GN REVIEW: Batman: The Court of Owls

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!           

The B_ _ _on_er Rises in Nolan's Final Batman Film

The third film in a movie trilogy is the most difficult one to pull off.  Few film franchises have perfected the perfect trilogy, mainly because they blow it on the third one.  My trilogy of perfect trilogies are the original Star Wars, Back to the Future, and Toy Story.  Each of those films are one part of a grand story that left it's audience satisfied and the characters come full circle. 

In a film trilogy the first film sets the bar, followed by the second film raising the bar; usually.  That's why a lot of trilogies blow it because by the third film you've already "blown it" if you catch my drift.  Director Christopher Nolan set himself a huge bar to reach in this third, and final, part of his Dark Knight saga.  With expectations that high can anyone ever be satisfied?

When last we left Bruce Wayne/Batman, played by Christian Bale, he was on the run from the law, taking the blame for the murders committed by Harvey "Two-Face" Dent.  Dent is remembered as a hero, and only Commissioner Gordon knows the truth.  Eight years later, Bruce has become a shut in, until the appearance of Bane, played by Tom Hardy, forces him to put on the cape and cowl once more and protect Gotham from this uber-terrorist.  Bane is out to break not only Batman's body but his spirit as well by creating chaos and fear in Gotham, and does a pretty good job of it by the end of the film.  In his quest Batman is aided by Commissioner Gordon, played by Gary Oldman, and Detective Blake, played by Joseph-Gordon Levitt.  Bruce however is on the outs with his father figure, Alfred, played by Michael Cane, throughout most of the film and he's not quite sure if Selina Kyle, played by Anne Hathaway, is a sinner or a saint.

I don't why Bruce is limping around in the first part of the film, but that plot detail is never explained and is forgotten early. Once Batman get his wings back Alfred realizes the boy he raised is probably going to die trying to save Gotham.  Meanwhile, Bruce picks up a new ride with help from Lucius Fox, played by Morgan Freeman, even though Wayne Enterprises is in the middle of going bankrupt.  And if you think Marion Cotillard is a waste of character as Miranda, just wait, it pays off in the end. 

The performances that really stood out to me where not those of the main hero and villain.  Bale did his usual creepy voice, which is not a stretch for him, and Tom Hardy's face was covered the whole film so all you really saw was his arms moving and his fists flying.  Anne Hathaway acted great as a woman who does a lot of acting.  Selina Kyle is a strong woman who has to play dumb while being smart and kicking-ass.  I must say she does it quite well.  However the best performance I feel goes to Joseph-Gordon Levitt as Detective "every man" Blake.  He showed great confidence in his role and made us all feel like we were having the adventure beside Batman.  SPOILER:  I felt like a lot of this film was not only the end of Christian Bale as Batman, but the start of Blake's costume crime fighting days.  Knowing what I know about Batman mythology I hope Warner Bros. doesn't do a reboot but continues the story with Levitt and all the awesome story lines that could possibly follow.

   With most of the characters returning, and a whole new batch to take care of, there seemed like there wasn't a lot of character growth outside of Bruce and Selina.  But once all the pieces came together this film was a pretty enjoyable, and Nolan's Dark Knight saga had come full circle.  Bane said his trademark catch phrase right before he performed his trademark move, so the fan boy in me left satisfied.  I figured out most of the twists that kept the film interesting, but with this being the third film I wasn't putting it past Nolan to try and axe our hero in the final Act.  Next up Nolan will produce Zach Snyder's Man of Steel, which will be written by David S. Goyer, the same man who wrote all three Dark Knight films.  I just hope these guys realize Batman is about darkness and pain, while Superman is about light and hope.  Oh, and yes, Anne Hathaway is now my favorite Catwoman. Sorry Michelle, but I like me some curves.

RATING:  B   

Geoff Johns Finally Takes On The Dark Knight

     In less than two weeks Christopher Nolan's final installment of his Dark Knight trilogy will be released nation wide as thousands of "supposed" Batman fans wait in anticipation.  DC Comics is of coursing trying to cash in on every nugget of merchandise money they can gobble up during this frenzy with it's shining star being the newly released graphic novel, Batman: Earth One.  In 2010, DC came out with Superman: Earth One, a modern interpretation of the Man of Steel's origin by writer J. Michael Straczynski.  The one-shot was a huge success with a sequel on the way and DC is now hoping for the same success with this new take on how Batman begun.
    Anyone who is reading comics these days knows Geoff Johns.  He's responsible for reinvigorating Green Lantern, Flash, Aquaman, and teamed up with artist Gary Frank before on Superman: Secret Origin.  Johns is known for his ability to create great dialogue and deep character layers but has had little chance to write the Caped Crusader aside from his run on Justice League and Infinite Crisis.  I'm a huge fan of Johns so I was interested to see what kind of spin Johns could give Batman that writers like Frank Miller and Grant Morrison haven't already done.

     Thomas and Martha Wayne are shot in an alley while their young son, Bruce watches in horror.  That part of the story hasn't changed.  But in the middle of his campaign for major Thomas calls for the man who saved his life years ago, Alfred Pennyworth.  Mr. Wayne needs Alfred's help in protecting him for traitors within his own camp.  When the Waynes are murdered Alfred reluctantly becomes Bruce's legal guardian and soon begins to train Bruce on everything he learned from his previous life as pretty much a British Navy Seal.
     Bruce dons the cape and cowl just as detective James Gordon gets a new partner, policeman/former reality TV star Harvey Bullock.  Bullock shows up in Gotham with the goal of solving the mysterious Wayne murders, but gets more than he bargained for when Gordon shows Bullock how the streets of Gotham really work.  Meanwhile Bruce is also working the case of his parents, and it all seems to lead back to his fathers political competitor, Major Oswald Cobblepot.  But Bruce's new bat costume isn't scaring anyone.  Alfred must try and convince Bruce to give up his pointless crusade or lose the boy he raised to Gotham's criminals and conspiracies. 
    I didn't know what to expect when I heard Johns was taking on Batman.  I always felt like Johns told deeper and happier tales than the Dark Knight should be, but I was pleasantly surprised by Geoff; again.  He wrote subtle differences into the story that did not make it seem like just another recycled version of Bob Kane's classic origin.  I loved how both Gordon and Bullock completely change who they are by the end of the book, and how Gordon's change mirrors that of Gary Oldman's character in Batman Begins. 

     Bruce's first attempts as Batman are so raw, undisciplined, and disastrous that is made me feel like this is how I would be if I tried to jump from tall buildings while chasing criminals my first time out.  That part really sucked me into the story and connected me to Bruce.  The biggest character change was Alfred. In most interpretations he's a den mother to Bruce, but Johns writes him as a rough and disapproving father who tries to dissuade his son's quest at every turn, but trying to keep him safe along the way.  It was a great change of pace, and mixed in with Gary Frank's terrific art I would swear the actor Sam Elliott was in mind when he drew Alfred.  Maybe Mr. Frank was watching Road House at the time.  That would make Bruce Patrick Swayze. 
    Overall I enjoyed this novel way more than the first Earth One tale, and I favor Superman way more than Batman.  But even I are not immune to a great story by Geoff Johns.  Especially when its topped off with Frank's great art.  I'm not sure how true Batman readers will feel about this lighter rendition of a detective comic, but I think it makes it very accessible to all who just love a good story with well developed characters. OMG! That means the Penguin is Brad Wesley!  It all fits into place!  I'm on to you Mr. Johns.  I'm on to you!