BATMAN THE LONG HALLOWEEN THE LAST HALLOWEEN #5: Prisoners

Batman The Long Halloween The Last Halloween #5: Batman is putting his body to the extreme limit as he grows more and more desperate to solve the mystery of who the copycat killer Holiday is. His desperation brings him face to face with the Joker and worse as the two appear to be on the same side, bringing Gotham’s prisoners back to Arkham. However, nothing is ever so cut and dry when faced with madness.

Creative Team:

Jeph Loeb (WRITER) Bill Sienkiewicz (ARTIST) Dave Stewart (COLORIST) Richard Starkings (LETTERS) Tim Sale (COVER)

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

The Story:

It didn’t seem possible, but Jeph has taken an already grim and darker story and turned it up a notch in this issue. We finally get to see the Joker as the suspense to his arrival had been building up. Jeph has done an incredible job within this issue of truly making Batman feel scared and desperate between running out of time and being injured as well as fearing for Robin at times. It shows when he is under the fear toxin that his life is him, Selena, and Robin as his “family.”

Aside from that, we get a sad story showing what Gotham does to its inhabitants as Commissioner Gordon’s marriage has fallen apart and Barbara has taken their son and left. It shows how unforgiving Gotham is and the sacrifice that both Batman and Gordon have made to defend the city at all costs.

The Art and Letters:

The art from Bill and Dave in this issue matches the madness and chaos that Joker brings with him. The art and coloring feel hectic and chaotic and often mask the characters in the shadows. It brings a bit of new life and almost makes the reader feel as though we are inside Joker’s brain all the same. Within the chaotic art the emotions that Bruce and Robin bring out and evoke as well as Gordon are done extraordinarily well. Matching the chaos is Richard’s lettering that goes pound for pound allowing us to hear a high pitched tone with Joker ad desperation and sadness in our other characters being focused.

Final Thoughts:

Batman the Long Halloween the Last Halloween #5 brings utter chaos to Gotham and rips it from the pages into our eyes. The hours grow shorter and the Holiday passes without getting closer to solving the mystery. It truly feels desperate and I have no clue where it is headed.

Overall Grade: 9.5/10

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