How Dark Victory Is The Perfect Sequel to The Long Halloween

DC fans like me are definitely super excited because the next two feature films in the DC Animated Universe is going to be an adaptation of one of Batman’s best stories, The Long Halloween.

The 1996 comic book, Batman: The Long Halloween, written and illustrated by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale has always been a fan favorite ever since the 90s. Besides, it has continued to be one of the most popular Batman comics over generations.

So when I realized that the comic is all set to impress yet another generation of DC fans, it obviously was too much to be happy about. (Still screaming!) Now the Long Halloween tells a complete and precise story of a murder mystery.

But as we DC fans are already familiar with, every comic is in one way or the other connected to the others. That is precisely how it is a universe. Likewise, The Long Halloween also has a sequel.

The 1999 comic Batman: Dark Victory featuring Bruce Wayne may not be as popular as its prequel, but it is important because it ties up quite a few important loose ends.

1. Is Dark Victory A Sequel To Long Halloween?

Yes. Batman: Dark Victory is 14 part DC comic featuring Bruce Wayne a.k.a Batman published in 1999 and serves as the official sequel to Batman: The Long Halloween published in 1996. It isn’t a continuation of the story but it has connections to its predecessor.

Let’s begin with when The Long Halloween is set. The comic is set during Wayne’s second year as Batman. The story centres around a ruthless serial killer named Holiday Killer who leaves jack-o-lanterns and the murder weapons next to their victims.

After a member of the Falcone crime syndicate is found murdered on Halloween night, the serial killer begins attacking someone on every single holiday, targeting specifically members of the Falcone family.

The Long Halloween has quite a bloody ending. Those of you who have already read the comic already know and for those of you who are waiting for The Long Halloween Part Two, I’ll not spoil the party.

Dark Victory begins several months after the end of Long Halloween. That is, after the funeral of Carmine Falcone following his murder.

This sequel revolves around yet another serial killed dubbed the Hangman and this time he seems to be targeting various members of the police.

Dark Victory is a sequel in the sense that many characters from The Long Halloween, such as Two Face, Carmine’s daughter Sofia and his son Alberto appear in Dark Victory as well. Besides, the theme is also the same – a serial killer on the loose.

Dark Victory also witnessed Harvey finally embrace his fate as a supervillain and he leads the villains against the alive members of the Falcone family and Batman, of course. It also ends the saga of the Falcone family.

One of the Falcones reveal themselves as Hangman and Alberto is also murdered. I won’t leave anymore spoilers because it is hate crime to actually destroy the story for those who have not read it. Give it a read, you don’t want to miss out on this experience.

2. How Dark Victory Concludes The Long Halloween

The reason I love Batman comics so much is because it always has an underlying significance. If you think about it, The Long Halloween was about the idea of justice and how Batman learnt what justice costs.

It is also significant because of the lonely path that Wayne and Jim Gordon chose for themselves. But Dark Victory treats things a little differently despite the similar theme. In Dark Victory, Batman learns to accept help from an unexpected source by taking in an orphaned Dick.

The symbolism of Gotham City slowly descending into a state of chaos is also visible. As the era of organized crime ends, the era of costume crime begins. This transition can also be understood if you treat the two comics as sequels. In that sense, the two are connected.

While The Long Halloween mainly told the story of the Falcone family, with Dark Victory the DC Universe proves that there are always consequences that keep following you and things are not so easy to end.

In Dark Victory, we finally understand what actually happened to the Falcones and also witness the fate of the corrupt police officers introduced by David Mazzuchelli and Frank Miller in Batman: Year One.

So, Dark Victory provides with a lot of explanations and clarifications which were left hanging after the end of The Long Halloween.

3. What Comes After Dark Victory?

There is no so-called “continuation” to Dark Victory in terms of the story. But I would consider Cat woman: When In Rome to be a technical extension to Dark Victory, since it explains her relationship to the Falcone family.

It takes place during the events of Dark Victory as well, so you could say it is a spin-off of sorts. It is also written and drawn by Loeb and Sale. If you liked The Long Halloween and Dark Victory, I would recommend Cat woman: When In Rome.

If you go by similar themes, Superman For All Seasons is also in the list just in terms of common themes. Again, it is by Loeb and Sale in case you want to check out stuff by the same people.

Robin: Year One can also be a good choice to read after Dark Victory if you want to know more about Robin’s story, since it was introduced in Dark Victory.

4. The Long Halloween VS Dark Victory: The Better Comic?

It is super tough to choose between two Batman comics and it requires a whole new discussion altogether. But I would personally nominate The Long Halloween.

Both Long Halloween and Dark Victory are important in developing Batman’s character since it establishes him as dark and much more human than his previous stories.

I prefer Long Halloween simply because it is one of the first comics where Batman is portrayed as a realistic and human superhero. Loeb and Sale does a brilliant job in breaking the god complex we associate with superheroes and at the same time reinstating it, considering Batman is the one who saves the day.

The Long Halloween is also way more original (though it definitely draws much of its influence from The Godfather). I mean obviously, it was the first of its kind. There is a reason why it is one of the most iconic Batman tales. Now this is not to say Dark Victory is not iconic, but it does pick up the same framework as Long Halloween.

We do know it is a sequel, but there isn’t any new twist per say which might mark it unique. The framework as well as the theme is similar to its prequel.

Also, The Long Halloween forms the framework for Harvey Dent’s development into Two Face. Only Batman fans will understand the importance of this considering the emotions associated with the origin of this supervillain.

Also fun fact: The Long Halloween heavily inspired Christopher Nolan’s iconic The Dark Knight both in terms of the story and the transformation of the villain. What else screams iconic?

But Dark Victory also scores a point there, because it introduces the character of Robin. Robin is no less than a hero and we know that Batman without his sidekick will always be in the dark. So Dark Victory is a brilliant end to a compelling story.

In other words, I love both but I am a tad bit biased towards The Long Halloween because of its treatment and the strong statement against questioning vigilantism. Batman actually questions his techniques and wonders if his effort was worth it. It just shows him as more human and relatable which is why it remains closer to my heart.

5. About Batman: The Long Halloween

Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One is a 2021 American animated direct-to-video superhero film produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment, based on the DC Comics storyline of the same name. It is the 42nd film in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line. The film is directed by Chris Palmer and stars the voices of Jensen Ackles, Naya Rivera, Josh Duhamel, Billy Burke, Titus Welliver, David Dastmalchian, Troy Baker, Amy Landecker, Julie Nathanson, Jack Quaid, Fred Tatasciore, and Alastair Duncan.