This is only the beginning,Batmandeclares at the start ofBatman: The Long Halloween#13.
The freaks, the masked heroes and villains, now control Gotham.
As writerJeph LoebtellsDen of Geek, Batman was right.
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But that duality didnt end the story for Loeb or Sale.
It was top secret between us because we had our own little master plan, Loeb says.
But we needed an opportunity.
Its always a question when youre going to commit to a year-long story.
The publisher will sort of look at you like, Do you guys still have it?
Are we gonna be waiting five years for this?'
And then he was gone.
Sale died of kidney failure on June 16, 2022 at the age of 66.
The news came as a blow to everyone in the comic world, none more so than Loeb.
I lost my friend.
I lost my partner.
ForgetThe Long Halloween, this human being is no longer in my life, Loeb says.
So I just took the two scripts that I had and I put them in a drawer.
No one would blame Loeb for making that decision.
Its because of Tim, Loeb answers confidently.
But, of course, Loeb and Sale werent the only people who made those stories timeless.
I knew it was a 10-part story so I wanted to have 10 artists.
I didnt want anyone thinking, You just replaced Tim with this guy.
It takes 10 people to replace him.
Or, more appropriately, it takes 10 people to show how much they loved him.
The list of creators reads like a comic book hall of fame.
When DC initially suggested some superstar artists, Loeb responded No, no, no, no, no.
We wanted the book to come from people who were Tims inspirations.
This guys amazing!'
But the real special part are the alternative covers from Sale himself.
Its an opportunity for us to be able to say why there isnt a Maroni family in Gotham anymore.
