The Long Halloween in French: Every Edition Explained

Thirteen chapters, one murder per holiday, and in France five successive publishers or collections: from the 1997 special issues to recent limited editions, Un long Halloween has taken almost every form a translated comic can take. Here is how to find your way.

As always in this guide, only verified information (creators, issue numbers, dates) is stated as fact; the analysis is our own, with no reproduction of protected art or dialogue.

The original edition in brief

Batman: The Long Halloween is a thirteen-issue miniseries published by DC Comics starting in October 1996, with cover dates running from December 1996 to December 1997. Jeph Loeb writes, Tim Sale draws, and Gregory Wright handles the color. It follows three Halloween special issues of the Legends of the Dark Knight series, made by the same team. Unlike Year One or Hush, this is therefore a true miniseries, with an issue 1 and an issue 13.

The story follows one year in the life of Gotham in the manner of a detective story: a killer strikes on each major holiday, while the crime families wage war on each other and the costumed adversaries gradually take the place of organized crime. We reveal nothing about the culprit's identity or the resolution. For a comparison with the animated adaptation, our article on the film and the comics remains the best entry point.

The French editions, in order of release

1997 and 1998: the Semic special issues

The first French translation was released by Semic in the Batman Hors Série series (special issues), in numbers 3 to 6. The story is split into four volumes. Number 3 came out in October 1997 and collects the first three American issues. Number 4, dated December 1997, collects issues 4 to 7. Number 5, from February 1998, collects issues 8 to 11. Number 6, from April 1998, collects issues 12 and 13, that is, the end of the story.

The four issues follow one another without interruption, from 3 to 6.

For collectors, this is the first French edition, in four pieces. Number 3 opens the story, number 6 closes it: all four must be assembled. To assess the condition of these softcover volumes, rely on our guide to Lug and Semic bindings.

2009: the Absolute Batman at Panini

In 2009, Panini Comics published Absolute Batman : un long Halloween, a hardcover book of about 400 pages (sources disagree on the exact figure). The extras include interviews with the artists, original covers and preparatory drawings.

The reference ISBN is 978-2-8094-0859-1. It is the large format of that first decade, and the one that still serves as a point of comparison for fans of fine books. Our comparison of Omnibus and Absolute formats explains what that term covers at Panini.

2011: the Panini reissue

In 2011, Panini republished Un long Halloween in a more standard edition, of about 384 pages in color, with a dust jacket. The ISBN is 978-2-8094-2012-8. It includes the same extras as the Absolute edition.

2012 or 2013: Urban Comics, DC Essentiels collection

Urban Comics then published its own edition, in the DC Essentiels collection. Sources disagree on the year (2012 or 2013). The ISBN, 978-2-36577-178-8, does not vary, and the book carries the same extras: interviews, original covers and preparatory drawings. To date your copy, rely only on its printing notice.

2022: the DC Black Label edition

On January 14, 2022, Urban republished Un long Halloween in its DC Black Label collection, under EAN code 9791026828280. The translation is credited to Thomas Davier. Page counts vary from listing to listing (373 or 408), so we do not retain any. It is the natural choice for anyone who wants a library book.

Late 2022: Urban Limited

The Urban Limited collection offers Un long Halloween in a large format, in a limited, numbered print run. The announced page count varies and sources disagree: we do not retain any. You buy it for the print run, not for everyday reading.

2023: the Nomad paperback

On May 19, 2023, Urban included Un long Halloween in the third wave of its Nomad collection: a discounted 376-page paperback, translated by Thomas Davier. It is the cheapest way to read the complete story, at the expense of image size, which matters in a book where Tim Sale's line plays on shadows.

The sequel: Amère victoire

The direct sequel, Dark Victory, was published in French under the title Amère victoire, by Urban. Its action takes place a year after the Holiday case. If the subject interests you, read the original story first, then look for the sequel in the same collection to keep matching volumes on your shelf.

Original / French edition correspondence

The extras (interviews, original covers, preparatory drawings) carry over from one edition to another; their exact makeup may vary, so compare the tables of contents before buying a second copy.

Which edition to choose for your profile

You simply want to read. The 2023 Nomad is enough: thirteen chapters, 376 pages, a format that slips into a bag. If you prefer a sturdier book, the 2022 DC Black Label edition is the current large-format version.

You collect the first French edition. Target the four Semic special issues, numbers 3 to 6. Check that the lot really includes all four issues, from 3 to 6.

You like the large format. The 2009 Panini Absolute and the Urban Limited are the two milestones. The first is a hardcover book, the second stands out for its numbering and careful manufacture. It all depends on your priority: the library volume or the limited print run piece.

You like covers. The Panini and Urban editions count original covers among their extras, which can make up for the absence of the American single issues.

You come from the Hush series. The two stories share the same writer but not the same tone: one is a mystery thriller, the other a grand spectacle. Our entry on Hush as a collectible can help you compare.

Pitfalls and points to watch

Neighboring titles. Un long Halloween is the 1996 and 1997 story; Amère victoire is its direct sequel. Read the full title of the listing before buying.

Absolute in two senses. The word Absolute here refers to the format of the 2009 Panini edition, titled Absolute Batman : un long Halloween. Do not confuse it with the 2011 Panini reissue, which carries the simple title and a dust jacket.

Diverging years. The DC Essentiels edition is dated 2012 or 2013 depending on the listing. Do not rely on a stated year: read the printing notice. Our French-edition collector's glossary explains how to spot it.

Page counts. Announced pages vary (392 or 380 for the Absolute, 373 or 408 for the DC Black Label). Do not reject a copy on that criterion alone.

Semic split. The division into four volumes does not follow the division into thirteen issues: the first volume collects three, the second four. Do not expect one chapter per album.

Limited editions. Numbered print runs are only worth something complete, with their original packaging. Check for the number and the dust jacket.

Recognizing an edition by its code. Four volumes stand out clearly by their identifier: 978-2-8094-0859-1 for the 2009 Panini Absolute, 978-2-8094-2012-8 for the 2011 Panini edition, 978-2-36577-178-8 for the Urban DC Essentiels and 9791026828280 for the Urban DC Black Label. Note it before any remote purchase: a listing that does not give it leaves doubt about the edition, and the title alone is not enough, since Panini and Urban use similar titles.

Spotting the Semic special issues. The four volumes carry the mention Batman Hors Série and a number, from 3 to 6. Since the same series includes other special issues devoted to other stories, check that the number and the subtitle Un long Halloween appear on the cover or spine before approving a lot.

What these editions are worth to collectors

The French market for this title is structured on three levels. On the first, the current Urban editions, which serve as the reference price: a secondhand copy in good condition necessarily sits below the new price. On the second, the older editions, such as the 2009 Absolute or the Semic special issues, whose value depends on condition and completeness. On the third, the numbered limited print runs, whose value follows the condition of the packaging and the scarcity of the number.

To estimate your copy, relate it to the closest reissue still available new: that is the natural ceiling for a reading copy. A premium is justified only by scarcity, completeness or format. Then compare with completed sales, never with merely displayed listings: only real transactions tell what the market accepts.

For the Semic special issues, look first at the condition of the spine and corners, then at the completeness of the lot: four issues together hold up better than four issues sold separately. For the Absolute, check the hard cover and the condition of the corners. To hunt for these volumes at yard sales, see our guide to buying French comics at flea markets.

Finally, keep in mind that the sentimental value of a first reading cannot be measured: many readers keep the edition they read first, whatever its value.

Frequently asked questions