Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I thought that the artwork was very good, and I certainly enjoyed the stories. What was the meaning of the third story? I guess that it is up to you (and Bruce) to decide. As for me, I highly recommend this book.


The third story is best   June 27, 2005
 11 out of 11 found this review helpful

This book is a collection of three Batman tales. In the first, Bruce Wayne begins to get serious with a woman while the Scarecrow terrorizes Gotham. In the second, the Mad Hatter is up to his usual schemes. Finally, the third is a Batman version of the Dickens classic, "A Christmas Carol."
My favorite is the third story. The tale is woven so that it becomes obvious to Bruce that the Batman can sometimes be his own worse enemy. I just love the way a night of strange visions can change even the most uncompromising character. The thing I always loved about the whole "Scrooge" archetype is that the presence of three spirits, a mystical and supernatural event, takes back seat to an even more incredible event; the redemption of a wayward human heart. So I am a sucker for the whole "Christmas Carol" mentality.
The thing about the Mad Hatter is I believe they've taken the character a bit far; he went from a dreaming schemer to a delusional psychotic. He once was just an eccentric criminal whose sense of reality was a bit distorted; now he is a homocidal maniac. I don't, in general, like the way they write the Jervis Tetch character nowadays.
Nonetheless, the third story is good and the first one is good enough to warrant a good recommendation for this book.


3 Fine Stories   August 31, 2002
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

Set early in Batman's career, these tales show what Gotham's worst criminals do on All Hallow's Eve.

In the first story, entitled 'Fears', Batman confronts the Scarecrow, who's destroying Gotham's power plants, then using the subsequent darkness to commit crimes.
In the second story, entitled 'Madness', Batman battles the Mad Hatter, who has captured children in his perverse version of 'Alice in Wonderland'
And in the third story ('Ghosts'), Batman confronts the ghosts of his past, present, and future. Loosely based on 'A Christmas Carol', Batman has to deal with his inner demons.

As I've said before. Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale are perfectly suited to bring us tales of the Dark Knight. These stories are very well written by Loeb, whose words mesh well with Sale's dark artwork.

The only reason this book doesnt get 5 stars is for the somewhat linear Mad Hatter story. I may be a bit biased, because the Mad Hatter is my least favorite Batman villain, but I was a little disappointed with it. The other two stories, however, are marvelous.

Overall, this book is well worth owning. I strongly recommend it.


Top-rated Halloween trinity of Batman   July 19, 2005
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

This excellent compilation gathers up the three consecutive Halloween specials mastered by the Dynamic Duo, Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale (after these three Legends Of The Dark Knight-specials the two wrote Long Halloween).

First story features Scarecrow and rather unyielding and even too determined Batman, who scarcely sleeps at all. The story features also the possible love interest of Bruce Wayne... but it's eventually up to Alfred to discover the truth.

The second marvellous story tells the modern version of Alice in Wonderland - the teenager Barbara Gordon is kidnapped to play Alice in the monstrous, twisted world of The Mad Hatter. The tale also reveals us some new details about young Bruce Wayne's relationship with her mother. Intense, scary and emotionally touching - this is a Batman story of highest quality!

The third tale is a remake of Dickens' Christmas Carol - feverous Batman sleeps rather badly after a long night in the streets of Gotham. Bruce Wayne is depicted as a grim, joyless hermit - the commitments of Batman do not leave space for anything else. The first ghost, Thomas Wayne, tries to warn his son, but eventually Bruce encounters the three ghosts of Halloween past, present and future. In the end Bruce realizes, that the work of Bruce Wayne is equally important to the work of Batman: Bruce sets up his B.W. Foundation (with mr. Lucius Fox, his old acquintance), and even delivers some Halloween candies to local kids!

Somehow Loeb is able to capture the very essence of both Bruce Wayne and Batman, and the marvellous art of Tim Sale makes this compilation a treat, not a trick!


Batman + Halloween = Good Readin'   October 9, 1999
 6 out of 7 found this review helpful

This TPB collects the 3 Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Specials, and is not a bad compilation at all. The first story appears to be simple Scarecrow tale, but looks are decieving. It's more about the incredible differences between Bruce Wayne and Batman. The second tale, a Mad Hatter story, is pretty basic; nothing special about it. Its average-ness is what caused the book to earn 4 stars rather than 5. But Loeb and Sale make up for it with the 3rd story, a 'Christmas Carol' knock-off that you have to read to believe. Sale's artwork is absolutely gorgeous in all 3 tales. My reccomendation is to buy the 'Batman: Long Halloween' TPB first. If you like it, then buy Haunted Knight, they are by the same people and in the same vein.