Batman: The Long Halloween #8: Mother's Day

Quick answer

Batman: The Long Halloween #8: Mother'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), Commissioner Gordon (James Gordon), Alfred Pennyworth, Scarecrow (Jonathan Crane), Batman: The Long Halloween, and the broader 1997-07-01 Batman publication timeline.

Issue summary

The issue begins at Arkham Asylum. Batman has decided to question Calendar Man once again now that Mother’s Day has arrived. Julian Day seems afraid that he will be forgotten with Holiday being a higher profile calendar related killer. Calendar Man hints that he may know the identity of Holiday and asks to be released. Before Batman has a chance to respond a terrified prison guard alerts him of a break out. Batman notices the fear and realizes that the escape must be the Scarecrow. More terrified guards inform Batman that Crane’s mother visited him shortly before the escape. Batman announces that Scarecrow murdered his years earlier on Valentine’s Day. Scarecrow used straw to climb out of the building, leading the caped crusader to wonder who brought it to him. When Batman catches up with Crane the villain is on horseback. Our hero tackles his foe but in the ensuing struggle gets dosed with a heavy stream of the Scarecrows fear gas, allowing Crane to escape. Jim Gordon brings multiple officers to Wayne manor, only to be informed by Alfred that Bruce Wayne is not home. Sofia Falcone dangles a man over the side of Gotham River Bridge. The man informs her that a man who calls himself “Gunsmith” makes a custom .22 every month for the same customer. He tells her that she can find this man at Chong’s Tea House, and then she drops him over the edge. When Sofia arrives at Chong’s Tea…

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 ›

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 ›

Scarecrow (Jonathan Crane)Dr. Jonathan Crane weaponizes fear itself with his trademark toxin. Your worst nightmare, bo…VIEW APPEARANCES ›