Batman, Vol. 1

Jul 16, 2012 Kemper rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, comics, superhero

As part of the DC’s reboot of the month, the New 52, Bruce Wayne is back as Batman. I won’t be reading any other New 52 stuff because DC is addicted to retconning, and I don’t want to be an enabler. However, this one seems to have kept a big chunk of recent Bat-happenings. I am kind of oddly bummed that Dick Grayson isn’t Batman anymore, but that’s probably partially due to how much I loved Scott Snyder’s Black Mirror story.

Anyhow, Batman goes up against a secret society called the Court of Owls...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Dan Schwent rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics, 2012, cool-covers

The Court of Owls, a long rumored secret society from Gotham's past, makes its presence known in the form of a knife wielding assassin called The Talon. Can Batman hope to defeat an enemy even more familiar with Gotham than him?

For my money, Scott Snyder can do no wrong. Batman: The Court of Owls is no exception. At first glance, the tale looks like a combination of Batman: The Black Glove and Batman: Gates of Gotham but it's a better story than either so far.

I really want to gush about this bu...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Eric rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of graphic novels and/or Batman

Shelves: graphic-novels

I was blown away by this graphic novel, which collects the first seven issues of "The New 52" reinterpretation of Batman. The hardcover book and dust jacket are beautiful, the artwork is gorgeous, and the storyline, which introduces The Court of Owls -- a new, worthy nemesis for Batman -- is enthralling. It is easily on par with the beginnings of Batman: The Long Halloween and Batman: Hush, which are my two favorite Batman arcs. I cannot wait for Volume 2 to see where this is going.

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Mar 11, 2013 David Green rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, graphic-novels-are-cool, new-52, naa-naa-naa-batman, 2013-reads

In this thrilling adventure, Scott Snyder breathes new life into the Batman franchise by introducing a terrifying new enemy...The Court of Owls!

While waging his war against crime, Batman has seen many horrible things...
backbreak

But all this time, an unseen horror has lurked in the shadows of Gotham City. For over a hundred years, rumors have been whispered about a secret society that rules the streets of Gotham, an omnipresent group known as the Court of Owls. Most people assume the tales to be mere camp...more In this thrilling adventure, Scott Snyder breathes new life into the Batman franchise by introducing a terrifying new enemy...The Court of Owls!

While waging his war against crime, Batman has seen many horrible things...
backbreak

But all this time, an unseen horror has lurked in the shadows of Gotham City. For over a hundred years, rumors have been whispered about a secret society that rules the streets of Gotham, an omnipresent group known as the Court of Owls. Most people assume the tales to be mere campfire stories told for the sole purpose of scaring the citizens of Gotham. After all, in over 100 years, no one has ever found any evidence of the Court's existence...at least no one who has lived to tell about it. But Batman must uncover the truth behind the urban legend, especially now that the Court has sent an unstoppable assassin after...Bruce Wayne!

Despite the fact that I've loved Scott Snyder's writing in the past, I still went into "The Court of Owls" with a bit of trepidation. After all, I first started reading Batman comics in the early 80s, and the idea of DC's "New 52" banner wiping out so much of that history and trying to reboot the Batman franchise sounded like it was doomed to fail. But I still had a lot of fun reading the first story arc of the new "Batman" series. For one thing, this Batman actually makes a joke now and then! Yes, grim and gritty elements can add more gravitas to the story, but so many of the 90s Batman books overdid it to the point that the always-brooding Batman was almost devoid of any personality. In fact, having read so many of those "grim avenger of the night" stories, I especially loved when Snyder had Dick Grayson hit Batman with this zinger, "So it's true...you actually do practice brooding!" Under Snyder's watch, Batman is still haunted, but the fact that he actually cracks a smile once in a while makes him even more likable and sympathetic than ever before. In addition, Snyder’s first-person narration from Batman’s point-of-view provides genuine character introspection, as verses the lame ”I am the night” rhetoric that so many other writers fall back on.

But what really wowed me the most about this story was the inclusion of a new enemy to the Batman rogues gallery. Let's be honest, in the last couple of decades, attempts to introduce the next big Batman villain haven't always been successful. Sure, Bane was cool in "Knightfall" and in the "Dark Knight Rises" movie, but he didn't really serve a whole lot of purpose in the 20 years inbetween. And try explaining The Black Glove and Dr. Simon Hurt to anyone who doesn't have a working knowledge of at least 30 years worth of Batman canon! (Grant Morrison can never make things simple, can he?!?) But I found the concept of The Court of Owls to be executed flawlessly. The idea of Batman fighting an urban legend was such a delicious parallel, considering many Gothamites consider Batman himself to be an urban legend! And Snyder never falls back on hackneyed straw man tactics to make the Court more interesting, his brilliant writing is all it takes for us to feel the same terror Batman does when he realizes just how far the Court's reach truly extends.

An exciting adventure sprinkled with humor and horror, "The Court of Owls" is a fun ride for new and old Batman fans alike. In closing, I'll leave you with this rhyme from the book which citizens of Gotham tell each other to send shivers down their spines...
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 of them, or they'll send The Talon for your head!!!"
(less)

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Jan 21, 2013 Kurt rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Kurt by: Matt

Ugh. This is a mainstream DC superhero comic, part of the New 52 relaunch, with very little clarity on what the backstory is supposed to be in the new version of the DCU.. and I loved it despite my best efforts. I mean, I felt nice and superior when the collection started out with a silly group fight in Arkham Asylum, with Batman taking on almost everyone in his rogues' gallery, with no information for a new reader to understand how the characters fit into the new world.. but the important chara...more

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May 12, 2012 Hayden rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics-graphic-novels

Just finished the seventh issue (last that will be included in this TPB), and I am floored. Scott Snyder has been knocking it out of the park consistently for the past six months, scraping away at what might be one of the greatest Batman epics of all time. Considering he just amazed everyone last year with his Black Mirror storyline, it's easy to see why Snyder is easily considered one of the best (and my favorite) writers in the industry right now.

I feel the need to mention issue 5 of this in p...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Anne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics, graphic-novels, read-in-2012

It wasn't so awful that it deserved less than 3 stars, but to say I'm disappointed is an understatement.

Capullo is a talented artist, but I'm not a fan of the chubby Batman. Ok, maybe chubby isn't the right word. Bobble-headish. You know, when they have the impossibly large head and chin? Anyway, not my cuppa. I'm sure others will love it.

Was the story any good? Ehhhhhhh. It wasn't bad, but I had some problems with the way Batman was portrayed.
He doesn't believe the legend about the Court of Ow...more

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May 28, 2012 Sam Quixote rated it 4 of 5 stars

The book starts with the inmates of Arkham Asylum being set loose and I groaned, thinking Scott Snyder had fallen into using the template Batman story of the Dark Knight playing roundup with the villains but thankfully Snyder disposes of this tired trope quickly, almost as if he were winking “just kidding” before starting on something better. Bruce Wayne is threatened by an assassin called the Talon, a seemingly indestructible villain, used as hired muscle by a shadowy organisation called the Co...more The book starts with the inmates of Arkham Asylum being set loose and I groaned, thinking Scott Snyder had fallen into using the template Batman story of the Dark Knight playing roundup with the villains but thankfully Snyder disposes of this tired trope quickly, almost as if he were winking “just kidding” before starting on something better. Bruce Wayne is threatened by an assassin called the Talon, a seemingly indestructible villain, used as hired muscle by a shadowy organisation called the Court of Owls, kind of like Ra’s Al-Ghul’s League of Shadows but creepier as they all wear blank owl-shaped masks.

The book is similar to “The Gates of Gotham” where the history and architecture of Gotham plays a big part of the story, with more background info on the Wayne family history and the history of Gotham. I like that Snyder is building up Gotham as a substantial character in itself as it is a fascinating place that’s always shrugged off by most writers as just a background element. Snyder plays on the gothic features of the city and the centuries it’s been around, crafting a story deep in mystery.

I’m not entirely sure how this book is placed within the current Batman story arc with Grant Morrison; it seems that Batman Inc. is up and running but I thought Dick Grayson had left the Nightwing persona behind and was now Batman full time, alongside Bruce et al. so it was surprising to see Nightwing back in this book. Maybe he moonlights as both?

There’s an excellent Morrison-esque trippy sequence where Batman is trapped in a labyrinth beneath Gotham where nightmares become reality and the shadows offer no respite. I thought Greg Capullo’s layouts in this section were especially inventive and well put-together to give the feeling of unease and dread that Batman was going through. I especially liked the single crazed eye of Bruce Wayne as he went through this sequence, very “Telltale-Heart”. Capullo’s artwork throughout is great, though I thought his design of the Talon was a bit similar to the main character of the “Assassin’s Creed” video games.

Scott Snyder continues to write interesting, thoughtful, and gripping Batman books and the only reason I don’t give this 5 stars is that there is much left unrevealed at the end (though it is a tantalising finale), but this is “Volume 1” so there is more to come. Snyder has begun an excellent series and any Bat-fans will find plenty to enjoy with this book. Can’t wait for volume two-oo (couldn’t resist, sorry)!

Extended review here!(less)

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Jun 01, 2012 Seth Jacquay rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love Batman comics, and so far, this seems to be the best of the New 52 Batman lot. Unfortunately, this starts so strong that in the end you kind of wonder what just happened. I mean, are we so supposed to assume that Batman after being driven insane and just getting his ass completely kicked, to just get up and beat the crap out of this undead warrior monster thingy. I sound like Comic Book guy from the Simpsons right now, I know. Anyway, I think I should elevate this from 3 to 4 stars, becau...more I love Batman comics, and so far, this seems to be the best of the New 52 Batman lot. Unfortunately, this starts so strong that in the end you kind of wonder what just happened. I mean, are we so supposed to assume that Batman after being driven insane and just getting his ass completely kicked, to just get up and beat the crap out of this undead warrior monster thingy. I sound like Comic Book guy from the Simpsons right now, I know. Anyway, I think I should elevate this from 3 to 4 stars, because I did like it and there is some pretty amazing art in this book. There, I just did it. Are you people happy? ;-)

Now I am going to go off on a tangent. This latest incarnation of Batman doesn't really get laid enough. He is a man right? A bat... wait for it... MAN! Batwoman is getting all the action in her new comic and it is with other women, which I won't complain about. Batman seems so single minded to the point of being a dunce. We get it, he wants to stop crime in Gotham. So at night he goes out to beat the living daylights out of criminals, not that it is doing all that much. Arkham gets full of insane maniacs and then they all break free and only he has to hunt them down. A bunch of police officers die and all the crazies are still alive and back in Arkham. Do the guns the police have even work? Rinse and repeat.

Give up on Gotham, the place is unmanageable, and apparently so big that its' police state can't handle all the crime. Maybe they should bring in the Justice League and run a clean sweep. Metropolis doesn't seem to have this problem, maybe Batman could switch off cities with Superman on alternating months.

What was I talking about?

Right, I think Batman should have some human interests other than obsessively fixating on cleaning up Gotham and hunting down criminals. Yes, I realize this a comic book for children or teens and I am an adult. All I am saying is Batman deserves some love to keep him balanced otherwise, what in God's name is he fighting for?

P.S. If he is in love with Nightwing let it be known, because that would really tie up some loose ends.(less)

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May 16, 2013 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: heroes-vs-villains, manga-a-z-character-challenge

The city of Gotham has been Bruce Wayne’s home for his entire life. His family literally built the city, and he is confident that as Batman, the city is his. He knows every alley, and so when rumours of an old cult start to circulate, he blows them off. If they existed, he would know about them.
Bruce has just decided to rebuild some of the run down area’s of Gotham, at the same time, there is a race for mayor, and the man who mosts wants the position, is all for the work that Bruce wants to do....more

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Apr 15, 2013 Valerie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphicnovels-comicbooks

Until recently, my only experience with graphic novels came as a young girl. I remember an uncle who had quite the collection. When we would visit I would make my through some of his collection gravitating toward those titles that would appeal to a very young girl - think cartoon rather than action/adventure. Even though I clearly have a strong preference for movies based on comic books, it never occurred to me to acquire an interest in graphic novels. That all changed when I noticed that some o...more Until recently, my only experience with graphic novels came as a young girl. I remember an uncle who had quite the collection. When we would visit I would make my through some of his collection gravitating toward those titles that would appeal to a very young girl - think cartoon rather than action/adventure. Even though I clearly have a strong preference for movies based on comic books, it never occurred to me to acquire an interest in graphic novels. That all changed when I noticed that some of my favorite urban fantasy series started publishing graphic novel companions, which now has me browsing and purchasing from that section of the book store and growing ever more interested . . . as if I was not already geeky enough.

Skip forward to a couple of weeks ago when I won a Good Reads first reads copy Batman Vol. 2: The City of Owls from the New 52 of DC Comics. Batman has long been one of my favorite super hero characters. His darkness speaks to my darkness, what can I say. I was so excited when I got the notice that it was in the mail that I gave a big girl squeal and then rushed right out and purchased Batman Vol 1: The Court of Owls. (Well, I could hardly start at Volume 2, could I?).

My understanding of The New 52 is that DC Comics basically scrapped their entire line of comics, then picked 52 titles to move forward and reboot. This is part of a big effort to make them more appealling to younger, newer readers. I may not fit into the younger category, but score 1 new reader for DC Comics - strategy successful!

I tried my best to savor Court of Owls, my first Batman graphic novel, but I just could not hold myself back. The story was very well-written, entertaining and delisciously dark. I was actually surprised at the depth of the story for a graphic novel. Perhaps I was able to perceive this depth due to my history with the Batman lore through the cinema?

Knowing what I do about the New 52, I was kind of impressed at how they made this transition with the Batman series. The opening features a montague of the classic characters and villains to kind of establish that they are there. I admit to not being able to identify all of them, but hey, I have Google, right? And the Robin/Nightwing transition? I need to figure that one out, as well. I am hoping some details are filled in my the story in future volumes. Once past these basics, the new storyline began to unfold, telling a tale of conspiracy that ties the present to the past (how very Batman!)

The artwork was completely awesome. I am sure that some hard core Bataffcianados might critique it in comparison with past version, but I have no such hang-ups. Clean-slate, here. I especially loved the chapter cover images (Is that what they are), in particular the one for chapter 3. Simply awesome.

Will I be at loyal Batfan from here on out? That remains to be seen. Will I be stalking the shelves for Volume 3 as soon as I finish my newly arrived Volume 2? You betcha!

(less)

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Apr 07, 2013 Jason rated it 4 of 5 stars

It's Batman. 'Nuff said.

OK, maybe not. Batman's reintroduction as part of the New 52 is kind of a soft reboot. The bat-continuity is pretty much still in place, but Gotham looks...different. Less gaudy.

I would have thought that they would have reintroduced Batman by making him completely badass, but they are banking on the reader already knowing that. What we have here is Batman facing an enemy that can out-fight, out-think, and out-resource him. From the second issue on, he's in real peril.

The...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Vincent rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel

Of the two Batman books I've read by Scott Synder, I have to say I prefer "The Dark Mirror" to "The Court of Owls". Both are well paced, exciting books, but I liked the scenario presented in the former better. A scenario where Dick Grayson comes of age and sheds his Robin identity to adopt the Batman one, where he struggles to become his own Batman. In "The Court of Owls", a very young, squared jawed Bruce Wayne is Batman, Dick Grayson (original Robin) is Nightwing, Tim Drake (former Robin) is R...more

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Feb 21, 2013 Kyle Mares rated it 3 of 5 stars

i keep returning to this collection thinking i've missed something essential, but ultimately i think it's simply an average span of batman comics bolstered only by greg capullo's exceptional art, though rendered with enough writerly gloss by scott snyder to capture some kind of magic for a whole lot of readers. of all the various incarnations of batman, the prickly and humorless one (who required [and validated] the character of tim drake to begin the long road back to healed hero) is the least...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Jason Pettus rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, comics, ya, dark, smart-nerdy

(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.)

So what led me recently to reading a monthly superhero comic book again for literally the first time in decades? Two simultaneous events, really: first,I mentioned here recently how I've decided to read all 300 issues of DC Vertigo's legendary Hellblazer that got made before its "cancellation," although it...more (Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.)

So what led me recently to reading a monthly superhero comic book again for literally the first time in decades? Two simultaneous events, really: first,I mentioned here recently how I've decided to read all 300 issues of DC Vertigo's legendary Hellblazer that got made before its "cancellation," although it's not really being cancelled but rather just "rebooted," that in fact the entire shared DC Universe recently got completely set back to zero by the company, both in an attempt to simplify their titles' byzantine continuance problems and in an attempt to drum up a little publicity, which has also had me wondering lately what some of these post-reboot "New 52" titles are actually like; and right at the same time, I heard a fascinating and entertaining interview with one of these New 52 authors, Batman's Scott Snyder, on Kevin Smith's surprisingly riveting "Fatman on Batman" podcast, which got me really curious to specifically read the Batman stories that have come out since the reboot. And so I picked up the two graphic novels comprising the first 12-issue story arc, The Court of Owls and The City of Owls, which were…well, pretty much exactly what I was expecting -- good for what they are, but ultimately designed to primarily appeal to teenage boys, exactly as superhero comics have done since they were invented. So as such, then, most adult readers will find this grand conspiracy story (in which it's revealed that a secret society has actually ruled Gotham since its beginning, right under the nose of Batman without him ever having a clue, which takes him most of these twelve issues to process) to pack as much punch as a well-done YA novel, but not really enough to satisfy most grown-ups. And I have to confess, that's kind of refreshing, in the same kind of way it's been recently as well to realize that my friend's nine-year-old sons are obsessed with Star Wars: The Clone Wars in a way that my middle-aged brain will never understand; that after several decades where adults' and children's artistic choices were unhealthily mingled into this giant communal man-child pop-culture stew, it's nice to see things starting to go back to the way they've always been before Generation X, where we as a culture clearly understand that stories about laser guns and masked crime fighters are supposed to appeal primarily to teenagers and younger. I'm not saying a grown-up can't guiltily enjoy a superhero story now and again, just that I'm glad to check in with these monthly comics for the first time in a long time and see that they're back to being primarily geared towards the "whizz-bang-crash" crowd; and that combined with the flabbergasting increase in quality, regarding both production and drawing style, makes these New 52 Batmans a real winner for parents who want to pick up something smart and lively for their preteen sons, on par with the rebooted Doctor Who in terms of both intelligence and legitimate scares but undeniably made with kids in mind.

Out of 10: 8.5, or 9.5 for teenage boys (less)

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Jan 12, 2013 Laurel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: batman

After all the villains, deathtraps, and conspiracies over the years, it's difficult to imagine new scenarios that would threaten Batman, but Scott Snyder has found one. The Court of Owls, a cabal that has ruled Gotham in secret over generations and who uses an assassin named Talon, becomes a threat not only to Bruce/Batman's life but to his feelings about Gotham as the city he knows and loves to try to save. Seeing Batman afraid, really truly afraid even after escaping a deathtrap, was surprisin...more

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Dec 31, 2012 Menasyng rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Fantastic inaugural run from Snyder on the main Batman title. As a cross-over event, it was certainly a fantastic first choice for the "New 52," as whatever they released would set the mood for future events and would quite effectively make or break the new line. It went off without a hitch and did what most writers on this particular hero would love to do -- it added something lasting to the folklore. Arguably the most recognizable fictional character in the world gets the challenge of his rebo...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Michelle Cristiani rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel-batman

I like the new 52 Batman very much. And I like the storyline. It gives new meaning to the word "protective." Not just does Batman want to protect Gotham city, but he also is jealous and competitive with any person or persons who seem to know Gotham better than he does. It's a prideful side of him I hadn't thought about before, and for that I give Snyder credit. Batman acts like a parent whose child has grown up and started dating, and he doesn't approve. For that reason he refuses to give the Ow...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Subroto rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels-comics

Scott Synder hits it right out of the park for me.

Of course there is the now run of the mill superhero shit like - breaking the bat, making the bat face his inner demons, get disoriented, confused, defeated and then again stand up - something I am so fed up that one day i almost expect a bat comic parody in which the bat gets pissed and stands up and shouts at all the writers "what is this a fucking comic you prick - making me do the same things over and over again - all for your fan bitches to...more

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Oct 02, 2012 Steve rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is easily one of the best Batman stories around, and one of the best of DC's New 52 line-up. Batman and company face and old enemy and myth, the Court of Owls. With a few supernatural tones, it manages to make a very entertaining story that is very bold in design, going so far as to make frames upside down and sideways to make the viewer turn the book to be as confused as the Caped Crusader.

They also managed to create a new and cunning villain in which Batman could flex his mind against. Th...more

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Sep 30, 2012 Jeremy Stange rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-comics

When the story in the first Collected Edition for one of DC Comics’ biggest titles begins, we find Gotham in the stranglehold of fear due to a series of brutal murder that even Batman cannot seem to make heads nor tails out of. But soon enough he is as shocked as the rest of the city when the evidence slowly but surely starts to lead in the direction of one of his greatest allies ever; Dick Grayson. It will be a bitter race against the clock to stop a dark force of evil that seems to be entrench...more When the story in the first Collected Edition for one of DC Comics’ biggest titles begins, we find Gotham in the stranglehold of fear due to a series of brutal murder that even Batman cannot seem to make heads nor tails out of. But soon enough he is as shocked as the rest of the city when the evidence slowly but surely starts to lead in the direction of one of his greatest allies ever; Dick Grayson. It will be a bitter race against the clock to stop a dark force of evil that seems to be entrenched in the bowels of Gotham, one that does not shirk away from using excessive force to take out an enemy. It is starting to look like nobody in Gotham is safe any more as the Court of Owls takes centre stage, with Batman scrambling to contain this new menace.

It seems pretty much a given that everyone has heard of Batman at some point or even dares to call themselves a fan (like myself). That said, I was completely unaware of Scott Snyder’s previous work when I started on this title, so I did not realize at first that this New 52 version of Batman was written by someone already quite wise to the ways of the bat. What I mean to say is that Snyder has previously written for Detective Comics, so you can almost assume that he is able to give the readers what they want with Batman. He writes the title with a certain respect, in that Batman does not do or say anything that would seem out-of-character gives the his extensive background. But Snyder does manage to give us a Gotham with more than enough secrets to give Batman a real challenge. With ‘The Court of Owls’ he has even managed to invent a threat to the very workings of the city that might end up being remembered in the DC Comics universe for a long time to come. Nearly the entire Batman franchise comes to his aid as the story progresses, so it is also a great title to read if you are a fan of the many related superheroes that populate the streets, rooftops and skies above Gotham.

To those of you who have some experience with the world of American comics, the artwork of Batman might seem rather familiar. This is because Greg Capullo (who pencilled this first Collected Edition) was the artist for Image Comics’ major title Spawn for quite a long time (from issue 26 until 100), which is not exactly anything to sneeze at. This means that the title is filled with visually very spectacular action and a very dark and grim Batman. The downside to this is that the characters sometimes come across as rather dull and emotionless at times when this does not really fit. Despite that, Capullo’s artwork definitely gives the title a certain style that not only works well with the writing but also is very pleasing to the eye. Especially the odd spread strewn throughout the issues are definitely worth checking out; there are not a lot of scenes where they fit, but the few that are in there are absolutely breath-taking. The style is quite conventional and clean, but Gotham is cluttered and dark enough as it is.

That I was going to be impressed with this title was something that I was pretty much certain of beforehand, considering the fact that I am a big fan of Batman. But even despite that, this Collected Edition is just plain good and one of my favourite titles so far. The Court of Owls that the story-line revolves around is a wonderful creation and if that is the sort of writing that we can expect from Snyder in the future, then I really cannot wait for the next Collected Edition. An understandable must-have for Batman fans, but fans of superheroes in general will also get a big kick out of this (even if it might be a little on the dark side for their taste).(less)

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Aug 05, 2012 Nathan Herald rated it 2 of 5 stars

Batman: Court of Owls collects the first story arc in DC's "New 52" reboot of the Batman series. Apparently, unknown until now, Gotham is host to the living embodiment of a children's nursery rhyme; the so-called "Court of Owls" who basically demands that the status quo of Gotham be preserved (namely, the rich stay rich, the poor stay poor, and never the twain shall meet). As Batman has been constantly disrupting the status quo, he becomes their latest target.
I won't bother going into the sto...more Batman: Court of Owls collects the first story arc in DC's "New 52" reboot of the Batman series. Apparently, unknown until now, Gotham is host to the living embodiment of a children's nursery rhyme; the so-called "Court of Owls" who basically demands that the status quo of Gotham be preserved (namely, the rich stay rich, the poor stay poor, and never the twain shall meet). As Batman has been constantly disrupting the status quo, he becomes their latest target.
I won't bother going into the story itself, but I will discuss the conventions of the story, as that is where my complaints lie.
1. We have a new villain introduced (in this case, villains) specifically for this story arc, which in and of itself happens quite frequently. The thing that bugs me is that "The Court of Owls" is supposed to be an old folk tale that goes back at least 90 years (perhaps longer). You would figure that if this was such an important theme to the series, it would have been referenced at some point in time in the past. Since it's the first arc in the rebooted series (that includes Damien Wayne), it is apparently figured that The Court of Owls is a well known fairy tale in Gotham. This presupposition of Batman history was also seen in Batman: Hush with the introduction of Bruce's childhood friend Thomas Elliot - completely out of the blue with zero prior reference.
2. The Court of Owls modus operandi is to push their prey to the extremes of physical and psychological limits, and then kill them, ostensibly in a giant underground maze. Am I wrong, or did Bane originally do this in the Knightfall series? Didn't Alan Moore try and drive Commissioner Gordon insane in Batman: the Killing Joke?
3. The Court of Owls comprises a group of Gotham elite who secretly revel in their evilness. This one annoyed me the most, because we saw this exact same theme in the last story arc prior to the reboot! Batman:The Dark Mirror essentially recycles this concept, restating the idea that the elite of society have nothing better to do than join secret cabals, manipulate the populace, scheme and plot the Batman's downfall and embody the stereotype of privileged elite with the world on a string.

On the whole, I found this book extremely derivative and uninspired, blatantly "borrowing" from previous titles that treated their concepts with more care. I would suggest this for Batman purists or those who are brand-new to the series. For those who are familiar with earlier works, be prepared to see hollow echoes of prior stories. (less)

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Jul 25, 2012 Caroline rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels, read-in-2012

I went into this expecting to enjoy it well enough, but this ended up surprising me with just how good it turned out. So many of the graphic novel collections are hit-and-miss within these complex, already-established superhero sagas that it can be daunting to dive into them at random like I have been, but this is a solid story that kicks off with an entirely new group of villains. One common complaint about the Batman series seems to be that he's regularly pitting against the same baddies (oh,...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Justin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Scott Snyder is exactly what the Batman series has been missing. Scott is capable of engaging the reader by his phenomenal writing and cliff hangers at then end of each issue which leaves the audience gasping for more. While some of the issues are action packed, Scott Snyder paces the series with background history of the Dark Knight and also by introducing one of his greatest unknown rivals, The Court of Owls. Ruling Gotham from the shadows, The Court of Owls are ready to reclaim their city fro...more

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Jul 04, 2012 L Alec rated it 5 of 5 stars

This both is and isn't the Batman that you know. It's like the world is slightly askew, a little crooked, a little meaner than you remember--and that's just the surface of the incredible revision the Bat Universe has gone through. The Court of Owls storyline presents you with a Batman that you recognize (relentless as ever and at the top of his game) but introduces something that is, ironically, unfamiliar--fear. Wen you consider that Batman is generally the progenitor of fear in the DC Universe...more

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Jun 29, 2012 Darrell Reimer rated it 4 of 5 stars

“THE NEW 52” — DC's ill-considered reboot of its most-recognized brands — has caught public attention chiefly for its ineptitude. If you're old enough to remember the New Coke fiasco, try imagining how that campaign would have fared if, in response to the precipitous plunge in sales, Coca-Cola had responded not by returning the “classic” brew to the shelves, but by rolling out yet another radically altered, unrecognizable recipe and called it “New, New Coke.” So long as the beholder is not emoti...more “THE NEW 52” — DC's ill-considered reboot of its most-recognized brands — has caught public attention chiefly for its ineptitude. If you're old enough to remember the New Coke fiasco, try imagining how that campaign would have fared if, in response to the precipitous plunge in sales, Coca-Cola had responded not by returning the “classic” brew to the shelves, but by rolling out yet another radically altered, unrecognizable recipe and called it “New, New Coke.” So long as the beholder is not emotionally invested in the given brand, it all makes for an entertaining show.

The only DC brand that's ever mattered to me is Gotham's Dark Knight, whose character has endured any number of batty (hee!) sea-changes over the years. In his case, DC manages to at least toe the line. Writer Scott Snyder holds to Grant Morrison's mostly-reverent approach to storyline, giving readers a nameless, faceless formidable foe that appears to have the upper hand on the anally over-competent Batman. This collection (Volume 1, The Court Of Owls) is a first act, which requires the Batman be wounded and potentially down for the count, with readers wondering how this could possibly reach a pleasing resolution. It works, albeit on the same emotional level as watching one's favourite team lose the first three games in a play-off series, and no deeper.

Greg Capullo's artwork brings the edge that the material desperately needs. His style typically strikes a balance between Frank Miller and Todd McFarlane. Again, “reverential” is the word that comes to mind, and since the execution is done with such care it's an entirely laudable approach. But midway into Batman's direst crisis, the style slips into something more akin to Mort Drucker, portraying our hero in carricaturish proportions that render him as something comically pitiable.

Batman rouses and rescues himself, of course, but the visual effect is surprisingly intimate — an insight into Bruce Wayne's humiliated point-of-view, certainly, but also a subtle acknowledgement of the reader's complicit participation in the hero's degradation.

So, yes, full marks from me, too. Here's hoping the other 51 can hitch up their tights and pull in a few more readers, because it would be a shame to see the entire DC edifice collapse on top of their sole compelling storyline.(less)

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Jun 08, 2012 Etoma rated it 5 of 5 stars

Batman New 52 has been a absolute joy, it is the kind of comic book that elevates the medium. It shows Batman as a detective, a hero and a hubris filled vigilante. Batman is shown at his most badass and his most broken. Scott Snyder is the best writer at DC comics right now, of that there is no debate. He his Batman is a compelling, smart, flawed and human hero. Snyder created his own villain with the Owls and they work, that is not an easy thing to do, a lesser writer under the weight of relaun...more

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Jun 01, 2012 William Thomas rated it 4 of 5 stars

Scott Snyder is my main man right now. Clearly a horror fanatic with a hidden history buff lurking beneath, his writing is always engaging, thoroughly entertaining, and masterfully crafted. In American Vampire, he is Dr Frankenstein, madly and lovingly bringing his creations to life through sheer force of will. In Batman, he brings out the detective in the bat, making his mental prowess the forefront of the stories and making my panties seriously wet because of it.

Although I question the naming...more

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May 31, 2012 Dustin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Let me start by saying The New 52 brought me back in to comics for the first time in over 15 years. I understand the arguments against it and why it frustrates some, but it's tough for me to be bummed about it when it is the reason I'm back in the comic game. Overall I have been satisfied with the reboot. I have started to settle into about 6 DC titles, plus a few Image runs. I started by checking out around 10-12 DC reboots and Batman has without a doubt been the most fun for me so far. In full...more

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May 29, 2012 Suzy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love everything about this book. Snyder, Capullo, Glapion and FCO's talents compliment each other so well. Batman over the years has been good but they have brought new life to Batman and his city. This creative team shows talent to the likes of Alan Grant, Norm Breyfogle and Scott McDaniel, in other words, Snyder and Capullo truly capture the heart and soul of the Caped Crusader! Snyder incorporates ancient Batman history so flawlessly into his story while beckoning us into a new age of Batma...more

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Batman, Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (Batman Vol. II #1)

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