Batman, Volume 1: The Court of Owls by Scott Snyder is a graphic novel that introduces the Court of Owls and their assassins the Talons to the Batman lore. This story that is only ten years old has already been used for Gotham the TV show and Robert Pattinson wants this to be the next villain in his The Batman sequel. The story is intense and personal for both Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson former Robin currently known as Nightwing, as the Court of Owls and the Talons have links to ancestors. The narrative does a really cool thing to show disillusionment where the words and panels go to the side and eventually upside down, where you the reader have to flip the book all the way around to read. The artwork is haunting and gives new designs to characters like the Riddler who has a question mark mohawk. The individual issues have a beginning middle and an end while letting the main story go further. Which is a hard thing to do in comics but Scott Snyder does it with ease. This story kicked off the new 52 DC Comics run that started all stories over. The Court of the Owls Saga starts in Batman, continues in Nightwing and Batgirl and ends in Batman Volume 2. This story is a reread for me I have an opportunity to go to a con where Scott Snyder is at and wanted to read one of my favorite graphic novels again. Batman, Volume 1: The Court of Owls collects Batman (2011) 1-7.

The Plot Summary: The Volume starts off with a bang asBatman starts fighting a plethora of inmates in Arkham Asylum and Nightwing was undercover as on of the villains. This was all done to expose a guard on the take and helping inmates escape. Batman changes into Bruce Wayne and meets Lincoln March the man running for the new mayor, who’s charming and agrees to meet Bruce to discuss funding his campaign. Bruce over hears of a murder and investigates the muder that is full of knife wounds. The victim is a John Doe but Batman finds a strange mineral and DNA under the victims skin and a message that Bruce Wayne dies in 24 hours. This leads Batman to meeting his first Talon assassin and a message from the Court of Owls which is an old creepy nursery rhyme from Bruce Wayne’s past. Bruce Wayne meets the man running for Lincoln March and a Talon tries to assassinate them both even though Bruce Seems to be the real target. The only way Bruce survives is knowing the building but the Talon is dead and we finds out is a distant relative of Dick Grayson. Batman/ Bruce Wayne must now stand trail by the Court of Owls for killing a Talon.

What I Liked: Fantastic writing by Scott Snyder who I think is the best in the business for Batman writing. It’s not just the story but the dialogue and the inner monologue. The art and action are great and easy to follow. The detective aspect is really strong in this story. I loved the relationship of Batman and his first Robin and how tumultuous it is at times. The back story Court of the Owls is super interesting. The ending for the last issue in this volume was so great and rose the stakes. The opening scene in Arkham Asylum was a really great action packed start.

What I Disliked: The mystery angle could have made a little more sense and spelled out a little better on how he tracked the Talon down. There’s was one panel that confused me when the Talon and Bruce Wayne fly out the window it looks like they fall back to the floor but it was just a not clear enough drawing that they were still falling I had to look at it twice.

Recommendations: This book is a great Batman story and the birth of new villains that will shake up Batman Comics for the future. This is one of the best written Batman stories I can easily say. I rated Batman, Volume 1: The Court of Owls by Scott Snyder 5 out of 5 stars. This was a re-read for me but I remain blown away by this excellent story.