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Batman: Dark Victory
Trade paperback cover
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Limited series
Publication date	1999 - 2000
Number of issues	13
Main character(s)	Batman The Hangman Two-Face Robin Catwoman
Creative team
Writer(s)	Jeph Loeb
Artist(s)	Tim Sale

Batman: Dark Victory is a 13-part comic book limited series written by Jeph Loeb and drawn by Tim Sale. The series is a sequel to Batman: The Long Halloween and was originally published from 1999 to 2000 by DC Comics. The series takes place primarily during the third/fourth year of Batman's career. The plot centers on a series of murders involving Gotham City police officers by a mysterious serial killer only known as The Hangman. Central to the storyline is a territory war between Two-Face and the remnants of the Falcone mob, led by Sofia Falcone.

The story is also a re-telling of the origins of Batman's sidekick Robin and his adoption by Bruce Wayne. The story brings closure to many characters introduced in Frank Miller's Batman: Year One.

In 2004, Loeb and Sale produced a follow-up titled Catwoman: When in Rome, focusing on Catwoman's movements in Italy. The story takes place during the events of Dark Victory, between Valentine's Day (when Catwoman leaves Gotham) and Thanksgiving.

[edit] Themes

In the introduction to the trade paperback, Tim Sale states that he was hesitant to join with Jeph Loeb on the project as he did not care for Robin, given his stark contrast to Sale's interpretation of Batman. Loeb, however, insisted that the teaming of the two characters was essential to the story. A major theme of the story concerns how the three protagonists of The Long Halloween now feel quite alone. Throughout the book Batman struggles with this, his refusal to accept help from Commissioner Gordon, as well as with his fear of being wrong, a side-effect of the Scarecrow's fear gas. Catwoman even slaps Batman when he shows no interest in what might happen to Two-Face. Dick Grayson is depicted in the story as one of Bruce Wayne's only anchors left to humanity.

[edit] Critical reaction

Critical reaction to Dark Victory has been mostly positive.

Hilary Goldstein of IGN Comics said that "Dark Victory is not quite as good as The Long Halloween" and added that "it's too heavily dependent on the original to stand on its own", but praised how Dark Victory "uses the events of [The Long Halloween] to further explore the psychological makeup of the Dark Knight" and "add[s] new context to the Batman we all know and love."^[1] Goldstein later ranked Dark Victory #8 on a list of the 25 best Batman graphic novels.^[2]

Dave Wallace of Comics Bulletin said that Dark Victory "doesn't quite live up to the high standards set by The Long Halloween" but praised "Loeb's note-perfect understanding of what makes the Batman tick" and added that "Tim Sale's artwork also keeps on hitting new highs." Wallace concluded that Dark Victory is "definitely worthy of your attention and a place on your bookshelf."^[3]

Sion Smith of Counter Culture said that "where Dark Victory really works is in its patience. Its willingness to let the story go where it needs to in its own time is a godsend", and added that "Tim Sale's depiction of a city at war with itself is one of the freshest views of Gotham we've seen in a long time, while Loeb's storytelling is as fluent as I've come to expect from him."^[4]

Dark Victory, along with its predecessor The Long Halloween, is also a personal favorite of current Batman star Christian Bale.^[5]

[edit] Trivia

• The name of the comic was taken from the film Dark Victory.
• In the notes at the end of the collection, it is stated that Janice Porter was based on the looks of 1940s film star Lana Turner.
• In a tribute to The Godfather, there are many references and similarities through the story. Alberto Falcone awakens to find a dead woman in his bed, similar to the iconic scene in The Godfather where movie producer Jack Woltz awakens to see his prized horse, Khartoum, dead in his bed. Also, Sofia Gigante Falcone says, "These men are private detectives hired to protect my father's grave. They're licensed to carry firearms. If any of you interfere with them, you'll have to show cause in front of a judge in the morning." That quote is almost verbatim to Tom Hagen's statement to police Captain McCluskey who punched Michael Corleone outside Don Corleone's hospital. Mario Falcone is similar to Al Pacino's portrayal of Michael in many ways. Firstly, his physical appearance is close to the same. While under different circumstances, both were forced to live in Sicily. Lastly, Mario desires to legitimize the Falcone name, like Michael did with the Corleone family (Despite the fact Michael becomes Don, he still strives to salvage the family and make it legitimate, and also states in Part III that he wanted out of crime all his life.) When Alberto pleads his sister to save him from his gunshot wound, she tells him that Carmine survived five bullets. When Alberto says he isn't their father, Sofia chokes him. Vito Corleone also survived being shot by five bullets when Virgil Sollozzo ordered his death, much to Sollozzo's anger and surprise when he found out he survived that many shots.
• The Joker quotes from the film Chinatown, with the infamous "My sister and my daughter!" line.
• The Batman: The Animated Series two-part episode "Robin's Reckoning" is credited as an influence for the series.^{[citation needed]}
• The ending where the Dynamic Duo make a vow by candlelight to work together as Batman and Robin, a similar event took place in Robin's first comic appearance in Detective Comics #38.

[edit] Notes