Culled from the celebrated, 13-part epic by writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale, Batman: the Long Halloween (Part One) is the start of something grand, acting as an important portion for one of DC/WB's most emotional, animated endeavors.
This chapter is wrapped within a traditional, noir-esque, Dark Knight mode. Translated for the screen by Tim (Superman: Man of Tomorrow) Sheridan and directed by Chris (How to Train Your Dragon) Palmer, Long Halloween #1 is uneasy and frightful, but never so much so as to fall straight into all-out horror. This one skims the fringe and teases in a mean but mirthful way, rather like Chinatown and/or the Godfather, though with the occasional flash of fangs.
The plot centers the serial Holiday Killer, who leaves a bemusing, Jack-o'-lantern clue with his first victim, crime-king Carmine Falcone's nephew. In the midst of the ensuing bloodshed, a jealous Joker flees Arkham to stomp the attention-stealing competition, further complicating the investigation. Indeed, the set-up may sound standard, but as with its comic-book counterpart, the movie's chilly execution seasons the stew, and it's a ton of sinister fun to experience the crisp mood unfold. (Michael {Zorpo!} Gall's music spices it real nice: menacing, morbid and kinetic throughout.)
Catwoman, Calendar Man, Solomon Grundy, Alberto Falcone, Sal Maroni, Alfred Pennyworth, James Gordon, Barbara Gordon (mom and daughter) and petulant Harvey Dent (Two-Face-to-be) nudge the melancholic progression where required, but this one is first and foremost Batman's tale (and therefore Bruce Wayne's), for our anguished crusader digs deep into the grit and grime to explore (and with ample, determined hope, solve) the maddening mystery carved before him.
But of course, as an initial installment, the mystery remains open-ended, if only to make one crave more, and that more is right around the bend, with an August release.
Can't wait for that second half to hit, but for the interim, I'll revisit the first a few more times; no doubt, so will you.
(BTW: The Losers, time-travel/dinosaur-attacks bonus-short is a cool way to supplement the main feature. Perhaps DC/WB will be wise enough to produce a full-length edition someday.)
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