The first of DC Comics New 52 graphic novels have started rolling out, a collaboration of DC's revamp/reboot/update on their titles, hoping to freshen things up and bring in new reader. So far the titles I have enjoyed the most are the ones that have hardly changed; like Geoff Johns continuation of Green Lantern and the Batman books. Barbara Gordon may have climbed out of her Oracle chair and back into her Batgirl costume, but not much else has changed in the Bat Family, except for everything Bruce Wayne he thought he knew was true.
In Batman: The Court of Owls Volume 1 Bruce stumbles upon a secret society in Gotham City; the Court of Owls. The Owls date all the way back to the founding of Gotham and has been pulling the strings ever since; even in Bruce's life. The Talon, the Owls personal assassin, cages Batman in a maze for days, but Batman always has an escape plan. Bruce soon discovers this Talon has somehow been dead for decades and is a descendant of his former ward, and brother-in-arms, Dick Grayson. The deeper Bruce digs into the mystery of the Owls the more his life as Batman seems to unravel. The book ends on a cliffhanger, promising that the Owls have a lot more trouble in store for the Dark Knight.
Writer Scott Snyder is most famous for his Vertigo title, American Vampire. Snyder has done a few Marvel one-shots and DC mini-series, but this is his first ongoing title tackle and I must say I'm impressed. Speaking as a Superman fan, Snyder has captured what I enjoy in a Batman storyline; a great mystery with a dash of personal drama. Batman stories that are all about catching the villain leaves me bored, but Snyder has made Bruce uncover something that has rocked his whole life's crusade.
Aside from re-introducing readers to Batman's friends and foes Snyder also re-introduces Gotham to us from the words of it's citizens to Bruce talking about every part of Wayne Tower. These descriptions really pull the story together as Batman and the Owls fight for the prize of Gotham City.
Artist Greg Capullo has been drawing Spawn for years, but now shows he's ready for the big time. His art, mixed with Snyders words, go great together. Cappullo knows how to keep the Dark Knight in the right shadows, help Sndyer bring Gotham to life, and does a great 2-page spread giving us a tour of the Batcave. It's almost like I'm watching Batman: The Animated Series all over again.
It looks like the Owls aren't going anywhere, and hopefully neither is Snyder. I haven't been this excited in reading a Batman title since Tony Daniel had Nightwing try to fill Bruce's cowl. The team of Snyder and Capullo make Batman comics what they should be; a great detective tale with the colors to match. If you enjoyed Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy and are interested in reading Batman comics this is a great jump-off point. Bring on Volume 2!
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