After a two and a half month break, Batman: The Last Halloween is back with the penultimate issue of the sequel series to The Long Halloween. It has been over a year since this series started, and we are finally nearing the conclusion. The journey to get here has been hit-or-miss, so can Jeph Loeb wrap up this story in a satisfying way? Chris Samnee takes over for the art duties for issue #9.
I thought that this issue was an improvement over the last issue. Since it was the second to last issue, the plot finally started to get concise and focused. But I feel that it is too little, too late to stir this ship on the right path because the story and all its subplots have been too inconsistent. At this point, I just don’t feel that I care about certain storylines like the one involving Gilda Dent. I will admit that the only storyline that I’m still somewhat intrigued by is Catwoman’s.
There were two reveals in this issue, so I am going to give some minor spoilers. Read at your discretion… so it was revealed that Selina Kyle is the lost daughter of Carmine and Louisa Falcone. That reveal wasn’t a surprise because Selina’s lineage has been hinted at since the Catwoman: When in Rome series. What is keeping me intrigued is how that affects the Falcone criminal enterprise. How will Mario respond now that he’s not the sole heir and will Catwoman side with her family or with Batman? So I’ll give Loeb credit for maintaining my interest with that plot point.
The other revelation was that Gilda Dent is pregnant with Mario Falcone’s child and that she and Mario orchestrated the murder attempt on Two-Face. Again, I just feel that this storyline fell flat. Gilda as a character just doesn’t work for me, and I just don’t care how her subplot resolves that this point. If the last issue makes her story more compelling, then I’ll reconsider my feelings on it. But right now, I feel her story has been one of the weakest subplots.
Chris Samnee is the MVP of the issue, and his artwork elevated Loeb’s script. Samnee is one of my favorite artists in the game right now, so I might be a little biased. But even so, his artwork in undeniable. I just really appreciate his clean and simple line work and strong inks. His art reminds me of the Silver Age but with a modern sheen. His collaborations with Mark Waid are also incredible (and you can read our review of their series, Batman and Robin: Year One, here). There’s a double-page spread in particular where Batman and Catwoman are falling out of a building with Gotham in the background that I thought was really captivating. His illustrations along with Dave Stewart’s colors were top notch.
Recommended if…
- You are a fan of Chris Samnee’s artwork.
- You are a fan of Catwoman since she’s an integral part of the story.
- You’ve been enjoying the series so far.
Overall
Batman: The Last Halloween #9 is one of the better issues of the series. But since the quality has been so inconsistent throughout and we have one more issue left, I’m not sure if Jeph Loeb can stick the landing. Chris Samnee deserves all the praise he gets because his artwork carried this issue. I’ve said this before, but maybe this series will read better when it’s all collected. If the last issue ends in a satisfying way, then I might have to look at all the other previous issues with a different perspective.
Score: 7.5/10
DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of review.
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