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
Review: Batman: A Death in the Family https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review: The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told Vol. 1 (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
July 22, 2015
So, okay then. This is the sequel to The Long Halloween which I was not the biggest fan of to begin with. Still, on the enjoyment scale, this one was better. That was until I got to the last two issues. Ironically enough, while The Long Halloween had a rough start but a nonetheless merciful albeit incomplete resolution, Dark Victory managed to get a stronger and more concise beginning but a more frustrating and pointless ending. I don't understand this travesty. The Knightfall series is honestly more better written. Well, Loeb's stories should be fundamentally incomparable to Knightfall since the latter after all was written by multiple writers across different Bat-titles. The sole reason I compare them is becauase I was also quite lukewarm towards Knightfall but I would pick the omnibus series over either of Loeb's work any day.
I don't want to get into details about Dark Victory. Ultimately it's a Batman story that brought no joy or appreciation for me. I thought I could like any kind of Bat-story out there (I eventually did warm up to Greg Hurwitz in his writing for New 52 The Dark Knight run) but Jeph Loeb had officially made me question that reality. I can state from here on out that I don't enjoy the way he writes Batman. There were a few areas that have potentials, most notably for Dark Victory. The central murder mystery story had a better foundation; a series of cop kilings with the murderer pinning notes on the corpses depicting the child's game Hangman as secret messages. At least the victims were sympathetic people and not criminals who are a tad more irredeemable. But the holiday-themed murders were needlessly overplayed like the torture horror of the SAW franchise.
Next, both Batman and Commissioner Gordon show remorse and guilt over the loss of Harvey Dent. Batman spent most of the time blaming himself in his inner monologues about Dent's transformation to Two Face. This would have been acceptable except that I never really saw a friendship developed in the prequel among these three to make the drama and internal conflict believable enough for me to care about. And then there's the women. The female characterizations were easily appalling and cheap as far as stereotypes and pigeonholing goes. Every woman is given the roles among grieving spouses, easily manipulated girlfriends and whimsical seductresses--and with little to no clarification for motivation or pay-off to their arcs whatsoever.
I love Bruce and Selina's relationship in general but Loeb had accomplished the impossible feat: he made me hate them together. I couldn't stand their stupid dance of coquettish nonsense, especially so in Dark Victory. Aside from the badly drawn costume, Catwoman had a weak arc for both Loeb stories and therefore her usual morally ambiguous actions were not as promising or as riveting to see unfold. The only two women who are at least trying to break the mold were gangster Sofia Falcone and possible sociopath Gilda Dent who have interesting characterizations from the start but were sadly overlooked and underdeveloped midway through both stories.
I don't even want to acknowledge the wasteful space female District Attorney Porter took up for Dark Victory. What a pathetic and unbelievable character. And goddamn Dick Grayson who is featured in the Absolute Dark Victory cover prominently doesn't even have a major contribution to the storyline. All he did here was sulk and look morose. He isn't Jason Todd or Damian Wayne, dammit. Where's the sparkling personality I've always loved about the first Boy Wonder?
Overall--yeah, fuck it. I don't have any parting words. But I will rate this one star higher than fucking Long Halloween just because.
RECOMMENDED: 7/10
DO READ MY BATMAN COMICS REVIEWS AT:
I don't want to get into details about Dark Victory. Ultimately it's a Batman story that brought no joy or appreciation for me. I thought I could like any kind of Bat-story out there (I eventually did warm up to Greg Hurwitz in his writing for New 52 The Dark Knight run) but Jeph Loeb had officially made me question that reality. I can state from here on out that I don't enjoy the way he writes Batman. There were a few areas that have potentials, most notably for Dark Victory. The central murder mystery story had a better foundation; a series of cop kilings with the murderer pinning notes on the corpses depicting the child's game Hangman as secret messages. At least the victims were sympathetic people and not criminals who are a tad more irredeemable. But the holiday-themed murders were needlessly overplayed like the torture horror of the SAW franchise.
Next, both Batman and Commissioner Gordon show remorse and guilt over the loss of Harvey Dent. Batman spent most of the time blaming himself in his inner monologues about Dent's transformation to Two Face. This would have been acceptable except that I never really saw a friendship developed in the prequel among these three to make the drama and internal conflict believable enough for me to care about. And then there's the women. The female characterizations were easily appalling and cheap as far as stereotypes and pigeonholing goes. Every woman is given the roles among grieving spouses, easily manipulated girlfriends and whimsical seductresses--and with little to no clarification for motivation or pay-off to their arcs whatsoever.
I love Bruce and Selina's relationship in general but Loeb had accomplished the impossible feat: he made me hate them together. I couldn't stand their stupid dance of coquettish nonsense, especially so in Dark Victory. Aside from the badly drawn costume, Catwoman had a weak arc for both Loeb stories and therefore her usual morally ambiguous actions were not as promising or as riveting to see unfold. The only two women who are at least trying to break the mold were gangster Sofia Falcone and possible sociopath Gilda Dent who have interesting characterizations from the start but were sadly overlooked and underdeveloped midway through both stories.
I don't even want to acknowledge the wasteful space female District Attorney Porter took up for Dark Victory. What a pathetic and unbelievable character. And goddamn Dick Grayson who is featured in the Absolute Dark Victory cover prominently doesn't even have a major contribution to the storyline. All he did here was sulk and look morose. He isn't Jason Todd or Damian Wayne, dammit. Where's the sparkling personality I've always loved about the first Boy Wonder?
Overall--yeah, fuck it. I don't have any parting words. But I will rate this one star higher than fucking Long Halloween just because.
RECOMMENDED: 7/10
DO READ MY BATMAN COMICS REVIEWS AT:
August 15, 2017
New 52 Batman and Re-birth batman fans take note: HERE IS HOW BATMAN SHOULD BE DONE! All Clear? Good.
Dark Victory is the superb sequel to the excellent The Long Halloween. Brilliantly written by Jeph Loeb and artfully drawn by Tim Sale these two books were used, along with Frank Miller's DKR, to set the tone for Christopher Nolan's movies.
Dark Victory takes up with Harvey Dent becoming Two-Face. There is a gang war going on in Gotham. This is during Batman's earlier years. You can see, as the story progresses, the "normal" criminal element of Gotham being phased out by the "freaks". There is so much to love here for any Batman fan. The best part is we see Batman as the Detective he is-something that sometimes gets left behind in recent tellings.
This is a murder-mystery. The cast of villains is large and, I have to admit, didn't realize who the true killer was until the big reveal. Impressive. This Batman is brooding and dark. We rarely see Bruce Wayne, and then only for his interactions with Selina Kyle, because this is a Batman story. It is also a story of how Dick Grayson became Robin. I won't spoil any of the excellent plot so all I can say is- IMHO this, along with Long Halloween, is one of the finest Batman stories around. Period. Read it. Enjoy it. It is a true work of comic book art!
Dark Victory is the superb sequel to the excellent The Long Halloween. Brilliantly written by Jeph Loeb and artfully drawn by Tim Sale these two books were used, along with Frank Miller's DKR, to set the tone for Christopher Nolan's movies.
Dark Victory takes up with Harvey Dent becoming Two-Face. There is a gang war going on in Gotham. This is during Batman's earlier years. You can see, as the story progresses, the "normal" criminal element of Gotham being phased out by the "freaks". There is so much to love here for any Batman fan. The best part is we see Batman as the Detective he is-something that sometimes gets left behind in recent tellings.
This is a murder-mystery. The cast of villains is large and, I have to admit, didn't realize who the true killer was until the big reveal. Impressive. This Batman is brooding and dark. We rarely see Bruce Wayne, and then only for his interactions with Selina Kyle, because this is a Batman story. It is also a story of how Dick Grayson became Robin. I won't spoil any of the excellent plot so all I can say is- IMHO this, along with Long Halloween, is one of the finest Batman stories around. Period. Read it. Enjoy it. It is a true work of comic book art!
December 1, 2022
Dark Victory is a brilliant follow up to The Long Halloween, the story follows the same formula of the last one and might feel a bit repetitive, but it grows stronger with the inclusion of Robin towards the end. These two books are probably the most quintessential Batman stories ever told, essential read for all DC fans, and a good pick for readers who are not fully into the genre but might be curious about the character, this will tell you all you need to know about the Dark Knight in the most adult fashion, highly recommended.
September 27, 2017
FINAL RATING: 4.5 STARS
Dark Victory lived up to my expectations. I loved The Long Halloween, but I actually liked this a bit more. While I think this is an amazing follow up from The Long Halloween, some of my questions from the first one still remained unanswered, while some were finally put to a close. The conflict. The deceit. The twists. The turns. The action. I loved all of them.
Full review to follow.
Dark Victory lived up to my expectations. I loved The Long Halloween, but I actually liked this a bit more. While I think this is an amazing follow up from The Long Halloween, some of my questions from the first one still remained unanswered, while some were finally put to a close. The conflict. The deceit. The twists. The turns. The action. I loved all of them.
Full review to follow.
November 22, 2021
How was it I didn't know about this stunning follow up to The Long Halloween until I stumbled upon it on Hoopla? All these nerdy years on me and I'm still such a noob at times...
More to come...
(22 Nov 2021: I guess there wasn't more to come...I do remember loving it, though!)
More to come...
(22 Nov 2021: I guess there wasn't more to come...I do remember loving it, though!)
October 7, 2021
This was a great sequel to The Long Halloween, I wasn’t sure if it was going to reach the same highs of the last book but it definitely did for me!
So this is a similar concept to the last book where there is a mysterious murderer but this time is hanging police on holidays and Batman is trying to solve what is going on.
For me, the mystery to the story was ok and I enjoyed it enough but the main part of this book I liked was just the developments of all of the characters and the city. It was great to see the origin of Robin and also the city get taken over by the supervillains. The art was still great in this book and it made for a good reading experience.
Overall this is a great Batman book that I enjoyed reading, I think The Long Halloween had a better mystery to it but this story was a lot more than just the killings.
So this is a similar concept to the last book where there is a mysterious murderer but this time is hanging police on holidays and Batman is trying to solve what is going on.
For me, the mystery to the story was ok and I enjoyed it enough but the main part of this book I liked was just the developments of all of the characters and the city. It was great to see the origin of Robin and also the city get taken over by the supervillains. The art was still great in this book and it made for a good reading experience.
Overall this is a great Batman book that I enjoyed reading, I think The Long Halloween had a better mystery to it but this story was a lot more than just the killings.
October 13, 2019
This one was good but it wasn't great. I tend to not like a lot of Batman comics with Robin included. That's just my personal preference. This comic series does however have an all-star cast including Catwoman, Two-Face and the infamous Joker. All around it was okay and I would still recommend it. The artwork is great!
September 24, 2018
What a Batman book!!! Maybe its the mood I'm in today but I loved it all! The story was outstanding. The art I, surprisingly, loved. Just great!
April 4, 2022
نسخة عصير الكتب المترجمة
استكمال للجزء الاول الهالوين الطويل ونفس الأجواء والحرب بين العصابات مع ظهور اغلب الشخصيات المعروفة مثل الجوكر وتوفيس وكاتومن
وتنتهي القصة بحل اللغز مثل الجزء الاول وبداية ظهور روبن ديك جريسون وتعاونة مع باتمان
استكمال للجزء الاول الهالوين الطويل ونفس الأجواء والحرب بين العصابات مع ظهور اغلب الشخصيات المعروفة مثل الجوكر وتوفيس وكاتومن
وتنتهي القصة بحل اللغز مثل الجزء الاول وبداية ظهور روبن ديك جريسون وتعاونة مع باتمان
August 6, 2011
Let's face it, a majority of Batman readers hate Robin. Why? No clue. I always thought he was a nice contrast to Batman's loner characteristics. A lot of people mention that Robin doesn't fit a Batman story, and that's because Robin "is nothing like Batman because Batman has always fought alone". Well, I would love to agree with those people, but I would be a liar if I did.
First of all, about Robin, this graphic novel does explain Robin's origin. Dick Grayson (the first Robin) loses his parents in an accident similar to Bruce Wayne's parents, and Bruce decides to take him in because he feels sorry for him. However, Dick wants justice, and in time Batman reveals himself as Bruce Wayne to the young Dick Grayson. Bruce trains Dick, blah blah blah...You get the dynamic duo. I just wanted to point out that Batman and Robin may not have similar personalities, but they share similar traumas.
Now, the book is often referred to as "the origin of Robin". That is a pretty far off description as Dick Grayson doesn't appear until the second half of the book, and only helps Batman a little during the end. This story is actually a sequel to Batman: The Long Halloween, and continues the story of the Holiday killer and Falcone mafia family, as well as Harvey Dent and his rough new life as Two Face. The plot is almost identical to the one in Long Halloween: There is a killer known as the "Hang Man", and he/she is killing cops and leaving hang man (the game) clues on each of the bodies. Just like Long Halloween, Jeph Loeb does a great writing job to make you suspect everyone in the story as well as some dead characters. Is it Harvey Dent (now Two Face), a Falcone, the new District Attorney, or someone else? You will have to read to find out.
Overall, the book kept me reading. The mystery gets you guessing at who the real killer is, and has a nice reveal at the end. The 4 star rating is because the plot was strikingly similar to the one in Long Halloween, but there were differences to make them two completely different stories. The art, by Tim Sale, is amazing because...It's Tim Sale. Also, if you are a fan of Batman villains, there are over seven present in the story, so there is a nice variety of Batman fights going down.
I highly recommend this to Batman lovers and graphic-novel-readers- alike. However, do yourself a favor and read the amazing Batman: The Long Halloween. It will help you understand the story better and it is a great read.
First of all, about Robin, this graphic novel does explain Robin's origin. Dick Grayson (the first Robin) loses his parents in an accident similar to Bruce Wayne's parents, and Bruce decides to take him in because he feels sorry for him. However, Dick wants justice, and in time Batman reveals himself as Bruce Wayne to the young Dick Grayson. Bruce trains Dick, blah blah blah...You get the dynamic duo. I just wanted to point out that Batman and Robin may not have similar personalities, but they share similar traumas.
Now, the book is often referred to as "the origin of Robin". That is a pretty far off description as Dick Grayson doesn't appear until the second half of the book, and only helps Batman a little during the end. This story is actually a sequel to Batman: The Long Halloween, and continues the story of the Holiday killer and Falcone mafia family, as well as Harvey Dent and his rough new life as Two Face. The plot is almost identical to the one in Long Halloween: There is a killer known as the "Hang Man", and he/she is killing cops and leaving hang man (the game) clues on each of the bodies. Just like Long Halloween, Jeph Loeb does a great writing job to make you suspect everyone in the story as well as some dead characters. Is it Harvey Dent (now Two Face), a Falcone, the new District Attorney, or someone else? You will have to read to find out.
Overall, the book kept me reading. The mystery gets you guessing at who the real killer is, and has a nice reveal at the end. The 4 star rating is because the plot was strikingly similar to the one in Long Halloween, but there were differences to make them two completely different stories. The art, by Tim Sale, is amazing because...It's Tim Sale. Also, if you are a fan of Batman villains, there are over seven present in the story, so there is a nice variety of Batman fights going down.
I highly recommend this to Batman lovers and graphic-novel-readers- alike. However, do yourself a favor and read the amazing Batman: The Long Halloween. It will help you understand the story better and it is a great read.
April 23, 2023
One of the best and most immersive mysteries that, not just Batman, but the written and visual medium in general, has to offer. Not only does it keep readers on their toes throughout, but Loeb also gives the audience a chance at being Batman themselves, adding in little clues along the way. At times, it feels very far from being a superhero story, embracing the crime element to its fullest as well as exploring several other themes. This works in its favour as its the inclusion of multiple genres that makes this story feel so alive and captivating. Even the side plots and cameos feel relevant, adding wonderfully to the world-building even if their overall significance to this story is minimal. Truly one of a kind, Loeb and Sale have curated possibly one of the best renditions of Batman, especially for those who are fans of the detective-crime genre.
May 31, 2020
Great Batman material. The Dynamic Duo!
July 13, 2021
This is a good continuation (maybe not great) of "The Long Halloween." I am so impressed with Tim Sale's artwork, which pleasantly reminds me of the Animated Series mixed with Christopher Nolan intensity, leaning toward a mostly realistic stylization (Joker aside, not in love with that depiction), although occasionally Batman was as large as Solomon Grundy who is like ten feet tall. I like the dialog overall, although as some reviewers have pointed out it does seem to borrow heavily from mafia film stereotypes for the Italian characters (and story for the first book a la Godfather), which is a little tiresome, but that's kind of how stereotypes work. Clearly Jeph Loeb either can't write original mafia characters, doesn't care, or it's just easier to steal them. But it didn't really bother me all that much, those characters were flat and supportive anyway, so what do you expect? I think the rest of the dialog is well written.
The greater question of course is the story and how it measures up. Like "Long Halloween" I was a little overwhelmed with the giant cast of characters, possible suspects, and many plots and subplots. I was also surprised/disappointed that the story revolved around another serial killer who kills on holidays. But wait, not that Holiday. Because Alberto Falcone is locked up and Harvey Dent is living in the sewers (but neither of these alibis really clears either of them, does it?). So another Holiday? Yes, the cleverly named Hang Man, but instead of mafia figures it's cops that are being targeted. Not sure how I feel about this...the mystery kept me reading to find out, but the story being centered on a holiday serial killer just felt exactly like the first book. Then there's the issue, like in the first book, of Hang Man's real identity. There's also the issue of Sofia's condition, bald, scarred, wheelchair-bound, which I can't remember how that happened...police probably, and Catwoman was involved. But didn't Alberto also kill some of those people? Who killed who exactly? I don't think we ever find out, so the logic/premise for Sofia killing all these cops is a bit blurry. And who is she anyway, that she can overpower all of these highly trained police officers? Yeah she's "gigantic," but come on, she's a thug at best.
I guess I have trouble knowing who this story is actually about. James Gordon and Batman would be my guess, because that's usually how it works, but the plot doesn't revolve around them. Don't even ask me who's the protagonist and antagonist. No one seems to change except District Attorney Porter, a minor character, and maybe, maybe Batman because he takes in Robin, but that could easily be refuted (he feels obligated, or Alfred is actually taking care of him). Would that make Dent the antagonist? Who knows. An entertaining read, great art, but like most hero stories the premise is a bit implausible and repeats itself from book one, and the writing could stand "some" improvement. But still a thousand times better than any Frank Miller Batman.
The greater question of course is the story and how it measures up. Like "Long Halloween" I was a little overwhelmed with the giant cast of characters, possible suspects, and many plots and subplots. I was also surprised/disappointed that the story revolved around another serial killer who kills on holidays. But wait, not that Holiday. Because Alberto Falcone is locked up and Harvey Dent is living in the sewers (but neither of these alibis really clears either of them, does it?). So another Holiday? Yes, the cleverly named Hang Man, but instead of mafia figures it's cops that are being targeted. Not sure how I feel about this...the mystery kept me reading to find out, but the story being centered on a holiday serial killer just felt exactly like the first book. Then there's the issue, like in the first book, of Hang Man's real identity. There's also the issue of Sofia's condition, bald, scarred, wheelchair-bound, which I can't remember how that happened...police probably, and Catwoman was involved. But didn't Alberto also kill some of those people? Who killed who exactly? I don't think we ever find out, so the logic/premise for Sofia killing all these cops is a bit blurry. And who is she anyway, that she can overpower all of these highly trained police officers? Yeah she's "gigantic," but come on, she's a thug at best.
I guess I have trouble knowing who this story is actually about. James Gordon and Batman would be my guess, because that's usually how it works, but the plot doesn't revolve around them. Don't even ask me who's the protagonist and antagonist. No one seems to change except District Attorney Porter, a minor character, and maybe, maybe Batman because he takes in Robin, but that could easily be refuted (he feels obligated, or Alfred is actually taking care of him). Would that make Dent the antagonist? Who knows. An entertaining read, great art, but like most hero stories the premise is a bit implausible and repeats itself from book one, and the writing could stand "some" improvement. But still a thousand times better than any Frank Miller Batman.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2010
I don't have a lot to say about this book. It's a sequel to The Long Halloween, and the connection shows. Ultimately, DARK VICTORY suffers from its similarity to its predecessor. Aside from the details of who gets murdered, the stories are nearly identical:
An unknown villain kills his victims on holidays.
Harvey Dent/Two-Face is suspected in the crimes.
Batman tumbles with all of his rogues gallery while investigating the murders.
The killer is (disappointingly) revealed to be a character you never suspected.
The problem with DARK VICTORY is that its far too dependent on The Long Halloween. If you haven't read the first story, a lot of DARK VICTORY will be lost on you. And if you have read the first story, why would you want to read the same story all over again? I also take issue with these stories being marketed as "murder mysteries." This is not Sherlock Holmes or Agatha Christie. There are no clues left along the way that would allow the reader (or Batman, for that matter) to discern the identity of the killer. No one actually even discovers the killer's identity--it's just revealed near the end of the book.
One high point in the story is the introduction of Robin, and the developing relationship between Dick and Bruce. Loeb does a good job using their shared history of loss to bond them together.
The best part of this book is Tim Sale's art. His figures are so angular and colorful. The pages are a delight to look at, especially the ones featuring Batman's rogues gallery. I love his jawsy depiction of the Joker above all others.
Overall, it's not a bad book--I just don't see the point of it. The Long Halloween was a decent story, but DARK VICTORY tries to duplicate its success without adding anything new to the mix. Makes a decent library read, but I wouldn't shell out money for this one.
An unknown villain kills his victims on holidays.
Harvey Dent/Two-Face is suspected in the crimes.
Batman tumbles with all of his rogues gallery while investigating the murders.
The killer is (disappointingly) revealed to be a character you never suspected.
The problem with DARK VICTORY is that its far too dependent on The Long Halloween. If you haven't read the first story, a lot of DARK VICTORY will be lost on you. And if you have read the first story, why would you want to read the same story all over again? I also take issue with these stories being marketed as "murder mysteries." This is not Sherlock Holmes or Agatha Christie. There are no clues left along the way that would allow the reader (or Batman, for that matter) to discern the identity of the killer. No one actually even discovers the killer's identity--it's just revealed near the end of the book.
One high point in the story is the introduction of Robin, and the developing relationship between Dick and Bruce. Loeb does a good job using their shared history of loss to bond them together.
The best part of this book is Tim Sale's art. His figures are so angular and colorful. The pages are a delight to look at, especially the ones featuring Batman's rogues gallery. I love his jawsy depiction of the Joker above all others.
Overall, it's not a bad book--I just don't see the point of it. The Long Halloween was a decent story, but DARK VICTORY tries to duplicate its success without adding anything new to the mix. Makes a decent library read, but I wouldn't shell out money for this one.
December 4, 2022
This is an awesome sequel. In fact I enjoyed this book even more than the Long Halloween. This is so much more than an aftermath story.
The scars from the Long Halloween are still there. Batman in his grief has withdrawn even further within himself. The newly promoted Commissioner Gordon's personal life is non-existent, and not he has to deal with a city at war between the masks/freaks and the underworld, on top of all that the new district attorney has her own plans and agenda.
Great story. All thirteen issues of the Dark Victory story. The artwork is a perfect complement to the story. This is an all or nothing war for the soul of Gotham.
The scars from the Long Halloween are still there. Batman in his grief has withdrawn even further within himself. The newly promoted Commissioner Gordon's personal life is non-existent, and not he has to deal with a city at war between the masks/freaks and the underworld, on top of all that the new district attorney has her own plans and agenda.
Great story. All thirteen issues of the Dark Victory story. The artwork is a perfect complement to the story. This is an all or nothing war for the soul of Gotham.
June 29, 2023
Dark Victory is the successor to the classic Batman Tale, The Long Halloween. This book continues the formula set by its predecessor, with just the right amount of mystery and suspense, to make it a worthy sequel.
The book introduces Robin to the Post-Crisis DC Universe. It was great to the parallels between Dick Grayson's and Bruce Wayne's life.
The art of Tim Sale is great as usual. Some of the splash pages are just beautiful to look at. But I'm not very fond of some of his character designs, especially Joker.
The book introduces Robin to the Post-Crisis DC Universe. It was great to the parallels between Dick Grayson's and Bruce Wayne's life.
The art of Tim Sale is great as usual. Some of the splash pages are just beautiful to look at. But I'm not very fond of some of his character designs, especially Joker.
May 31, 2018
As dark and well-written as this story is, I still couldn't get into it too much. Several of Batman's enemies are featured, but mostly as a side note. The real focus is on the puzzle behind the Hangman murders which their author hides pretty well until, somehow, it's brought into the light in the very last chapter. Quite unceremoniously if you ask me. This story, even though it also covers Grayson joining Batman as Robin, didn't thrill me as much as I expected. It felt bland and old, but perhaps that was the goal.
Janice Porter is the new district attorney after Harvey Dent went mad and became Two-Face. The Falcone crime family assault Arkham Asylum and free many of the inmates in their goal to get at Harvey. Batman recaptures some of the inmates, but Harvey disappears. At the same time a string of gruesome murders starts, all targeting policemen. Each victim is hanged and carries a note with a children's game, the Hangman, with cryptic messages written in blood.
Janice Porter is the new district attorney after Harvey Dent went mad and became Two-Face. The Falcone crime family assault Arkham Asylum and free many of the inmates in their goal to get at Harvey. Batman recaptures some of the inmates, but Harvey disappears. At the same time a string of gruesome murders starts, all targeting policemen. Each victim is hanged and carries a note with a children's game, the Hangman, with cryptic messages written in blood.
January 28, 2022
An outstanding sequel to one of the most outstanding Batman stories. In "Batman: The Long Halloween" we've seen the second year of Batman's career (The first year was Frank Miller's "Batman: Year One"). And in "Batman: Dark Victory" we see the third year. With another mysterious serial killer who kills only cops. So who is the "Hang Man"? And what does this have to do with Harvey Dent? And how did Batman meet Robin? And who will rule Gotham City? The gangsters or "the freaks"? The answers will be revealed only when the time comes to witness the "dark victory".
Ahmad Eddeeb
October 2012
والآن بعد عشر سنين تقريبًا من قراءتي الأولى، تصدر (باتمان: نصر مظلم)؛ الحلقة الثالثة والأخيرة مما أسميه "ثلاثية تأسيس باتمان": العام واحد والهالوين الطويل ونصر مظلم. أفضل بداية ممكنة لمن يريد تجربة قراءة باتمان، وقراءة الكوميكس بشكل عام. لا أرجو الآن سوى أن أكون قد وُفِّقتُ في إخراج هذه الثلاثية بأفضل ترجمة ممكنة.
أحمد الديب
يناير 2022
Ahmad Eddeeb
October 2012
والآن بعد عشر سنين تقريبًا من قراءتي الأولى، تصدر (باتمان: نصر مظلم)؛ الحلقة الثالثة والأخيرة مما أسميه "ثلاثية تأسيس باتمان": العام واحد والهالوين الطويل ونصر مظلم. أفضل بداية ممكنة لمن يريد تجربة قراءة باتمان، وقراءة الكوميكس بشكل عام. لا أرجو الآن سوى أن أكون قد وُفِّقتُ في إخراج هذه الثلاثية بأفضل ترجمة ممكنة.
أحمد الديب
يناير 2022
June 2, 2013
Dark Victory is the sequel to Batman: The Long Halloween. The Long Halloween tells the tragic story of Harvey Dent (aka “Two Face”) and his fall from grace. Dark Victory follows this up by continuing the stories of Harvey, the Falcone crime family, and the Bat himself in the aftermath of Harvey’s imprisonment.
The book follows the exact same format as its predecessor, and somewhat surprisingly uses the exact same theme to tie the episodes together. Each issue takes place on a different holiday, and each holiday a victim is murdered by an anonymous serial killer. Batman & Gordon struggle to crack the case, which has no lack of suspects since Arkham Asylum has suffered a major security breach and most of Batman’s famous foes are on the loose.
I thought The Long Halloween was a real classic, and its sequel does a number of things well. Dark Victory is most famous for telling how Batman & Robin got together, but it doesn’t beat this story into the ground. Instead, it manages to tie the Dark Knight’s acceptance of Robin as a partner into the events of The Long Halloween and Bruce’s own sense of loneliness. I am one of those readers who finds Robin mostly annoying, but I thought that his character fit nicely into this story and actually added to my enjoyment of the tale.
The story is interesting, and like The Long Halloween features the full panoply of Batman rogues. Loeb & Sale do a good job of making this more than standard beat-‘em-up fare (always dull) and creating a memorable story with recurring themes that fit nicely into the narrative. I have always really liked Tim Sale’s artwork, and this book is no different. With the exception of the way he draws the Joker (which is a little too “out there”), I love how he interprets everything in the Batman universe, and the art in this book is a dark joy to behold.
The one nitpick I have is the similarity to the plot of The Long Halloween. I love the recurring characters and the extension of some of The Long Halloween’s storylines. But building the story around another holiday killer made the story feel a bit too much like a re-hash of The Long Halloween, particularly in the first half before the plot begins to separate itself. But that’s a minor complaint, and overall I thought this was a very strong story with outstanding artwork that will satisfy the vast majority of Bat-fans out there. 4 stars, highly recommended!
The book follows the exact same format as its predecessor, and somewhat surprisingly uses the exact same theme to tie the episodes together. Each issue takes place on a different holiday, and each holiday a victim is murdered by an anonymous serial killer. Batman & Gordon struggle to crack the case, which has no lack of suspects since Arkham Asylum has suffered a major security breach and most of Batman’s famous foes are on the loose.
I thought The Long Halloween was a real classic, and its sequel does a number of things well. Dark Victory is most famous for telling how Batman & Robin got together, but it doesn’t beat this story into the ground. Instead, it manages to tie the Dark Knight’s acceptance of Robin as a partner into the events of The Long Halloween and Bruce’s own sense of loneliness. I am one of those readers who finds Robin mostly annoying, but I thought that his character fit nicely into this story and actually added to my enjoyment of the tale.
The story is interesting, and like The Long Halloween features the full panoply of Batman rogues. Loeb & Sale do a good job of making this more than standard beat-‘em-up fare (always dull) and creating a memorable story with recurring themes that fit nicely into the narrative. I have always really liked Tim Sale’s artwork, and this book is no different. With the exception of the way he draws the Joker (which is a little too “out there”), I love how he interprets everything in the Batman universe, and the art in this book is a dark joy to behold.
The one nitpick I have is the similarity to the plot of The Long Halloween. I love the recurring characters and the extension of some of The Long Halloween’s storylines. But building the story around another holiday killer made the story feel a bit too much like a re-hash of The Long Halloween, particularly in the first half before the plot begins to separate itself. But that’s a minor complaint, and overall I thought this was a very strong story with outstanding artwork that will satisfy the vast majority of Bat-fans out there. 4 stars, highly recommended!
November 1, 2021
Loved this! Top notch. And if I may so bold...If you say that The Long Halloween is the Godfather of comics, then this falls somewhere between Empire and The Godfather II for a sequel.
August 15, 2017
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
Another big piece of Batman history by writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale. But this time, we get to welcome with big open arms to the best – this might be debatable, but not with me – Boy Wonder. As if the cover art doesn’t already show you who we’re talking about here, Dark Victory introduces Mr. Dick Grayson into the Batman universe. This trade paperback collects all 14 issues published back in 1999 and 2000 and follows the events of The Long Halloween. The story focuses on a killer that prowls the city of Gotham and brings Death to Gotham City police officers. Behind every corpse, a hangman riddle is left revealing a hint – impossible to decipher as a reader, might I add. The killer goes by the name of the Hangman and seeks to fulfill a purpose that no one can pinpoint, except one fellow. Characters such Harvey Dent, Catwoman, the Joker, the Falcone family members and plenty more make more appearances in Dark Victory, only to make Batman and Gordon’s life a lot harder.
The story isn’t bad, alas, but it’s also something we’ve seen before. Especially, if you’ve read The Long Halloween. It would’ve been a lot more pleasant to have seen a different kind of plot line to close out the story of a lot of important characters that Frank Miller introduced in Batman: Year One. In Dark Victory, after a breakout in Arkham Asylum, home to the most insane killers, Harvey Dent along with other key characters are freed and Gotham citizens worst nightmare just became reality. Things hit rock bottom when more murders happen on holidays only to allude Batman and friends that the Holiday killer is back. As the number of suspects increases, the original Holiday killer, the Calendar Man and Harvey Dent become prime suspects in this hunt for a killer.
Exploring more of some important characters, Dark Victory shows more depth into Bruce Wayne’s issue of wearing a cape at night and a billionaire by day. His incapability to retain a normal relationship, in this case our favorite cat burglar, Selena Kyle, solely shows this struggle. This was really well portrayed by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale and gave a nice side-story to Batman’s nocturnal activities. As we might have figured, Bruce’s need to serve justice is always put ahead of his own life. In his case, happiness cannot be achieved through normality and peace. Happiness resides in Gotham’s health. Infected by criminals, Batman will always struggle to rid his city of crimes before he would ever know anything remotely Zen. In his lonesome fight for justice, Gordon and Alfred remain his only friends, but then again, he never seeks to put them in harm’s way. Dark Victory, however, introduces readers to a new character that will forever mark Batman’s adventures and seek their unity through a common denominator: solitude. If you ask me, Robin’s part of the storyline was probably the better bit of this tale. I absolutely love how the writer managed to depict the character and show the similarities between our favorite protagonist and Robin. Their tragic past brought them together only to make a duo that no man could ever forget.
Of all three projects by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, I felt like Dark Victory mastered the artwork that was initially used in The Long Halloween. The colors were on point, the crispier and scarier portrayal of characters was awesome and the blood was splashier than ever. The panels with death scenes were epic and everything related to death itself were shocking and well displayed. Batman continues to reign fear and is drawn with even more darkness. Robin’s portrayal on the other hand was rather original. He had the same tone of darkness and loneliness as Batman and wasn’t shown as some happy and jolly red, yellow and green side-kick. What the Boy Wonder brings into the story and Batman’s life shows reader a little ray of light for the Dark Knight. Additional purpose and meaning is given to Batman’s life and helping Robin avoid a dark and gloomy world of darkness brings a little joy into the caped crusaders life.
If you think this could be overlooked, you’re wrong. Dark Victory remains a story arc that all Batman fan should acquaint with. You cannot skip over this one, since you’ll be missing out on a big part of Batman’s legacy. I mean, come on, don’t you want to know how Robin became Robin? Don’t you want to know who the Hangman is? Don’t you want to see the first love sparks between Selena Kyle and Bruce Wayne? Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale delivers a compelling murder mystery tale with brilliant artwork to keep you entertained and shrieking at the sight of ugly, ugly, very ugly Penguin and Joker. Although the story depends heavily on what happened in The Long Halloween and continues on the same kind of format, when it comes to plot, as the Long Halloween, Dark Victory is a story worth your time, a comic that’s just indispensable. If you want to start reading Robin: Year One or Catwoman: When in Rome, you don’t have a choice but to pass by this route.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
Another big piece of Batman history by writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale. But this time, we get to welcome with big open arms to the best – this might be debatable, but not with me – Boy Wonder. As if the cover art doesn’t already show you who we’re talking about here, Dark Victory introduces Mr. Dick Grayson into the Batman universe. This trade paperback collects all 14 issues published back in 1999 and 2000 and follows the events of The Long Halloween. The story focuses on a killer that prowls the city of Gotham and brings Death to Gotham City police officers. Behind every corpse, a hangman riddle is left revealing a hint – impossible to decipher as a reader, might I add. The killer goes by the name of the Hangman and seeks to fulfill a purpose that no one can pinpoint, except one fellow. Characters such Harvey Dent, Catwoman, the Joker, the Falcone family members and plenty more make more appearances in Dark Victory, only to make Batman and Gordon’s life a lot harder.
The story isn’t bad, alas, but it’s also something we’ve seen before. Especially, if you’ve read The Long Halloween. It would’ve been a lot more pleasant to have seen a different kind of plot line to close out the story of a lot of important characters that Frank Miller introduced in Batman: Year One. In Dark Victory, after a breakout in Arkham Asylum, home to the most insane killers, Harvey Dent along with other key characters are freed and Gotham citizens worst nightmare just became reality. Things hit rock bottom when more murders happen on holidays only to allude Batman and friends that the Holiday killer is back. As the number of suspects increases, the original Holiday killer, the Calendar Man and Harvey Dent become prime suspects in this hunt for a killer.
Exploring more of some important characters, Dark Victory shows more depth into Bruce Wayne’s issue of wearing a cape at night and a billionaire by day. His incapability to retain a normal relationship, in this case our favorite cat burglar, Selena Kyle, solely shows this struggle. This was really well portrayed by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale and gave a nice side-story to Batman’s nocturnal activities. As we might have figured, Bruce’s need to serve justice is always put ahead of his own life. In his case, happiness cannot be achieved through normality and peace. Happiness resides in Gotham’s health. Infected by criminals, Batman will always struggle to rid his city of crimes before he would ever know anything remotely Zen. In his lonesome fight for justice, Gordon and Alfred remain his only friends, but then again, he never seeks to put them in harm’s way. Dark Victory, however, introduces readers to a new character that will forever mark Batman’s adventures and seek their unity through a common denominator: solitude. If you ask me, Robin’s part of the storyline was probably the better bit of this tale. I absolutely love how the writer managed to depict the character and show the similarities between our favorite protagonist and Robin. Their tragic past brought them together only to make a duo that no man could ever forget.
Of all three projects by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, I felt like Dark Victory mastered the artwork that was initially used in The Long Halloween. The colors were on point, the crispier and scarier portrayal of characters was awesome and the blood was splashier than ever. The panels with death scenes were epic and everything related to death itself were shocking and well displayed. Batman continues to reign fear and is drawn with even more darkness. Robin’s portrayal on the other hand was rather original. He had the same tone of darkness and loneliness as Batman and wasn’t shown as some happy and jolly red, yellow and green side-kick. What the Boy Wonder brings into the story and Batman’s life shows reader a little ray of light for the Dark Knight. Additional purpose and meaning is given to Batman’s life and helping Robin avoid a dark and gloomy world of darkness brings a little joy into the caped crusaders life.
If you think this could be overlooked, you’re wrong. Dark Victory remains a story arc that all Batman fan should acquaint with. You cannot skip over this one, since you’ll be missing out on a big part of Batman’s legacy. I mean, come on, don’t you want to know how Robin became Robin? Don’t you want to know who the Hangman is? Don’t you want to see the first love sparks between Selena Kyle and Bruce Wayne? Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale delivers a compelling murder mystery tale with brilliant artwork to keep you entertained and shrieking at the sight of ugly, ugly, very ugly Penguin and Joker. Although the story depends heavily on what happened in The Long Halloween and continues on the same kind of format, when it comes to plot, as the Long Halloween, Dark Victory is a story worth your time, a comic that’s just indispensable. If you want to start reading Robin: Year One or Catwoman: When in Rome, you don’t have a choice but to pass by this route.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
February 28, 2016
Batman: Dark Victory: An excellent follow-up to Long Halloween
Originally posted at Fantasy Literature
Batman: Dark Victory (2000) takes place immediately after Batman: The Long Halloween (1997). In the aftermath of the Holiday Killer, Gotham’s Falcone and Maroni crime families are in chaos. Dark Victory is steeped in the same dark crime noir atmosphere as Long Halloween , so if you liked the first title you will like this one too. It’s all about mysterious killings, Mafia wars, the rise of the arch-villians, and the legacy of the past that weighs heavily on Batman and his friends and enemies. Everyone is struggling with a difficult past, and circumstances never allow them reprieve, so the story has the weight of inevitable tragedy. It’s not surprising that Christopher Nolan and David Goyer took direct inspiration from these two books when they created the moody and grim THE DARK KNIGHT film trilogy.
Since the events of Long Halloween , Alberto Falcone is interred in Arkham Asylum, Sofia Falcone Gigante is confined to a wheelchair with a metal head brace, and Maroni’s sons Umberto and Pino have tried to take up the reins, but freaks like The Joker, The Riddler, Poison Ivy, and Two-Face have risen in power. The balance has shifted in their favor, but the Mafia will not cede control of the city so easily.
Batman and Jim Gordon are still shaken by the transformation of DA Harvey Dent into the mercurial villain Two Face, and mourn the fact that they could not prevent it. Selina Kyle continues to show interest in the taciturn Bruce Wayne, but he is generally unresponsive. A new DA named Janice Porter comes in to replace Harvey Dent, and her first initiative is to reopen the case of Alberto Falcone, claiming he is not responsible for all the Holiday murders.
Into this brave new world a new killer emerges: The Hangman. He targets cops and former cops, both upstanding or corrupt. They are left hanging in public with cryptic hangman clues pinned to their clothes. Clues point to a connection with Harvey Dent, so Batman and Jim Gordon go hunting for him.
Dark Victory is a very dense and tangled narrative. It takes us on a tour of the sewers of Gotham, the courtroom, Wayne Manor, battles between the Freaks and mafia in the streets, and the ever-changing relationship of Batman and Catwoman. I really like the fact that the story is heavily character-driven, not just a series of fights. It also aspires to the classic crime noir theme of criminals unable to escape their own dark pasts, such as Mario Falcone who wants to erase the bad name of his father and make the Falcone empire legitimate. Even Alberto, who was jailed for the Holiday murders, seems to want to make a break with the past. But Sofia Falcone is determined to revive the Falcone criminal empire, so the siblings find themselves at odds.
Meanwhile, despite dozens of clues and leads, Batman and Jim Gordon find themselves getting no closer to solving the Hangman murders. Though each clues clearly points to Harvey Dent, they suspect this is designed to take them off the scent of the real killer. Harvey Dent himself is the ultimate example of a man torn between conflicting imperatives, struggling between upholding the law to jail criminals, and giving in to his darker vengeful side willing to kill crooks. His two-faced appearance is an apt metaphor for this struggle.
Dark Victory also includes the original story of Dick Grayson, the first Robin. He is the young son of trapeze artists, and when his parents high-wire act is sabotaged, he becomes an orphan just like Bruce Wayne. As a result, Bruce takes pity on him and lets him stay at Wayne Manor. The young boy is upset and confused, as Bruce is distant and unattentive, but when Dick encounters Batman, he vows to find his parents’ killers.
True to its crime noir roots, Dark Victory does not reveal the mystery of the Hangman killings until many red herring have been thrown the reader’s way, and even when you think you’re onto the real killer, it’s more complicated than that. We share the struggle of Batman, Jim Gordon, even the villains themselves. So when the final reveal comes, it’s quite a surprise. In my opinion, Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale have produced a classic tale of crime and its legacy on all those involved, one that rivals any mafia film. It’s up to you to give it a try for yourself.
Originally posted at Fantasy Literature
Batman: Dark Victory (2000) takes place immediately after Batman: The Long Halloween (1997). In the aftermath of the Holiday Killer, Gotham’s Falcone and Maroni crime families are in chaos. Dark Victory is steeped in the same dark crime noir atmosphere as Long Halloween , so if you liked the first title you will like this one too. It’s all about mysterious killings, Mafia wars, the rise of the arch-villians, and the legacy of the past that weighs heavily on Batman and his friends and enemies. Everyone is struggling with a difficult past, and circumstances never allow them reprieve, so the story has the weight of inevitable tragedy. It’s not surprising that Christopher Nolan and David Goyer took direct inspiration from these two books when they created the moody and grim THE DARK KNIGHT film trilogy.
Since the events of Long Halloween , Alberto Falcone is interred in Arkham Asylum, Sofia Falcone Gigante is confined to a wheelchair with a metal head brace, and Maroni’s sons Umberto and Pino have tried to take up the reins, but freaks like The Joker, The Riddler, Poison Ivy, and Two-Face have risen in power. The balance has shifted in their favor, but the Mafia will not cede control of the city so easily.
Batman and Jim Gordon are still shaken by the transformation of DA Harvey Dent into the mercurial villain Two Face, and mourn the fact that they could not prevent it. Selina Kyle continues to show interest in the taciturn Bruce Wayne, but he is generally unresponsive. A new DA named Janice Porter comes in to replace Harvey Dent, and her first initiative is to reopen the case of Alberto Falcone, claiming he is not responsible for all the Holiday murders.
Into this brave new world a new killer emerges: The Hangman. He targets cops and former cops, both upstanding or corrupt. They are left hanging in public with cryptic hangman clues pinned to their clothes. Clues point to a connection with Harvey Dent, so Batman and Jim Gordon go hunting for him.
Dark Victory is a very dense and tangled narrative. It takes us on a tour of the sewers of Gotham, the courtroom, Wayne Manor, battles between the Freaks and mafia in the streets, and the ever-changing relationship of Batman and Catwoman. I really like the fact that the story is heavily character-driven, not just a series of fights. It also aspires to the classic crime noir theme of criminals unable to escape their own dark pasts, such as Mario Falcone who wants to erase the bad name of his father and make the Falcone empire legitimate. Even Alberto, who was jailed for the Holiday murders, seems to want to make a break with the past. But Sofia Falcone is determined to revive the Falcone criminal empire, so the siblings find themselves at odds.
Meanwhile, despite dozens of clues and leads, Batman and Jim Gordon find themselves getting no closer to solving the Hangman murders. Though each clues clearly points to Harvey Dent, they suspect this is designed to take them off the scent of the real killer. Harvey Dent himself is the ultimate example of a man torn between conflicting imperatives, struggling between upholding the law to jail criminals, and giving in to his darker vengeful side willing to kill crooks. His two-faced appearance is an apt metaphor for this struggle.
Dark Victory also includes the original story of Dick Grayson, the first Robin. He is the young son of trapeze artists, and when his parents high-wire act is sabotaged, he becomes an orphan just like Bruce Wayne. As a result, Bruce takes pity on him and lets him stay at Wayne Manor. The young boy is upset and confused, as Bruce is distant and unattentive, but when Dick encounters Batman, he vows to find his parents’ killers.
True to its crime noir roots, Dark Victory does not reveal the mystery of the Hangman killings until many red herring have been thrown the reader’s way, and even when you think you’re onto the real killer, it’s more complicated than that. We share the struggle of Batman, Jim Gordon, even the villains themselves. So when the final reveal comes, it’s quite a surprise. In my opinion, Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale have produced a classic tale of crime and its legacy on all those involved, one that rivals any mafia film. It’s up to you to give it a try for yourself.
March 25, 2022
La dupla Tim Sale y Jeph Loeb es una burrada.
February 3, 2015
Definitely one of my favorite graphic novels. It's a combination of The Godfather (crime family drama) with Batman, all the classic villains, detective work and the introduction of Robin. This is the sequel to Long Halloween and a major contributor to the recent Batman movies by Nolan.
Batman is his classic self with awesome detective skills, a larger than life presence, shadow and stealth, and a certain broken humanity. Yet for all his demands of justice and beat downs and no nonsense there is a glimmer of hope and light.
Some favorite parts include a scene similar to the horse head in the bed from the Godfather. Also Jokers presence and his tiny little "heh" moments just showing his inappropriate laughter and insanity. I liked the fact that Two faces speech bubbles are written with a jagged bold sloppy print which makes his voice sound harsh and gravelly. The monochromatic scenes and limited color palettes were nice too, adding to the tone of the gn.
Like I said very good read. Well written story, liked the style and lettering and highly recommend to any Batman fan.
Batman is his classic self with awesome detective skills, a larger than life presence, shadow and stealth, and a certain broken humanity. Yet for all his demands of justice and beat downs and no nonsense there is a glimmer of hope and light.
Some favorite parts include a scene similar to the horse head in the bed from the Godfather. Also Jokers presence and his tiny little "heh" moments just showing his inappropriate laughter and insanity. I liked the fact that Two faces speech bubbles are written with a jagged bold sloppy print which makes his voice sound harsh and gravelly. The monochromatic scenes and limited color palettes were nice too, adding to the tone of the gn.
Like I said very good read. Well written story, liked the style and lettering and highly recommend to any Batman fan.
July 15, 2015
This is a sequel to Loeb and Sale's classic The Long Halloween, and I had never read this one. I think it is beautiful artwork by Sale, and the story is lonnnnng and mostly compelling, though there are no real surprises along the way. It is curious why it garnered such high ratings, but maybe it has something to do with the initial expectations of the book when it came out, to such fanfare… I liked it, it's kinda classic Gotham mob Gordon Batman Two Face stuff, far better than the average fare you see, though still nothing really all that special to add to the whole long history of Batman...
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