Batman: The Long Halloween

Author: Jeph Loeb

Jeph Loeb is a name that Batman fans tend to love or hate. Tim Sale is one of the most beloved of all Batman artists. Together, they have crafted one of the most impressive Batman stories ever told, going into the origin of Two-Face with a long-running detective story that hits nearly every major villain in Gotham City. The story feels as if it is undertaking to bring in the rising true crime genre with the procedural thriller that had been popular since the release of the film Se7en. The search for Holiday, a killer who murders on holidays, is involved, twisted, dark,violent, and most of all, engrossing. The way Loeb goes into each character may represent the best work on demonstrating the paths of every villain for modern comics readers. The art is magnificent. Sale's work is dark, moody, and tense, without feeling overly heavy. The way he pairs his panel work with Loeb's story is so smart, allowing every character a visual voice that pairs with their dialogue. This symbiosis feels so natural, and elegant, but the tone and mood are strong on both sides, and that makes the entire graphic novel a joy. Why it's on the list: Perhaps mor ethan any other Batman story, The Long Halloween gave us the tone and mood for the Christopher Nolan Batman films a decade later.