Women...Bittersweet

 

                 The most important element in the masterfully crafted graphic novel Batman: The Long Halloween was the incredible influence that the women had on Batman. Selina Kyle a.k.a. Catwoman seemed to be the female who was the most enamored with Batman, and she was not afraid to let it be known. Poison Ivy, on the other hand, was a hired henchwoman who used her special capabilities to intoxicate Batman into her irresistible mind control. The women in this novel stood out very prominently to me because I feel the novel would have been totally different without their prescence.



 

 

 

 

            The first scene that I chose involves Batman and Catwoman. Batman decides to go to Carmine Falcone's penthouse and attempt to steal his ledger. Batman has a clear plan in place, but Catwoman's prescence changes his focus: "Catwoman. This isn't the first time our paths have crossed inside this penthouse. Is there a...connection..?" (Loeb). Batman has went from being on a mission to get the ledger to being concerned with what Catwoman's intentions are because of her prescence in the penthouse.

 

 

             The second scene that I have chosen to exemplify the importance of the female prescence in Batman: The Long Halloween includes Catwoman and Batman once again. In this scene Batman has just caught Catwoman spying on a conversation between Harvey Dent, Jim Gordon, and himself. Batman and Catwoman had not seen each other since Falcone placed a bounty on both of their heads. Batman is very interested in why Catwoman is spying: "I was wondering where you've been" (Loeb). He lets us know with this statement that he had been waiting for Catwoman to resurface.





             Next, I have elected to draw your attention to the first scene that Poison Ivy is in. She is disguised as a rose salesperson, but obviously she has hatched a ploy to use her influence over plants to entice Bruce Wayne a.k.a. Batman. The rose that Selina buys for him ends up pricking his finger and allowing Poison Ivy a way in. This scene is one that I would love to see acted out again at the end of the story after both women realize who the other is. It would definitely change this scene drastically.

 

 

            This scene is by far the most disturbing display of the female influence over Bruce Wayne a.k.a. Batman. The blank stare that is on his face shows that Poison Ivy has taken complete control over him, and she is advancing her own agenda through him. Bruce Wayne clearly goes against everything he stands for: "Falcone Imports should do business with Gotham City Bank and Gotham City Bank should do business with Falcone Imports" (Loeb). Bruce Wayne had a meeting with Falcone early in the novel where he declined Falcone's offer to do business together, but Poison Ivy's influence caused him to be a submissive zombie with no thoughts of his own.

 

 

             Lastly, I've chosen a scene where Bruce Wayne a.k.a. Batman, Selina Kyle a.k.a. Catwoman, and Poison Ivy are engaged in a heated display of events. Catwoman jumps into action to save Bruce from Poison Ivy's spell. In the scene following this attack it is very evident that Catwoman has placed a claim on him: "You're like a weed that's come into someone else's yard" (Loeb). The novel would have had a completely dissimilar ending if Catwoman had not saved Bruce from Ivy's toxic tactics.



              In conclusion, the most dynamic element in this novel is the monumetal prescence of the female influence. These women have different motives, but they both shape the story in their own way. Batman is constantly trying to find out what Catwoman's intentions are, and his focus is pulled away from his goals because of it. Poison Ivy uses her powers of peruasion and special abilities to woo and capture Bruce into her trap. This novel is a brilliant and mysterious piece of literature, but it would not have been as great without the dynamic roles that these females played.