The much-awaited two-part Batman: The Long Halloween was released last week. Right from the beginning credit sequence to the post-credit scene, the screenplay was as tight as it gets. Yes, there is a post-credit scene that sets up the second installment releasing next month!
The film is a direct-to-video adaptation of the 1996 comic of the same name and follows a case that Batman encounters in his early years. He works with then Captain James Gordon and Harvey Dent to find out the identity of the Holiday Killer.
So how does Batman: The Long Halloween Part One end?
In a post-credits scene, we witness the funeral of Alberto Falcone. Once it is over, Carmine Falcone asks Bruce for help to launder money and introduces Bruce to his companion, who turns out to be Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman.
The Holiday Killer is on a murdering spree as he kills his victims on Halloween, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s. His victims are Johnny Viti, Mickey Chen, and Alberto Falcone. Batman suspects a few people that include Salvatore Maroni, Joker, and even Harvey Dent.
Batman, at first, believes that it’s the Joker killing off people one by one, but he is quick to reveal that he wants to find the Holiday Killer and finish him to eliminate the competition. Well, if not for the Joker, who else could escape from an asylum just to prove that he is the best?
In the conversation with the Joker, Batman realizes how Alberto Falcone could be the killer. Since his childhood, Alberto Falcone is treated as an outcast by his father, Carmine ‘The Roman’ Falcone. All the targets seem to bring Alberto closer to his father and his inheritance of the drug empire.
As one would expect, things take an abrupt turn when the Holiday Killer himself shoots Alberto Falcone before Batman, thus proving his deduction wrong. Since these are the early years, Batman’s detective skills aren’t the best, so maybe fans could pardon him. But we’re all left wondering who the Holiday Killer actually is.
There’s this scene in the middle of all this, something that might seem relatively trivial. While Bruce, aka Batman, and Selina, aka Catwoman, hug, Selina manages to steal his watch without him realizing it.
He asks her how she did and gets a cryptic response. She says that curiosity can get him killed in this world. Though I don’t think about it much, considering that so much is happening, there is a callback to this in the post-credit scene.
1. Post-Credit Scene
Selina, who accompanies Carmine Falcone as his companion, gives a formal hug to Bruce after Alberto’s funeral. As they retract, we see some climbers kind of strings emerge out of her sleeves as they move over his wrist. Batman’s eyes widen, and the screen turns black.
Why does Batman look so shocked? Is he merely dumbfounded by seeing how one of the oldest tricks in the book is so effective? Or is there more? Well, all you need to find out the answer is either read the comics that are more than two decades old or wait for a month for Part Two!
2. Is Batman: The Long Halloween Canon?
Another question that many people have been asking if this duology is canon and part of the complete DC Animated Universe.
Well, Batman: The Long Halloween is not part of the canon. It is a standalone duology that showcases a critical case that Batman encountered in his early days. Neither the comics nor the films are canon and separate from the DC Animated Universe.
Honestly, I think it’s okay because the canon tag is not the only thing that determines quality, and this film is beyond excellent. It’d be interesting to see how the writers have plotted the narrative and series of events going forward. I just can’t wait for it, but too bad that I have to. Oh! Are you waiting as well? At least we can give each other company until it airs.
3. 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.
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