Batman: The Long Halloween #3

Batman: The Long Halloween, written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by Tim Sale, was published as a limited series between 1996 and 1997. The story was conceived as a bridge between the early crime-fighting days of Batman, as established in Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One, and the more operatic, villain-heavy world of the later comics. The third issue, released in late 1996, continues the investigation into the serial killer known as Holiday, who strikes only on public holidays, while further exploring the tragic transformation of Harvey Dent into Two-Face.

Tim Sale’s visual approach for the series was heavily influenced by film noir and shadow-heavy expressionism. His stark, stylized artwork, paired with Richard Starkings’ unique lettering, was intended to evoke a moody, atmospheric tone that mirrored the mystery-thriller narrative of the script. Upon release, the series was met with widespread critical acclaim for its sophisticated pacing and its definitive take on the origins of several major Gotham rogues, eventually becoming a foundational text for modern Batman storytelling and heavily influencing contemporary film depictions.