Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Batman: The Last Halloween #2Batman’snew sequel toThe Long Halloweenhas given The Dark Knight’s rogues a new enemy, one who’s far more dangerous and lethal than the Caped Crusader himself. In the originalLong Halloween, the “Holiday Killer” began killing several members of the Falcone and Maroni crime families within a single year, beginning on October 31st. While this gave rise to the “freaks” of Gotham and more of Batman’s more colorful foes, it seems the shoe is now on the other foot.
As seen inBatman: The Last Halloween #2by Jeph Loeb and Klaus Janson,several of Batman’s rogues (and allies)have been targeted by what looks to be a copycat Holiday Killer, as well as thugs dressed as clowns and scarecrows.Meanwhile, Batman and his new sidekick Robin are trying to find the connection, though the bodies have already begun to pile up:
Considering who’s been attacked and/or taken thus far,it does seem like this new Holiday Killer is fueled by pure vengeance, wanting revenge upon those who were involved in the demise of Gotham’s biggest organized crime families.To that end, there does seem to be a most likely candidate as to whom this new Holiday Killer in Gotham truly is.
A New Holiday Killer Is In Gotham (And It’s Probably Mario Falcone)
Seeking Revenge on Gotham’s “Freaks”
As seen in the first two issues ofThe Last Halloween, Jim Gordon’s son James was seemingly taken by Holiday on Halloween night and is still missing. Likewise, Solomon Grundy has been taken by a gang of clowns, chained with cinderblocks, and thrown into the river. Those same clowns seemingly tookTwo-Face and his wife Gilda Dentas well. Catwoman was shot with a .22 pistol, Holiday’s signature firearm, and Penguin has now been shot by a gang of scarecrows (also with a .22).Keeping all of this in mind, it can’t be a coincidence that Mario Falcone has recently come back to Gotham.
5 Ways The Long Halloween Is The Best Batman Story (& 5 Why The Dark Knight Returns Is)
There are countless iconic Batman stories, but many fans agree The Long Halloween and Dark Knight Returns are the gold standards. But which is best?
The last surviving son of Carmine Falcone, the time may have come for Mario to seek vengeance for what happened to his family. Likewise, it may just be his turn to become a serial killer, seeing as how his brother Alberto was considered to be one of the Holiday Killers in the originalLong Halloweenand his sisterSofia became the Hangmanin the follow-up,Dark Victory. After all, all the victims thus far make sense given their roles in the originalLong Halloweenif Mario Falcone’s the one who’s behind it all.
The New Holiday Seems To Be Declaring War on Gotham’s Freaks
And Batman Is Right In The Middle Of The Mystery
It’s also not a bad guess to suggest that Mario Falcone has been ordering his men to dress up as clowns and scarecrows in order to keep the public blame on Gotham’s freaks while the real freaks are being targeted one by one.It certainly seems like Mario would be wanting to restore the Falcone Crime Family back to the power it once had over Gotham. At any rate, it should also be very interesting to see how Batman reacts and puts the pieces together going forward, especially now that the FBI caught him standing over Penguin’s body while holding Holiday’s pistol.
Batman: The Last Halloween #2is on sale now from DC Comics.
Batman The Long Halloween
Christmas. St. Patrick’s Day. Easter. As the calendar’s days stack up, so do the bodies littered in the streets of Gotham City. A murderer is loose, killing only on holidays. The only man that can stop this fiend? The Dark Knight. In a mystery taking place during Batman’s early days of crime fighting, Batman: The Long Halloween is one of the greatest Dark Knight stories ever told.
