The Long Halloween Special is written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by Tim Sale – the same team that handled the original epic all those years ago, along with follow-ups such as Dark Victory and Catwoman: When in Rome. There’s nothing wrong with missing it – making something new from it, even – but trying to capture something you can’t quite recreate is a sweet, but often fruitless gesture. My long Halloween nights faded into memory, just as my neighbours had all but forgotten what they used to do on October 31st. This is the sad thing about things you love – eventually, for one reason or another, they come to an end. It was exciting for me, because I felt that despite my age, I’d found a way to continue participating in this thing that I so very much loved.

My hope was that trick-or-treaters – the generation after me, I suppose – would come along to our door, and I’d be able to get a good few scares in for their trouble. So, instead, I dressed up as a scarecrow, and I sat at the doorway to my house for the entire night. I want to be clear, here: in no way did I enjoy this! If I could still harrass the neighbours I barely speak to for confectionaries, I’d gladly do so – but there comes a time where you have to take a step back and let someone else take the reins. One day, I realised I was a little too old for trick-or-treating. Those of you who live in Australia would know that isn’t something to scoff at. Of course, that was until I got a group of friends to help jump start trick-or-treating in my suburb! For the years I was a child, a few of us were able to get the entire street into the craze – making sure we had pillow cases full of treats by the end of that night, every year. Much like the comics my parents put in the closet for a year for being too “mature” (they ended up being eaten by rats), Halloween didn’t seem very accessible to a kid in the suburban hills of Australia: a country not particularly fond of the tradition. What are you guys doing for your spooky celebrations? While you think about that, I’d like you to indulge me for a few moments before the review really kicks off.įor me, Halloween was always a sort of forbidden fruit. Happy Halloween, guys! I figured I’d take a little more time to sit on this review and upload it at an appropriate moment – especially considering its release was only a few days away from this very special occasion.

The long halloween comics