Batman Vol. 1- The Court of Owls

Quick Summary

Pros:  The storyline is excellent and serves as a creepy and captivating addition to the Batman mythos. It is also the perfect jumping on point for anyone starting their foray into the Batman Universe. To back all this up is Greg Capullo’s artwork, which ends up being some of the best work I’ve ever seen on a Batman comic.

Cons:  The Court’s reveal happens rather quickly.

Overall:  Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo kick off the New 52 with a near perfect Batman series. The stories contained here are gripping and intense while also being strangely beautiful. The hardest thing to decide on is honestly what the highlight is: the examination of Batman’s relationship to Gotham, Batman’s newest villain, or the generally beautiful blend of storyline and artwork. This is a great collection, from artwork to story, one which I would highly suggest to anyone who is even remotely interested in reading up on Batman.

Story

Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls, by Scott Snyder, kicks off the beginning of a new era in Batman’s history with a blast. It is tense, packed with action, and has moments that will stick with you long after putting the comic down. This is a really good Batman story, one who’s many triumphs make up for any small errors its makes. This is also a really great kickoff to Batman’s New 52 series and, hopefully, will lead to many good things down the line.

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“What is Gotham?” This collection begins by asking this question and even poses several answers to it.  However this question is really less of a question and more of a theme for this story arc, as Snyder will be returning to it many times. I really like this as a theme for this work because it starts an all new chapter of the Batman by challenging a big part of what we know about him, his relationship with the city that made him. We find out, as the story progresses, that Batman is not invulnerable and that he does make mistakes. The collection even ends with Nightwing telling Batman that the Court of Owls is not Gotham “and neither are you.”

Issues five and six are the real highlights of this collection because they accomplish something that has become rarer in modern comics: they do not just tell a good story; they tell a story only comic books can tell. These scenes in the labyrinth are mostly black and white, are drawn from odd angles, and give the reader an overall impression that there is something seriously wrong. These things really put you in Batman’s head as he searches for his exit; he only sees the labyrinth in shades of light and darkness; he is becoming disoriented and not understanding the layout of his surroundings; and he is losing his sanity to the point where he is hallucinating. This story doesn’t just let you see things from Batman’s point of view, it forces you to see them like that and makes the read that much more enjoyable by doing so.

My only real problem with the work is so small that it is barely worth mentioning: it is that the Court’s introduction seemed to happen a little too fast. What I mean by this is that when you read issue one, the Court of Owls is just a rumor, but by the end of issue two, their existence is pretty much confirmed. The problem here is that everyone in the story acts like this is the most shocking reveal of history, yet the setup and execution of it happens too quickly to even feel suspenseful. I would have loved to have seen hints of the Court’s existence in prior stories and then see it come to fruition here. However, as I said, this is really only a minor complaint and really does not take away anything from the story.

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Art

Greg Capullo’s artwork is absolutely perfect for this volume and makes this already good read into an even better one. Capullo’s work looks beautiful when he depicts peaceful moments, like the one in old Wayne Tower, or in more chaotic moments, like the one in the labyrinth. The scene in old Wayne Tower is a beautiful depiction of Gotham as a city in the fading hours of the light. It shows Batman out of costume and a really nice skyline of the city, all bathed in the glow of twilight; this is simply a nice change of pace from the dark and menacing Gotham that is usually presented. The scene in the labyrinth is great for the opposite reason, it presents Gotham’s underbelly in all of its darkness. Overall, the art throughout this trade is breathtaking and show an awesome range in the emotions Gotham can possess.

Continuity

Since Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls starts at the beginning of Batman’s New 52 journey, it does not directly follow any specific story.

The story here continues in Batman Vol. 2: The City of Owls (Review).

This volume also references stories from other comic books, detailed below:

• Dick claims that Bruce has no idea what he has been through this past week. The troubles he is referencing are in Nightwing: Vol. 1: Traps and Trapezes (Review).
• All Star Western Vol. 1: The War of Lords and Owls does not precede this volume in terms of story but does depict the Court’s early days.