Batman: Dark Victory (Comics) | Review

What do you do after creating the most acclaimed Batman story ever told? You dive deeper into the darkness and emerge with something that somehow manages to honor The Long Halloween while carving out its own distinctive identity.

Acclaimed writer Jeph Loeb (Avengers: X-Sanction, Fallen Son: Death of Captain America) and artist Tim Sale (Hulk: Gray, Spider-Man: Blue) return to Gotham with the confidence of creators who know exactly what made their previous work special.

Dark Victory doesn't just continue the established story– it expands the entire Dark Knight mythology in ways that feel both completely inevitable and genuinely surprising to readers who thought they knew what to expect from this sequel.

Here's what makes this sequel work where most fail: it understands that simply repeating the successful formula would be creative suicide. Instead of another Holiday killer mystery, Dark Victory explores the dangerous power vacuum left behind and introduces elements that fundamentally change Batman's world forever.

Dark Victory picks up roughly eighteen months after The Long Halloween's dramatic conclusion, with Gotham still reeling from the devastating fallout of Harvey Dent's transformation and the complete collapse of the powerful Falcone crime empire.

The city's entire power structure has shifted dramatically but nature abhors a vacuum and dangerous new criminal threats emerge to fill the significant void left by traditional organized crime throughout Gotham's sprawling underworld.

The story introduces a new brutal serial killer called the Hangman, who specifically targets corrupt police officers throughout Gotham City. Unlike Holiday's seemingly random pattern of holiday murders, the Hangman operates with surgical precision, systematically eliminating cops connected to the old mob corruption network.

This creates a suffocating atmosphere of paranoia and distrust within the entire GCPD that makes Commissioner Gordon's already challenging job exponentially more difficult and politically dangerous than it was before the killings began.

What elevates Dark Victory beyond a simple repeat of The Long Halloween's structure is how it uses this new mystery to explore the consequences of the previous story's events. Batman finds himself operating in a different Gotham, one where costumed criminals have largely replaced traditional organized crime as the primary threat.

The rogue's gallery feels more established and genuinely dangerous, with The Joker, Penguin, Riddler, Scarecrow and others operating sophisticated criminal enterprises rather than simply causing random chaos throughout the city.

The real genius move here is the introduction of Robin's origin story, woven seamlessly into the larger narrative. Dick Grayson's emotional transformation from circus performer to Batman's trusted partner doesn't feel forced or tangential– it emerges naturally from the story's themes about family, loss and the price of justice.

The Flying Graysons' murder directly connects to the larger conspiracy, making Robin's presence essential rather than coincidental. Alberto Falcone's unexpected return adds another layer of complexity, as his relationship with his family's criminal legacy creates moral ambiguity.

The story refuses to provide simple villains or heroes, instead presenting complex characters whose motivations feel genuinely human and relatable even when their actions become increasingly monstrous and morally questionable throughout the narrative.

The Hangman mystery itself serves as a vehicle for exploring how institutional corruption works and what happens when someone decides to fight fire with fire. The killer's methods force Batman to confront uncomfortable questions about his own approach to justice and whether some problems require more extreme solutions.

Dark Victory also functions as essential setup for Catwoman: When in Rome, establishing character dynamics and plot threads that pay off in that companion story. The relationship between Batman and Catwoman develops organically while serving the narrative.

Jeph Loeb's writing shows significant growth from The Long Halloween while maintaining the noir atmosphere that made the original so good. His dialogue feels more confident and he handles the expanded cast without losing focus. The pacing allows for action and character development, creating a story that satisfies you.

Tim Sale's artwork reaches new heights of sophistication here. His character designs for Robin capture both the character's youth and potential for growth, while his established Gotham feels lived-in, authentic and atmospherically compelling.

The way he handles the circus sequences exhibits remarkable artistic range, creating visuals that feel completely different from his typical Gotham noir while maintaining visual coherence and stylistic consistency throughout the entire narrative.

The enhanced color work continues to use seasonal changes effectively but with more subtle variations that reflect the story's increasingly complex emotional landscape. The palette feels darker overall, reflecting Gotham's continued descent into chaos while using strategic bright moments to highlight hope and heroism.

Sale's panel layouts show increased experimentation with page design, particularly during action sequences and emotional beats. His splash pages deliver cinematic impact while quieter moments convey character psychology through expressive body language.

Dark Victory succeeds as a worthy sequel to The Long Halloween and a complete story in its own right. It takes the foundation established in Haunted Knight, builds on the crime saga of The Long Halloween and creates something that feels essential to understanding Batman's myth rather than just another cash-grab sequel.

The introduction of Robin feels natural and necessary rather than forced, while the Hangman mystery provides genuine surprises that don't rely on cheap twists. The story earns emotional moments through careful character development.

As the crucial middle chapter of what becomes a complex trilogy when you include Catwoman: When in Rome, Dark Victory does the heavy lifting of developing themes and relationships that make the entire saga feel cohesive and purposeful.

It proves that Loeb and Sale truly understood their characters and world well enough to expand them creatively without losing what made the original so compelling and special. Twenty years later, Dark Victory still stands as proof that sequel stories can honor their predecessors while pushing the mythology forward in meaningful ways.

It is essential reading for anyone who considers The Long Halloween a masterpiece and it demonstrates why this creative team's approach to Batman storytelling remains the gold standard for comic-books in the superhero genre.

Batman: Dark Victory is the 13-issue sequel to The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. It is collected in trade paperback, deluxe hardcover and Absolute Edition. Digital readers can access it via Comixology and DC Universe Infinite.