Batman Vol. 2: The City of Owls HC [2012] by Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo

    

   

BATMAN VOLUME 2: THE CITY OF OWLS HARDCOVER

Last year writer Scott Snyder and Kyle Higgins united for Batman: Gates of Gotham prior to the September New 52 relaunch. Now their relationship has paid off as strong ties between Batman and Nightwing titles are revealed as we head towards May’s Night of the Owls event. The Batman franchise of books begins its one month crossover with the Night of the Owls storyline. Snyder asked the writers of the other books if they wanted to participate so this is not a multi-part crossover but a nonevent. However writer Judd Winick is responsible for writing three titles including Batman: The Dark Knight, Catwoman, and Batwing.

The first major crossover of The New 52, the Night of the Owls offered a great way to sample the other Batman books as the writers and artists are in their second story arcs. The total costs for Night of the Owls crossover for April and May is $47.86.

Batman returns after facing the Court of Owls only to discover a captured Talon within the Batcave. After examining him, Batman discovers it is the great-grand father of Dick Grayson. The revelation is revealed that Haly’s Circus presented a crop of children to become future Talons for the Court of Owls and Dick was destined to become one.

PRELUDE TO THE NIGHT OF THE OWLS

The Court of Owls sends the Talons to attack and kill the high level government officials of Gotham. The Wayne Manor is attack by several Talons as both Bruce and Alfred defend themselves and barricade themselves within the Batcave’s armory. Bruce asks Alfred to bring the temperature down to subzero to slow the Talons down. Batman emerges from the armory wearing a suit of armor while discovering the Talon’s plans. Alfred sends the call to the Bat Family to stop the Talons.

In 1910 a young William Cobb who lost his father while building the Gates of Gotham becomes a Talon for the Court of Owls through the Haley’s Circus. Nightwing protects Gotham’s Mayor Sebastian Hady from a Talon. After taking out the Talon, Nightwing is struck down by William Cobb who killed Alan Wayne and is also Richard Grayson’s great-grandfather.

       

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

- Batman takes down the Talons in the Bat Cave and goes upside to stop the them   

- Batman arrives too late to stop a Talon from killing Lincoln March

- Batman tracks down the Court of Owls however discovers someone has gotten to them

- Batman deals with a resurrected Lincoln March who claims he is Thomas Wayne, Jr.

- Lincoln March takes on the mantle of Owlman and battles his brother the Batman

- Gotham’s electrical engineer Harper Row discovers Batman’s secret power boxes

- Harper Row helps the Batman against Tiger Shark and will continue to help him in the future

THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF WAYNE BACK-UP FEATURE

The 3-part saga follows Alfred’s father Jarvis Pennyworth who writes a letter to his son telling him the Wayne House is cursed as a Talon hunts him. Jarvis discovers someone is tracking the pregnant Mrs. Martha Wayne. A Talon manages to flip the car carrying both Martha and Bruce sideways. The baby is supposedly lost and the Court of Owls target Jarvis for disobeying them. Jarvis loses his life to a Talon.

This hardcover collects

Batman #8–12

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED – 5 OUT OF 5