I saw the Long Halloween (Part 2)...

The Long Halloween (Part 2), directed by Chris Palmer and scripted by Tim Sheridan (based on Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale's hot-selling DC series) hits the spot with rueful tricks and tragic treats, as Batman, Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent continue their investigation of the haunting Holiday Killer.

This chapter comes in the wake of the Joker's raucous, Arkham escape, while the Falcone/Maroni war prevails in its Fistful of Dollars context. Meanwhile, stealthy Catwoman claws from the shadows, assisting the Dark Knight when things turn grim, as often they will in forever-autumnal Gotham.

Poison Ivy (more poisonous than ever), the Scarecrow (scarier than ever) and Mad Hatter (madder than ever) become the main, interfering antagonists at various phases (Solomon Grundy and Calendar Man pay return visits, too), but the Long Halloween (Part 2) is the tale of how Dent birthed Two-Face.

As one might deduce, the identity of the Holiday Killer skids from Two-Face's manifestation, but why spoil the inadvertent hows and whys? Let's say that the crossroads are as heartbreaking as they are ghoulish, placing the saga on an impassioned plane, with insinuations of Robert Louis Stevenson, John Wyndham and Mario Puzo to ensure the sinister segments fit. 

That's high praise and warranted, for once the nefarious wreckage clears, the Long Halloween (as a seamless whole) is a memorable, noir-ish experience aimed at adults, but it sure as hell wouldn't hurt kids to watch. Within its costumed catacombs are quality life lessons for those of any age.

Pop some corn and gather up the family to view the complete saga for a fulfilling, growing-pains experience.

I saw the Long Halloween (Part 1)...

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.) 

I saw Batman vs Two-Face...

As far as animated, lighthearted Batman adventures go, "Return of the Caped Crusaders" was the best '16 spawned and far eclipsed the on-its-heels "Lego Batman Movie", which for whatever confounding reason gained a widespread, theatrical release over the former. 

To most fans (young or old alike), "Return" was a joy-beyond-joy experience and as such had big shoes to fill,. So, does the highly anticipated sequel, "Batman vs Two-Face" rise to the occasion? Well, it's not as bold as the first re-entry, but still an honorable companion piece. The thing is, I (and I'm sure many others) expected an adaptation of Harlan Ellison's long-thought "lost episode" as the basis for the film, especially since it was recently adapted as a DC graphic novel. With that not being the case, "Batman vs Two-Face", directed by "Return'"s Rick Morales and written by its writers, Michael Jelenic and James Tucker, becomes (for better or worse) a "lost-and found", movie-length episode of an entirely different kind. 

To its advantage, West and Ward again vocalize Bruce and Dick/Batman and Robin, though there's underlying sadness here, since West passed away only a few months prior. Nevertheless, we do have William Shatner adding to the gaudy glee, portraying Harvey Dent/Two-Face (in a role that some claim West had hoped Clint Eastwood would have played if only filmed in the '60s). Shatner's contrasting tones work well for the character(s), with a signature approach for Dent and a rough, mean one for Two-Face. In animated form, Dent also resembles a '60s version of Shatner: ideal for the nostalgic atmosphere.

In this instance, Dent's transformation comes via a Hugo Strange Jekyll/Hyde lab mishap. In his traditional mode, Two-Face mistakenly goes after Batman (and Robin) to avenge his horrid alteration, but receives a rehabilitative "cure", which initially links to the clever King Tut: a delusional two-face in his own right. Throughout it all, we come face-to-face with a string of familiar personas and on-target voices which enhance the coin-flipping villain's anguished caper. 

There's Julie Newmar reprising her role as Catwoman, joined by movie Catwoman Lee Meriweather as Lucille Diamond, manipulative public defender. Desmond Dumas supplies the voices of Joker, Bookworm and the film's narrator; Wally Wingert that of the Riddler and King Tut; and William Saylers as Penguin. In addition to voicing Strange, Jim Ward costars as Commissioner Gordon; Thomas Lennon as Chief O'Hara; Lynne Marie Stewart as Aunt Harriet; Steven Weber as Alfred Pennyworth and a Two-Face thug, plus we get a special-guest appearance from Sirena Irwin's Dr. Quinzel (Harley Quinn yet-to-be). 

Holy stupendous line-up, indeed! Of course, "Return" offers every bit as much in this regard, which puts "Batman vs Two-Face" at a second-comer disadvantage. What we're basically given in Two-Face's retold reign of crime is a long, cameo cavalcade, accompanied by nods and spoofs of literary duality and a mental twist that puts an envious Robin (as well as all of Gotham) at a hideous disadvantage: clever, but not enough to elevate this sequel over its predecessor. 

Otherwise, in its brightness and throwback staging, "Batman vs Two-Face" makes for a speedy and fulfilling chunk of fun. It could also further paved the way for additional "Batman '66" animated movies, but without West, we can only anticipate an imitator to occupy his spot. That'll work, but if there's anything "Batman vs Two-Face" confirms, it's an official end to a sentimental era, of which West was a most essential part.

("Batman vs Two-Face" is now accessible per any number of home-viewing options and will be available on disc Oct 17.) 

Collection Recommendation #2: Batman/Robin & Green Hornet/Kato sequel; plus, the Two-Way Crimes of Two-Face

Got the hardback compilation of Kevin Smith/Ralph Garman's "Batman Meets the Green Hornet" sequel. With stunning artwork by Ty Templeton and Tony Avina (and cover artworks by Alex Ross), this DC/Dynamite crossover is even grander than the first official outing of the dynamic duos (excluding the earlier Green Hornet/Kato window cameo, of course). 

The dialogue is straight out to the Batman '60s series, and the interaction between Batman/Bruce Wayne and Green Hornet/Brit Reid is so accurate you'll actually hear the voices of Adam West and Van Williams in your head. The same goes for the distinct dialogues of Burt Ward and Bruce Lee. 

Colonel Gumm is back, but has elevated himself to General. Roger C. Carmel's likeness isn't used; instead we discover that Gumm disfigured himself in a glue mishap while in prison. His head is now permanently cloaked by a hardened, pink substance (making him a sort of Black Mask of his time). 

He's teamed with Cesar Romero's Joker, and the words that roll from the Clown Prince of Crime's tongue (courtesy of the obligatory balloon captions) couldn't be more spot-on. 

The story occurs after the Batman '66 movie, and in it own right, would have made a most satisfying, theatrical feature. Great stuff!!!

To add further fervor to my Caped Crusader indulgence, I also purchased the "Batman '66 Lost Episode: The Two-Way Crimes of Two-Face". 

The proposed episode was to have introduced Harvey Dent to the series, but it was then decided that Two-Face's origin might be too intense for kids, so the False Face entry stood in lieu. The concept here is based on an outline by Harlan Ellison, which in its own right places this endeavor in a fascinating, if-only context.

Ellison's outline is, in fact, included in the edition and as you'll see, is well envisioned by superhero specialist, Len Wein. It's also superbly illustrated by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, with an eye-popping Alex Ross cover. Unfortunately, Dent's likeness isn't Clint Eastwood, whom West had supposedly suggested for the role. (I guess we're granted a generic take for much the same reason Carmel's likeness isn't used for Gumm.)

On the whole, this is a particularly intriguing installment in the ongoing comic series, brimming as much of characterization as zip. It also comes with some swell Garcia-Lopez extras. 

Indeed, if you wish to peer into that curious realm of what-could-have-been (which for all intents and purposes, now prevails), these colorful Bat-editions are guaranteed to deliver!!!