Snyder, Scott
AVERAGE REVIEW SCORE:
3 out of 5
(1 book)
Batman: The Court Of Owls
(Art by Greg Capullo)
Part of DC's The Legend of Batman collection and a New 52 story. Launching the new era of Batman storytelling, this book reveals that a secret powerful cabal has been operating in Gotham behind the scenes for generations; the Court of Owls. And when Bruce Wayne unveils plans to revitalised Gotham, the Court sends in The Talon, a near-undefeatable assassin, to protect their interests.
This book's most interesting element is also its biggest drawback and your mileage on it will vary. Batman has become self-assured that he rules the night, that he is Gotham, but the discovery of a corrupt organisation secretly controlling the city throws him into a spiral of self-doubt which covers some interesting new ground for the character. Unfortunately, I really loathe the 'everything you thought you knew was a lie' trope (I'm looking at you Chris Chibnall) because it always smacks of some new writer trying to totally remake an established character/world/franchise to make their own mark and always feels like a middle finger not only to long-term fans, but also to the writers who've put the work in before. It is, admittedly, done pretty well here, but that doesn't make it okay in principle.
Also, this soft reboot of Batman turns the main character into a prick. I mean, Bruce has always been a bit of a prick to those around him, but here it goes to a whole new level featuring scenes such as the one where he punches one of Nightwing's teeth out to prove something that he literally could've just told his long-term friend using his big-boy words. Dear Mr. Snyder, this is not how you make a character 'edgy', it's just how you make them unlikeable.
3 out of 5
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DC Comics (here)