Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two (2021)

Directed by: Chris Palmer | 86 minutes | animation, action | Original voice cast: Jensen Ackles, Josh Duhamel, Naya Rivera, Troy Baker, Laila Berzins, Billy Burke, Zach Callison, David Dastmalchian, Alyssa Diaz, John DiMaggio, Robin Atkin Downes, Alastair Duncan, Gary LeRoi Gray, Amy Landecker, Julie Nathanson, Jim Pirri, Katee Sackhoff, Fred Tatasciore, Rick D. Wasserman, Titus Welliver

As with the film adaptation of Frank Miller’s beloved comic “The Dark Knight Returns,” Warner Bros. once again to release an iconic comic book in two parts. This time it’s ‘Batman: The Long Halloween”s turn. This comic is known as one of the most beloved stories of the bat man. In the comic – and in this animated film – Batman has to take on a number of super villains. That doesn’t sound special, but it is!

The cruel Holiday is wreaking havoc on Gotham City. As a result, tensions between the Falcone and Maroni crime families are running high. Batman, James Gordon and Harvey Dent diligently search for Holiday’s identity. While the trio is at it, super villains Poison Ivy, Scarecrow and Mad Hatter escape Arkham Asylum. Batman & co now have it much harder!

What makes ‘Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two’ so interesting is the unmasking of Batman as an infallible superhero. The bat man himself is also a mentally handicapped person who also struggles with trauma and unresolved grief. Just like the villains he fights. The dark atmosphere and mystery surrounding Holiday also make this story iconic. This comic adaptation stays close to the original and that’s nice. It also adorns Warner Bros. that the complex and layered story has been cut into two parts.

Many DC Comics animation films are characterized by the muddled story structures. Too many storylines are printed in a short film. As a result, the films do not breathe and these productions lose the impact that the visual stories do have. Action takes precedence over character development. Fortunately, ‘Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two’ is about character development and takes the time to tell the story.

There is also little to complain about in terms of action. The battles look great and are clearly presented. Bat fans just have to buy this part and the predecessor. Batman movies (for now) don’t get any better than this!