Batman: The Court Of Owls Saga
Plot Summary and
Credits
A series of investigations leads Batman to discover the Court of Owls, an elite group of socialites who have been secretly running Gotham City since it was founded, enforcing their will using resurrected assassins called Talons. He fights them in their underground labyrinth, then in his own home, and finally goes to face the last Talon, who claims to be his younger brother.
Scott Snyder (writer), Greg Capullo (penciller), Jonathan Glapion (inker), James Tynion IV (co-writer, The Call and The Fall of the House of Wayne), Rafael Albuquerque (artist, The Call and The Fall of the House of Wayne), FCO Plascencia, Nathan Fairbairn, Dave McCaig (colourists), Richard Starkings, Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt, Pat Brosseau, Dezi Sienty (letterers), Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, the Court of Owls created by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, collection cover art by Greg Capullo and FCO Plascencia
Collects Batman #1-11
My Copy
I bought a copy of the Compact Comics edition of the Saga the day before I caught the bus home from college. My journey home amounts to a little over five hours and the great works of The Killers can only keep me going for so long, so I read the whole book from start to finish during the trip.
Before Reading
I had no doubts that I’d enjoy this comic. It’s one of the most famous Batman arcs of the modern era, where he goes up against one of my favourite villains. What more is there to say?
After Reading
That bus trip became one of the most enjoyable ever, even though the bar for five-hour public bus rides is pretty low. I think the portable format of the Compact Comics edition really contributed to my enjoyment of the Saga, since it allowed me to take what would normally be a hefty collection anywhere I went.
I absolutely love this comic. In fact, it might be my favourite out of my entire collection. This was one of the first comics I read that really showcased Batman’s ‘world’s greatest detective’ side. There were some moments when I felt that the credibility was stretched a bit (I’m not sure you could blow a hole in a marble floor using an old camera filament), but I was able to suspend my disbelief because of how well they represent Batman’s intelligence. He’s in the Justice League for a reason.
My favourite sequence has to be in Chapter Five, which has to be one of the best written and presented comics I’ve ever read, where the Court traps Batman in their labyrinth. He’s wounded from his fight with the Talon, starving after being lost for days, and is haunted by illusions of his parents. The page tilts ninety degrees as he continues onwards, until his world is literally turned upside down. I found myself struggling to keep up in some places, mainly because I wasn’t used to reading a book the other way around, but this only added to my immersion. Even though Batman’s plot armour is made of a mix of vibranium and adamantium, I felt genuinely scared for him throughout this sequence, if not for the people close to him if the Court were to take off his mask.
The reveal of Bruce’s supposed younger brother is slowly set up throughout the Saga, dropping clues every time they meet. Even though the truth of the Talon’s identity is never really confirmed, it makes for a satisfying climax to a thrilling storyline.
As for complaints… nothing springs to mind.
Closing Thoughts
The Court of Owls Saga is one of the best comics I’ve ever read, balancing the grounded detective side of Batman with the out-there action in a storyline that encapsulates everything that makes him awesome. But this comic wasn’t my introduction to the Court of Owls. That honour goes to next week’s entry, where I’ll be reviewing the story of one of the Court’s very own Talons.
