Batman
There are some comic characters/teams lend themselves to long, legendary runs by some of the mediums top writers and artists. Daredevil has had Frank Miller, Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev tell his tales. The X-Men have had Stan Lee & Jack Kirby, Chris Claremont & John Byrne, Grant Morrison, Joss Whedon & John Cassady. The list goes on and on.
One character that lends itself to these legendary runs is the Dark Knight himself, Batman. If you can think of a classic comic book writer, they have probably written for Batman, whether it be an extended run or a one off. Everyone from Alan Moore and Frank Miller to Jeph Loeb and Grant Morrison have redefined how comic readers look at the tortured hero. When DC made the surprising and controversial move to reboot it's entire line, Batman was one of the few heroes that remained mainly unchanged. DC wasn't content to just let Batman slide on by.
For the first "Batman" #1 in 72 years, they tapped writer Scott Snyder & artist Greg Capullo. For 52 issues, they crafted a saga that is probably in my top 5 comic runs of all-time. Snyder & Capullo launch their legendary run by introducing a sinister Court that shakes the Dark Knight's faith in his own city.
Batman #1-7 - Beware the Court of Owls, that watches all the time,
Ruling Gotham from a shadowed perch, behind granite and lime.
They watch you at your hearth, they watch you in your bed.
Speak not a whispered word about them, or they'll send the Talon for your head.
Bruce Wayne is on a mission. In addition to his activities as the Dark Knight, Bruce plans on rebuilding and reshaping Gotham City for the future. Little does he know that he has upset a group of individuals that many believe to be nothing more than a child's nursery rhyme: the Court of Owls. The Court takes issue with Bruce's plans and sends their assassin, the Talon, to take him out. Shaken by the knowledge that perhaps Gotham isn't really his city, Batman descends into the bowels of the city to confront the Court and learn their secrets.
It's difficult to know where to begin with this because it is just so freaking fantastic. Scott Snyder jumps in feet first. I remember picking up that first issue and being pretty nervous. How different were things going to be? I breathed a pretty heavy sigh of relief when I realized the answer was: not very. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. From the first pages of the first issue featuring Batman taking on a cadre of his most famous rogues in Arkham, Snyder shows that he knows exactly what he is doing. Immediately, these sound like the characters that I've been reading for years and years. I love the interplay between Batman and Nightwing. It's great. Batman, the angsty dad, Nightwing, the loudmouth teen, even though he's an adult.
My favorite thing about this first arc and introduction of the Court of Owls is the way that it tests Batman and Bruce Wayne's connection to the city they love. It's always been interesting the pride that Bruce Wayne has in Gotham and his devotion to it. This is a city that took everything from him, but he doesn't hold that against it. He works to see the good. He always sees the potential. He feels ownership of the city and it has made him cocky. He's risen high so the fall is far when the Court of Owls and their Talon reveal themselves.
Batman shows a lot of hubris in this first arc. He's so sure that the Court is simply a fairy tale or something that will be easily taken down. He goes into the underground by himself, with no back up and is confident that whatever he finds, he can handle it on his own. He's certainly not prepared for what he finds. The labyrinthine tunnels, the seemingly ageless Court members with their faceless masks. The Talons locked in their coffins. The identities of the members of the Court aren't important. They have been here before and they will continue to be there. Snyder takes us on a warped trip through the darkest recesses of Batman's mind as he is driven to his breaking point. He believes himself to be triumphant only to be almost broken by the Talon. We never get an idea of how long Batman is presumed missing, but as the issues progress and his costume is tattered, his face damaged, his lips cracked, we know it's almost been too long. Or has it been too long?
Snyder's story is only half of why this arc works so well. Greg Capullo turns in some of the best work of his career in this arc. The aforementioned time Batman spends in the tunnels work as well as they do because of his pencils. The tension in Batman's body. The manic look in his blown pupil. The design of the Talon and the Court is uber creepy. Then there is the design of Nightwing. The carefree body language. The brightness and darkness of Gotham City. It's all so wonderful.
The first volume of the New 52 Batman sets in motion the beginning of one of the best Batman runs of all-time. It never feels like set-up, which is basically what it is. If you're a fan of comics, a fan of Batman or a just a fan of great storytelling then pick up Batman, Vol. 1: The Court of Owls on Amazon or at your local comic shop.
One character that lends itself to these legendary runs is the Dark Knight himself, Batman. If you can think of a classic comic book writer, they have probably written for Batman, whether it be an extended run or a one off. Everyone from Alan Moore and Frank Miller to Jeph Loeb and Grant Morrison have redefined how comic readers look at the tortured hero. When DC made the surprising and controversial move to reboot it's entire line, Batman was one of the few heroes that remained mainly unchanged. DC wasn't content to just let Batman slide on by.
For the first "Batman" #1 in 72 years, they tapped writer Scott Snyder & artist Greg Capullo. For 52 issues, they crafted a saga that is probably in my top 5 comic runs of all-time. Snyder & Capullo launch their legendary run by introducing a sinister Court that shakes the Dark Knight's faith in his own city.
 |
| Art by Capullo |
Ruling Gotham from a shadowed perch, behind granite and lime.
They watch you at your hearth, they watch you in your bed.
Speak not a whispered word about them, or they'll send the Talon for your head.
Bruce Wayne is on a mission. In addition to his activities as the Dark Knight, Bruce plans on rebuilding and reshaping Gotham City for the future. Little does he know that he has upset a group of individuals that many believe to be nothing more than a child's nursery rhyme: the Court of Owls. The Court takes issue with Bruce's plans and sends their assassin, the Talon, to take him out. Shaken by the knowledge that perhaps Gotham isn't really his city, Batman descends into the bowels of the city to confront the Court and learn their secrets.
 |
| Art by Capullo |
My favorite thing about this first arc and introduction of the Court of Owls is the way that it tests Batman and Bruce Wayne's connection to the city they love. It's always been interesting the pride that Bruce Wayne has in Gotham and his devotion to it. This is a city that took everything from him, but he doesn't hold that against it. He works to see the good. He always sees the potential. He feels ownership of the city and it has made him cocky. He's risen high so the fall is far when the Court of Owls and their Talon reveal themselves.
 |
| Art by Capullo |
Snyder's story is only half of why this arc works so well. Greg Capullo turns in some of the best work of his career in this arc. The aforementioned time Batman spends in the tunnels work as well as they do because of his pencils. The tension in Batman's body. The manic look in his blown pupil. The design of the Talon and the Court is uber creepy. Then there is the design of Nightwing. The carefree body language. The brightness and darkness of Gotham City. It's all so wonderful.
The first volume of the New 52 Batman sets in motion the beginning of one of the best Batman runs of all-time. It never feels like set-up, which is basically what it is. If you're a fan of comics, a fan of Batman or a just a fan of great storytelling then pick up Batman, Vol. 1: The Court of Owls on Amazon or at your local comic shop.
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