Batman: The Long Halloween #7: April Fool's Day

Quick answer

Batman: The Long Halloween #7: April Fool's Day is cataloged as part of the The Long Halloween reading path, giving readers a specific checkpoint in that storyline rather than a generic issue listing. Gotham Vault connects it to Batman (Bruce Wayne), Catwoman (Selina Kyle), Commissioner Gordon (James Gordon), Alfred Pennyworth, Batman: The Long Halloween, and the broader 1997-06-01 Batman publication timeline.

Issue summary

The issue opens with two overlapping scenes. Batman is reviewing the Holiday evidence in the Batcave. At the same time, the Falcone’s are questioning the Riddler to get his input into their own investigation. The Riddler initially proposes that Catwoman may be the perpetrator. He suggests that the small .22 handguns that Holiday used would be ideal in a woman’s hands. He reminds them of the ledger stolen from the Falcone safe after she broke in, and the subsequent million dollar bounty on her head. Riddler then suggests Maroni. He illustrates how the earlier slayings all favored Maroni, and reminds them that Maroni would have had ample opportunity to shoot Alberto on New Year’s Eve. He then comes up with the theory that Carla Viti is responsible. The theory is that when her son had been considering testifying that he would have implicated her. In retaliation she killed him and then flew into a rage and began killing other members of the various branches of the Gotham mob. Batman is becoming increasingly frustrated with the case. Alfred mentions that there is one possibility that it seems the caped crusader has been intentionally ignoring. Batman realizes that Alfred is speaking of Harvey Dent. Batman focuses on Dent as a suspect and realizes that he would have had ample time to commit any of the murders, and that the district attorney’s attitude toward the slayings has always…

Characters listed for this issue

Batman (Bruce Wayne)The Dark Knight of Gotham. Billionaire by day, vigilante by night. No superpowers, just iron…VIEW APPEARANCES ›

Catwoman (Selina Kyle)The world's greatest thief with a heart of... well, sometimes gold. Walks the line between h…VIEW APPEARANCES ›

Commissioner Gordon (James Gordon)The one good cop in a corrupt city. Keeps the GCPD running and the Bat-Signal lit. Never los…VIEW APPEARANCES ›

Alfred PennyworthThe man who raised Batman. Ex-SAS, current butler, permanent father figure. The only one who…VIEW APPEARANCES ›

Two-Face (Harvey Dent)Harvey Dent was Gotham's white knight DA until acid and a bad day turned him into something …VIEW APPEARANCES ›

The Riddler (Edward Nygma)Edward Nygma can't help himself — he has to leave clues. Obsessed with proving he's smarter …VIEW APPEARANCES ›

Talia al GhulDaughter of the Demon. Trained to lead, to kill, to seduce. Caught between her love for Batm…VIEW APPEARANCES ›