Rating: 4/5
I love a good Batman comic, and this is certainly amongst the best. The story takes place over the course of the year, and Batman has to discover the identity of a killer that only strikes on holidays. The introduction describes this as a follow up to Batman Year One, so we see a younger Bruce Wayne that is still working out his role as Batman. The focus is much more on the killer and Harvey Dent. Having read this after watching The Dark Knight, it's easy to see the influence this book had on the movie.
My favorite part of this book has to be the heavy reliance on the crime families of Gotham, specifically the Falcone. There is always mention of how screwed up Gotham is and why there is a need for Batman and using the mafia as a foundation is perfect. Are they the source of all of Gotham's problems? No, but the sheer level of organized crime speaks to why Batman even exists. It is pervasive and the attacks of Holiday begin to shake things up. The use of these more mundane villains, even with the inclusion of a bunch of Batman's iconic foes, helps to set this book apart.
The mystery behind the killer is played out pretty well too. There are so many people that would have the motive and opportunity to attack the members of the Falcone family that it becomes difficult to pin down who is Holiday. Extra points for the use of Calendar Man because he is a strange villain that fits in so well.
Despite being an older comic, I enjoyed the art. There were some images that are certainly indicative of trends in comic art at the time, but for the most part it stands apart. The coloring and use of shadow are both great. There's a reason this is considered a classic Batman title. Definitely worth a read.
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