Based on a 13-issue limited series of comic books by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, first published in 1996-97 and later released as a large collected edition, The Long Halloween was released as an animated movie in two parts, both just shy of 90 minutes long, in 2021.

The animation is very different from the art style of the books, but I'd argue the appearance of the movie works better in this medium than Sale's moody comic-book style would have done. (And, for the record, I never liked the way Sale drew the Joker.)

The story is set fairly early in everyone's respective careers. Batman hasn't been at it for long, and he still considers himself more of a crimefighter than a detective. Jim Gordon is newly made police captain, and Harvey Dent is Gotham's unmarred district attorney. Barbara Gordon, the future Batgirl, is just a child.

The plot is set in motion by a murder on Halloween, a killing that sparks a gang war between the rival Falcone and Maroni gangs in Gotham City. A murder (or murders) follows each month, on holidays including Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day and so on.

It's been a long time since I read the Long Halloween collection, although I still remember the bones of the story. Even so, there are surprises in the movie, which does a good job of providing suspects without ever giving away the actual villain's identity until the end. In fact, some characters you are sure are the Holiday killer will end up being killed by him instead. And don't worry if you are familiar with the comic, because the movie still has some surprises in its resolution.

Jensen Ackles is surprisingly good as the voice of Batman. Troy Baker provides a nicely menacing Joker, obviously channeling the definitive Mark Hamill version. Joker, however, is not the main villain of this story.

Harvey Dent, the city's crusading yet tormented district attorney, becomes Two-Face during the sequence of events in this movie, although Dent's mental state was already veering in that direction long before the acid hit his face. Josh Duhamel gives good service with both versions of Dent's voice.

The movie also provides a surprisingly strong and sympathetic Catwoman, voiced by Naya Rivera, who died in an accidental drowning shortly after the film was completed. This is a version of Selina Kyle that fans will wish Batman could have maintained his relationship with, because they are an excellent couple in and out of costume, and she provides some much needed support in his secret life.

Other voices of note include Billy Burke as Captain Gordon, Amy Landecker as Barbara Gordon, Julie Nathanson as Gilda Dent, Alastair Duncan as Alfred Pennyworth, Titus Welliver as Carmine Falcone, Jack Quaid as Alberto Falcone, Jim Pirri as Sal Maroni, Robin Atkins Downes as Scarecrow and Laila Berzins as Sofia Falcone.

The Long Halloween is without a doubt one of the better animated movies churned out by DC/Warner Bros. in recent years. It's dark, tense and suspenseful, and it does a great job portraying these iconic characters. It gives new life to the original comic without being a slavish copy of it. I wish DC produced more of this quality!