By Jon Palmer
The deadly Court of Owls
Batman – the new 52 is a refreshing re-launch that is slowly introducing us to a new a battle for Gotham City, one between Bats and Owls. This is a battle I didn’t see coming but one that is slowly hinted at in issue one, with issues 2 to seven bringing the owls into the fore and issue eight begins the ‘Night of the Owls’.
From when I started reading Batman comics and any others that have followed I have always enjoyed the narration given by Wayne/Batman as he scopes the streets of Gotham. That’s exactly what we are given in this re-launch, the observant, thought provoked but justice fuelled mind set that reminds us that this whole story, in any incarnation, is all about Bruce Wayne and that Batman is just who he uses to get his justice.
Amongst his narration and the events that are unfolding, Batman manages to give us a sense of Gotham’s history, from its buildings, to the Waynes’, the Powers’ and with it little snippets of how the Owls have always been in Gotham.
In one of the scenes, Bruce Wayne is explaining the design and structure of the buildings built by his family as he is falling from one of them and it is this type of storytelling that is testament to the minds of both the writers and illustrators of Batman in how they pull it off. The action scenes are another thing that I am really enjoying about this series, the way that dialogue invites you into believing something is just around the corner when in fact it is around the next one, and then without any warning an explosion blows up in your face at the same time as it does Batman’s.
Along with these explosions is the way that Batman seems to be getting knocked down or kicked about, like when he is put in a maze by a load of watching Owls and when he’s ready he just gets himself a souped-up Bat suit and kicks back.
Then the assault begins with Batman’s allies joining in the fun, with Batman trying to save one of the Owl’s targets this leads him to a very unexpected discovery and with this the past of the Waynes’ suddenly comes to the forefront and their links to the Owls are very close indeed.
Writing about links and ties from issues nine and ten we are given a nice sub-story at the end of the comics set around the time of Bruce’s childhood but more interestingly it gives an altogether new look at the Pennyworths’.
It’s this little extra layer in the multitude of levels Batman has brought us that is slowly entwining Alfred, and his family’s involvement to what is happening today. Along with all the other good stuff in this series, I can’t wait to see where it all leads.
One thing is for sure any owl fans might have to change sides.
You can follow Jon on twitter at @palmerjono
Posted on July 6th, 2012
Category: IN THE BLACK HALL, REVIEWS
Tags: Batman, Comic Review, Court of Owls, DC Comics, Greg Capullo, Jon Palmer, Night of Owls, Scott Snyder, The New 52