Gotham City has fallen into darkness time and time again, plagued by the criminal underworld that feasts on the heart of the city. But a lone man stands tall, striking fear into the villains who torment the citizens. This man is the Dark Knight – Batman. Billionaire Bruce Wayne is the white light of Gotham; a beacon of hope that guides the people through the darkest of times. He is the authority of the city. He is justice personified. Batman has prepared for every act of villainy and is ready for anything that crosses his path.
That is the lie that Bruce Wayne tells himself. In truth, he is just a pawn in a grand chess game. The players: the Court of Owls. These Illuminati have watched over Gotham for generations, carefully placing political figures in proper places, holding the power of control over the city. To the Court, Batman has interfered for far too long and the Caped Crusader must be taken out of the picture. With its Talons, the Court descends on the Bat-family, concocting a master-stroke that will eliminate the one thing standing in the way of total dominance. Warner Brothers may be bringing fans into the theaters with its release of The Dark Knight Rises, but writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo are rounding up comic fans everywhere and pulling them towards the nearest comic book store with their Batman event, Night of the Owls.
Snyder, who has written the much celebrated Batman story The Black Mirror, has taken the idea of the Dark Knight and turned it on its head. Through his chilling narrative, Snyder reveals to readers that Batman is not the guardian that he thought he was. Outmatched and outnumbered, a sense of growing dread creeps over the panels. Fear lurks in the corners of these pages, sending chills up the spine. Capullo compliments
this tale by drawing some of the most detailed and frightening pages that have graced the Batman comics. Using his unique artistic style, Capullo creates each scene with its own blend of horror, action, and suspense. This Dynamic Duo is crafting something special in the Batman universe, and the event has only just begun.
Night of the Owls is not an event chained to one book. Those who wish to experience the entirety of the Bat-centric tale can read the different pieces of the story in all of the Bat-books (with the exception of Batwoman). Batgirl, Batwing, Nightwing, Catwoman, and the rest of the Bat-related comics all share different events within the overall story, giving readers a chance to see the complete scope of the Night of the Owls. Venturing into these other comics will reward readers with new perspectives, hidden histories, and intense action.
Before seeing the conclusion of the Nolan trilogy, take a trip to a comic book store. Grab Batman – and perhaps a few other comics – and read this event. It will take you on a journey through the underbelly of Gotham, into the psyche of Bruce Wayne, and into the fray as Batman battles the Court. Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo are a dream team that guarantees not to disappoint.
