Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Long Halloween and Teen Titans Academy #4
Batman is one of DC’s most prolific detectives, but fans know even he can’t solve every mystery thrown his way. And now in Teen Titans Academy #4, the young members of DC's new Bat-Pack are calling out one of Batman’s most famous mysteries--and how it was never technically solved after the Dark Knight and the GCPD apprehended the alleged guilty parties.
In Teen Titans Academy #4 by Tim Sheridan and Steve Lieber, a young group of Batman-inspired superheroes continue to adjust to life at the Academy, and begin to investigate the series’ greatest mystery: who is the new Red X? As the team begins chasing leads and eliminating suspects throughout the issue, they eventually hit a wall and casually mention that not even Batman could solve all his cases--including the infamous Long Halloween.
In The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, Batman attempts to track down 'the Holiday Killer,' a serial killer who strikes against Gotham’s mafiosos during holidays, much to the chagrin of the Falcones, Maronis, and Calendar Man. Over the course of the story, Harvey Dent is disfigured and adopts the Two-Face persona, and Batman eventually apprehends the killers, both Alberto Falcone and Harvey Dent. In the end, however, it is revealed that Harvey Dent’s wife, Gilda, was the true killer (at least to start). And thanks to Batman, was able to get away with it.
[Update: This article previously claimed this exchange "confirmed" the events of The Long Halloween as fans know it as part of DC continuity, along with the story's conclusion. Writer Tim Sheridan has clarified that the Bat-Pack aren't meant to be taken as reliable sources for DC's larger continuity, but more likely the "urban myths" shared about Batman's past. Therefore the reference is not intended to be considered strictly canonical, but a nod for fans to enjoy all the same.]
The Long Halloween is one of Batman’s toughest mysteries to solve, as the caped crusader continues to follow leads to catch the elusive killer while working in tandem with district attorney Harvey Dent and Captain James Gordon to bring an end to Carmine Falcone’s criminal empire. At its climax, it is revealed to Gordon that 'Holiday' was really Harvey Dent and Alberto Falcone, the latter of which committed some of the murders while lashing out at his criminal father. The reader, however, learns that Gilda Dent began the murder spree as a way to reduce Harvey’s workload and spend more time with her husband. In the end, she used information gathered from Harvey’s work and her unassuming demeanor to avoid suspicion. The perfect crime proved successful, as Batman and Gordon seemingly have no idea there was a third Holiday Killer in play (and that Gilda was truly the original). But the same can't be said of the Bat-Pack, it seems...
Confirmation that this mystery has even taken place in DC’s new Infinite Frontier continuity is huge news, primarily as it relates to Batman, Two-Face, and Catwoman. The Long Halloween having occurred would mean Batman has already surmounted a difficult and grisly case, shaping his relationship with Commissioner Gordon and adding a layer of depth to his interactions with Two-Face as the former allies clash. Two-Face, on the other hand, likely has a wife or an ex-wife who, in a way, contributed to his descent into madness (linking his origin story to Gotham’s organized crime and his last case as a district attorney). Lastly, Catwoman’s romance with Batman gains another layer of depth as their relationship during the Long Halloween was starting out at the time. The Long Halloween has the potential to be not just one of Batman’s greatest stories, but one of the most formative ones as DC takes a new approach with Infinite Frontier.
While Teen Titans Academy #4 focuses on the mystery of Red X’s identity, it provides critical insight as to how the Omniverse of Infinite Frontier can affect continuity. As Batman’s Long Halloween has seemingly occurred in the “main” continuity, the potential ramifications of this Gotham-shaking story remain to be seen.