The Last Halloween maxiseries continues Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s planned finale to their iconic alternate take on Batman this week in Batman: Long Halloween: Last Halloween #7. Robin continues to rehabilitate after being shot, Catwoman becomes a suspect, and another villain is ruled out as the drama surrounding the Falcones continue!
Joining Loeb on issue #7 is Dave Johnson, who contributes a solid superhero style to the series’ rotating artist lineup. He does a good job, particularly with a great full-page splash featuring Batman and some quick thinking in a Bat vs. Cat scene. Johnson’s style particularly shines in a scene using stark white, black, and red only, reminiscent of his cover design.
A recurring theme of this series has been Batman’s overly cautiousness and worry for Robin’s well-being. That’s how the issue starts, with Batman tearing Robin, who is still recovering from his injury. This element bookends well with a final scene involving Robin visiting his parents’ grave. It’s safe to say Robin gets decent character development, setting him up to be a stronger player going forward.
As far as the ongoing mystery, this issue suggests Catwoman should be a suspect, and the question of her allegiances is surprisingly resolved by the end. It gives the issue a satisfying answer, though it’s so quick that the impact is less felt.
Robin steals the focus in this issue.
Credit: DC Comics
As for the larger mystery, expect to rule out a mainstay of Long Halloween with a tease as to another potential suspect. I can’t say there’s enough to go on as to who the new murderer is, but at least there are some new details added to the bigger picture.
Something lacking in this issue is the stakes. Our heroes never seem in danger, and never seem all that worried or rushed. Even Commissioner Gordon seems to be in no rush to solve the mystery. The inclusion of the FBI is also missing, yet it was introduced in earlier issues as if their meddling would matter. With that absent, the issue detours the bigger plot for a focus on Batman’s fatherly worry of Robin, something we’ve seen time and time again. All these things add up to an issue that feels middling as we prepare for the final act.
Batman: Long Halloween – The Last Halloween #7 is a character-driven chapter that adds depth to Robin’s journey and looks great doing it, but struggles to maintain narrative urgency as it edges toward the series’ endgame. With missing plot threads and little real danger, it feels more like a quiet pause than a thrilling escalation. Hopefully, the final issues bring the punch this one lacked.
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