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Batman: Dark Victory #7-13
Batman: Victoria Oscura, parte 2
El asesino conocido como “el Ahorcado” sigue causando estragos entre la policía de Gotham City y continúa dejando como única pista el juego infantil homónimo. El principal sospechoso es Dos Caras, el antiguo fiscal del distrito, pero el caso no parece estar demasiado claro. Por su parte, el Joker emprende una de sus habituales oleadas de asesinatos mientras, en el circo Haly, el joven Dick Grayson está a punto de sufrir un duro revés por culpa de un mafioso de poca monta.
Concluye Batman: Victoria oscura, la secuela de la célebre serie El largo Halloween, con la resolución del misterio y la introducción de elementos clave de la mitología del Caballero Oscuro de la mano del guionista Jeph Loeb y del dibujante Tim Sale.
Concluye Batman: Victoria oscura, la secuela de la célebre serie El largo Halloween, con la resolución del misterio y la introducción de elementos clave de la mitología del Caballero Oscuro de la mano del guionista Jeph Loeb y del dibujante Tim Sale.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
About the author
Jeph Loeb
1,536 books1,458 followersJoseph "Jeph" Loeb III is an Emmy and WGA nominated American film and television writer, producer and award-winning comic book writer. Loeb was a Co-Executive Producer on the NBC hit show Heroes, and formerly a producer/writer on the TV series Smallville and Lost.
A four-time Eisner Award winner and five-time Wizard Fan Awards winner (see below), Loeb's comic book career includes work on many major characters, including Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Hulk, Captain America, Cable, Iron Man, Daredevil, Supergirl, the Avengers, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, much of which he has produced in collaboration with artist Tim Sale, who provides the comic art seen on Heroes.
A four-time Eisner Award winner and five-time Wizard Fan Awards winner (see below), Loeb's comic book career includes work on many major characters, including Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Hulk, Captain America, Cable, Iron Man, Daredevil, Supergirl, the Avengers, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, much of which he has produced in collaboration with artist Tim Sale, who provides the comic art seen on Heroes.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 6, 2025
5/5
Forget dark Victory, this should be renamed "Harvey Dent - The Two faces of crime". Because for all intents and purposes this is the Harvey Dent show, and i didn't even mind! So cold. Tell me how in a comic with Mr Freeze two face is still the coldest man in the room???
Also my favourite piece of dialogue and potentially my favourite moment from the comic, "Harvey Dent is a married man, don't ever forget that." The context of the moment makes it blissfully beautiful, beleive me.
Alright, enough about the coldest man in the room, now onto dick grayson. I was really taken aback when he was introduced but it fits the story perfectly and intertwines masterfully with the plot. A very pleasant surprise and a much earlier introduction of Robin than I was ever expecting here from Loeb.
Once again Loeb also shows to really utilise batman's extensive rogue gallery, as we see a wide array of cameos that all seem to hit the sweet spot. (special shoutout to 'gangster joker' what a cool thing to do).
Batman is as brilliant here as he is across the entirety of this run. But even I have to admit he's standing in two-faces shadow for large parts of it.
I also quite enjoyed the twist and genuinely didn't see it coming.
And so it's with a deep sadness but a great appreciation that I wrap up the long halloween run from Loeb. It's been a great ride. Four 5s and one 4. Not too bad at all.
Forget dark Victory, this should be renamed "Harvey Dent - The Two faces of crime". Because for all intents and purposes this is the Harvey Dent show, and i didn't even mind! So cold. Tell me how in a comic with Mr Freeze two face is still the coldest man in the room???
Also my favourite piece of dialogue and potentially my favourite moment from the comic, "Harvey Dent is a married man, don't ever forget that." The context of the moment makes it blissfully beautiful, beleive me.
Alright, enough about the coldest man in the room, now onto dick grayson. I was really taken aback when he was introduced but it fits the story perfectly and intertwines masterfully with the plot. A very pleasant surprise and a much earlier introduction of Robin than I was ever expecting here from Loeb.
Once again Loeb also shows to really utilise batman's extensive rogue gallery, as we see a wide array of cameos that all seem to hit the sweet spot. (special shoutout to 'gangster joker' what a cool thing to do).
Batman is as brilliant here as he is across the entirety of this run. But even I have to admit he's standing in two-faces shadow for large parts of it.
I also quite enjoyed the twist and genuinely didn't see it coming.
And so it's with a deep sadness but a great appreciation that I wrap up the long halloween run from Loeb. It's been a great ride. Four 5s and one 4. Not too bad at all.
November 9, 2025
Batman: Dark Victory, Part 2 is an explosive end to the Long Halloween trilogy.
While not the strongest volume overall in the series, I do think this one had the most memorable moments, almost all of them surrounding Two-Face. From the court breakout to his point-blank shooting of both Porter and the Hangman with no remorse, and leading the ragtag team of villains—Harvey Dent did it all.
The crime-noir elements were equally at their peak here. We all know I love a good street-level story, and the focus around Gotham’s crime families delivered just that. The focus on the Hangman’s killings was particularly effective; I found myself growing depressed the longer they went on, desperate for them to come to an end. That's the mark of a great mystery done right.
However, I still find myself wishing for more from Two-Face. It feels like for all he's been building throughout the entire series, he really didn't have that much to do compared to other characters in this volume, and I found his ending to be dissatisfying. As this is meant to be his definitive comic arc, perhaps I'll never be fully pleased.
Despite a slight disappointment with the finale of Two-Face's arc, the peak crime-noir atmosphere and unforgettable moments make this a solid conclusion and a very strong 4-star read.
While not the strongest volume overall in the series, I do think this one had the most memorable moments, almost all of them surrounding Two-Face. From the court breakout to his point-blank shooting of both Porter and the Hangman with no remorse, and leading the ragtag team of villains—Harvey Dent did it all.
The crime-noir elements were equally at their peak here. We all know I love a good street-level story, and the focus around Gotham’s crime families delivered just that. The focus on the Hangman’s killings was particularly effective; I found myself growing depressed the longer they went on, desperate for them to come to an end. That's the mark of a great mystery done right.
However, I still find myself wishing for more from Two-Face. It feels like for all he's been building throughout the entire series, he really didn't have that much to do compared to other characters in this volume, and I found his ending to be dissatisfying. As this is meant to be his definitive comic arc, perhaps I'll never be fully pleased.
Despite a slight disappointment with the finale of Two-Face's arc, the peak crime-noir atmosphere and unforgettable moments make this a solid conclusion and a very strong 4-star read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2023
It seems that the ending was also pretty good. Probably the most captivating Batman story I've read overall.
September 4, 2026
Batman: Dark Victory – Part 2 Review
After being pretty disappointed by Dark Victory Part 1, Part 2 honestly surprised me a lot.
For me, the second half does almost exactly what I had hoped the first one would do. The story becomes much more exciting, the different plotlines finally start to matter, and this time I actually felt like something important was happening throughout most of the book.
There are a lot more reveals, new information, and developments that I genuinely did not see coming. Looking back, I can understand better why Part 1 was structured the way it was. A lot of it was clearly setup for what happens here.
That said, I do not think a strong payoff completely excuses the weaknesses of the first half. Part 1 still dragged too much for me and had too few moments that were actually exciting. A good second half can make the setup feel more meaningful in hindsight, but it does not suddenly make that setup entertaining.
Part 2, on the other hand, does a much better job of connecting everything that was introduced before.
I especially liked how certain plotlines were revealed and tied together. In The Long Halloween, I eventually had at least some idea of where the mystery might be going. Here, there were several developments I really could not predict, and that made the story feel much more rewarding.
The pacing was also noticeably better. I did not constantly feel like the same thoughts were being repeated or that several pages were being used to explain one small point. The book still reads very smoothly, but this time I also had that feeling of actually wanting to continue immediately.
One thing I am still disappointed by, though, is Gordon.
I really think they could have done much more with him throughout this whole saga. In The Long Halloween, Gordon still felt like he had a more meaningful presence, and I could better believe that the events around him were personally affecting him.
In Dark Victory, we are repeatedly told that he is struggling, and he talks about Harvey Dent and the old days, but I still feel like the story never goes deep enough into that.
Batman and Gordon often refer to a time when they and Harvey were close and worked together on cases. The problem is that if you entered this story through The Long Halloween like I did, you never really got to see enough of that friendship to fully feel the emotional weight of those references.
So when Gordon talks about what Harvey became, I understand why it hurts him, but I do not always feel it as strongly as the story seems to want me to.
I would have liked to see more of Gordon’s personal struggles. More of how the deaths of his fellow officers affect him. More of his family problems. More moments where you can actually see him trying to keep functioning while everything around him falls apart.
The story hints at all of this, but for me it stays too close to the surface.
What I really did enjoy, though, was the introduction of Robin.
Dick Grayson does not get an enormous amount of time, and I definitely would have liked more scenes between him and Batman, but for what this story is trying to do, I think it works.
His introduction feels natural, and I liked how his story is connected thematically to Bruce’s.
It is not just Batman suddenly deciding that he needs a sidekick. You can understand why Bruce sees something of himself in Dick and why he chooses to bring him into his life.
That made Robin feel more meaningful to me than just being a younger version of Batman.
Especially after the final 10–15 pages, I immediately wanted to read a proper Batman and Robin story where their relationship is the main focus.
So even though I would have liked more of them here, I think Dark Victory gives you enough to make you interested in seeing where that relationship goes next.
I also still really like the art style.
By this point, I have completely adjusted to Tim Sale’s artwork, and I think it gives this whole saga a very distinct identity. The characters can look exaggerated and unusual, but that fits the dark, almost timeless version of Gotham extremely well.
The heavy shadows, strong contrasts and the combination of noir, mafia drama and classic Batman imagery make the book visually very recognizable.
What I liked most about Part 2 overall is that so much of what was previously introduced finally starts to feel purposeful.
Part 1 throws a lot of characters, conflicts and clues at you. Part 2 actually uses those things instead of just adding even more.
By the end, I genuinely felt like the story had reached a meaningful conclusion.
Without spoiling anything, most of the major questions built up during Dark Victory are answered here. There is still one bigger question left open, which is probably the main reason I am now curious about The Last Halloween.
I will probably continue with that next and see how this entire saga is finally concluded.
Dark Victory Part 2 is also difficult to judge as a completely standalone comic, because it obviously depends heavily on The Long Halloween and Part 1. But as a continuation and conclusion to Dark Victory, I think it works extremely well.
And honestly, that almost makes Part 1 more frustrating, because Part 2 shows how engaging this story can be once all the setup finally starts paying off.
I had a lot of fun with this one, I was actually surprised by several developments, and by the end it even made me want to read more Batman and Robin stories.
After how I felt about Part 1, I really did not expect my opinion to change this much.
4.2/5
After being pretty disappointed by Dark Victory Part 1, Part 2 honestly surprised me a lot.
For me, the second half does almost exactly what I had hoped the first one would do. The story becomes much more exciting, the different plotlines finally start to matter, and this time I actually felt like something important was happening throughout most of the book.
There are a lot more reveals, new information, and developments that I genuinely did not see coming. Looking back, I can understand better why Part 1 was structured the way it was. A lot of it was clearly setup for what happens here.
That said, I do not think a strong payoff completely excuses the weaknesses of the first half. Part 1 still dragged too much for me and had too few moments that were actually exciting. A good second half can make the setup feel more meaningful in hindsight, but it does not suddenly make that setup entertaining.
Part 2, on the other hand, does a much better job of connecting everything that was introduced before.
I especially liked how certain plotlines were revealed and tied together. In The Long Halloween, I eventually had at least some idea of where the mystery might be going. Here, there were several developments I really could not predict, and that made the story feel much more rewarding.
The pacing was also noticeably better. I did not constantly feel like the same thoughts were being repeated or that several pages were being used to explain one small point. The book still reads very smoothly, but this time I also had that feeling of actually wanting to continue immediately.
One thing I am still disappointed by, though, is Gordon.
I really think they could have done much more with him throughout this whole saga. In The Long Halloween, Gordon still felt like he had a more meaningful presence, and I could better believe that the events around him were personally affecting him.
In Dark Victory, we are repeatedly told that he is struggling, and he talks about Harvey Dent and the old days, but I still feel like the story never goes deep enough into that.
Batman and Gordon often refer to a time when they and Harvey were close and worked together on cases. The problem is that if you entered this story through The Long Halloween like I did, you never really got to see enough of that friendship to fully feel the emotional weight of those references.
So when Gordon talks about what Harvey became, I understand why it hurts him, but I do not always feel it as strongly as the story seems to want me to.
I would have liked to see more of Gordon’s personal struggles. More of how the deaths of his fellow officers affect him. More of his family problems. More moments where you can actually see him trying to keep functioning while everything around him falls apart.
The story hints at all of this, but for me it stays too close to the surface.
What I really did enjoy, though, was the introduction of Robin.
Dick Grayson does not get an enormous amount of time, and I definitely would have liked more scenes between him and Batman, but for what this story is trying to do, I think it works.
His introduction feels natural, and I liked how his story is connected thematically to Bruce’s.
It is not just Batman suddenly deciding that he needs a sidekick. You can understand why Bruce sees something of himself in Dick and why he chooses to bring him into his life.
That made Robin feel more meaningful to me than just being a younger version of Batman.
Especially after the final 10–15 pages, I immediately wanted to read a proper Batman and Robin story where their relationship is the main focus.
So even though I would have liked more of them here, I think Dark Victory gives you enough to make you interested in seeing where that relationship goes next.
I also still really like the art style.
By this point, I have completely adjusted to Tim Sale’s artwork, and I think it gives this whole saga a very distinct identity. The characters can look exaggerated and unusual, but that fits the dark, almost timeless version of Gotham extremely well.
The heavy shadows, strong contrasts and the combination of noir, mafia drama and classic Batman imagery make the book visually very recognizable.
What I liked most about Part 2 overall is that so much of what was previously introduced finally starts to feel purposeful.
Part 1 throws a lot of characters, conflicts and clues at you. Part 2 actually uses those things instead of just adding even more.
By the end, I genuinely felt like the story had reached a meaningful conclusion.
Without spoiling anything, most of the major questions built up during Dark Victory are answered here. There is still one bigger question left open, which is probably the main reason I am now curious about The Last Halloween.
I will probably continue with that next and see how this entire saga is finally concluded.
Dark Victory Part 2 is also difficult to judge as a completely standalone comic, because it obviously depends heavily on The Long Halloween and Part 1. But as a continuation and conclusion to Dark Victory, I think it works extremely well.
And honestly, that almost makes Part 1 more frustrating, because Part 2 shows how engaging this story can be once all the setup finally starts paying off.
I had a lot of fun with this one, I was actually surprised by several developments, and by the end it even made me want to read more Batman and Robin stories.
After how I felt about Part 1, I really did not expect my opinion to change this much.
4.2/5
September 28, 2025
DARK VICTORY PART 2 brings with it the same urgency as the first half of the story. More, perhaps, since we’re closing in on the one-year mark of the first cop killing. Batman is slightly less lonely; he’s more trusting of Commissioner Gordon, further cementing their allyship. Just as importantly, we see the introduction of Dick Grayson who, by the end of the story, becomes Robin.
I like that Robin doesn’t make his debut until the climax. Bruce has always caught flak for bringing children into his war, as he should. He does this ostensibly to make them better people; to give them a positive outlet to channel their rage and sense of justice. If he’s going to do this, and he is, better to wait until they’re ready than act on his own loneliness and induct a soldier into a war the soldier has no chance of surviving in.
I like DARK VICTORY as much as THE LONG HALLOWEEN. Maybe more. VICTORY is a sequel that stands unabashedly on the shoulders of its predecessor. It brings to the table the same pattern (holiday killings) and the same mystery (who is the holiday killer?), not to mention Batman at his best as a detective. But it also adds new pieces. I love the slow but inexorable extermination of Gotham’s crime families by the “freak” supervillains. I love what the introduction of Robin brings to the story.
But this doesn’t have to be a case of liking one over the other. They’re both outstanding and should be read by every Batman fan, as well as by comic book readers of all stripes who appreciate great stories that respect their intelligence as readers.
Also, since I forgot in my review for PART 1, a huge shoutout to Jim Sale for his outstanding artwork. Characters, especially Batman, loom large; villains like The Joker are drawn in sharp, angular shapes. Shadows are thick with dread and tension. It’s all so good and complement Loeb’s writing perfectly.
I like that Robin doesn’t make his debut until the climax. Bruce has always caught flak for bringing children into his war, as he should. He does this ostensibly to make them better people; to give them a positive outlet to channel their rage and sense of justice. If he’s going to do this, and he is, better to wait until they’re ready than act on his own loneliness and induct a soldier into a war the soldier has no chance of surviving in.
I like DARK VICTORY as much as THE LONG HALLOWEEN. Maybe more. VICTORY is a sequel that stands unabashedly on the shoulders of its predecessor. It brings to the table the same pattern (holiday killings) and the same mystery (who is the holiday killer?), not to mention Batman at his best as a detective. But it also adds new pieces. I love the slow but inexorable extermination of Gotham’s crime families by the “freak” supervillains. I love what the introduction of Robin brings to the story.
But this doesn’t have to be a case of liking one over the other. They’re both outstanding and should be read by every Batman fan, as well as by comic book readers of all stripes who appreciate great stories that respect their intelligence as readers.
Also, since I forgot in my review for PART 1, a huge shoutout to Jim Sale for his outstanding artwork. Characters, especially Batman, loom large; villains like The Joker are drawn in sharp, angular shapes. Shadows are thick with dread and tension. It’s all so good and complement Loeb’s writing perfectly.
January 23, 2019
Temné vítězství plynule navazuje na Dlouhý Halloween a opět se řeší sériová vrah. Je to skvělá noirová detektivka, která vás nepustí, dokud neotočíte poslední stránku druhé knihy. Stejně jako u Dlouhého Halloweenu je to docela hodně zamotané, ale konec je zde, alespoň pro mě, jasnější a bez otazníků. V druhé knize mě docela potěšil zmodernizovaný origin Robina. Kresbu Tima Sala jsem si oblíbil už v Dlouhém Halloweenu. Sice mám k některým prvkům jeho kresby výtky, ale jeho kompozice, práce se stíny a celkově atmosféra je parádní.
May 26, 2019
A very satisfying conclusion of Dark Victory along with the introduction of Dick Grayson, the first Robin.
Loeb is a genius in the world of Batman and again the art style was just incredible, the pages comparing Robin and Bruce's childhood's designed in black and white and alternating in colour, were just stunning.
Loeb is a genius in the world of Batman and again the art style was just incredible, the pages comparing Robin and Bruce's childhood's designed in black and white and alternating in colour, were just stunning.
October 12, 2024
A great, mostly self-contained story focusing on the origin of the first Boy Wonder and the transition from Mafia villains to super-villains. It was easy to follow because next to no knowledge is required of the broader DC multiverse. Just a great detective story with suitable gloomy art.
A pleasant surprise!
A pleasant surprise!
September 29, 2025
Dark Victory absolutely knocks it out the park. who thought the sequel to the Long Halloween could be even better. This story really shines in narrating the transition of Gotham being run by cartels and crime lords to the uprising of more powerful era of cunning new age villains
December 27, 2017
Great to see Robin come! I loved the emotion in this book, the originality of the story, and to discover who did it! Still I don't like the illustrations.
August 9, 2018
No es gran cosa, ni original presentar de nuevo los orígenes de Dick Grayson.
January 7, 2019
4/130 (2019 Reading Challenge)
A great end to the story. Bringing in Robin & drawing the hangman case to a close. Great art & story.
A great end to the story. Bringing in Robin & drawing the hangman case to a close. Great art & story.
August 23, 2024
Termina un gran misterio y nos presentan a Dick y su inicio como Robin.
Muy bueno, paneles interesantes, popurrí de villanos y melancolía.
Muy bueno, paneles interesantes, popurrí de villanos y melancolía.
May 31, 2018
No recuerdo cómo estaban distribuidos los capítulos de Dark Victory en estos tomos pero los tuve mucho antes que el recopilatorio en inglés. Debería encontrarlos para revisar bien el contenido.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews