Batman #8 is the first official part in Scott Snyder’s Night of the Owls epic crossover, and true to form Snyder doesn’t pull any punches. The issue begins by panning over Bruce Wayne’s model of Gotham City in a series of panels while he narrates. Bruce Wayne, as well as his persona, have always felt that their connection to the pulse of Gotham was the most intimate of any of Gotham’s denizens, but with the jarring realization that a hidden organization has been calling the shots in Gotham for well over a century Bruce Wayne is dismayed and reeling. After confiding in his fears with his most trusted ally, Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce hears a noise and all chaos breaks loose.
The Night of the Owls has begun.
And, the Court has unleashed their Talons upon the city ofGotham to assassinate the most influential citizens of the city. Alfred makes for the Batcave, while Bruce Wayne fends off the intruders in the upper parts of his family’s manor. As the battle transpires it shifts to the rooftop where an injuredWayne holds his own against the army of Talons that have come for him. In a daring escape orchestrated byAlfred, Bruce escapes down one of the chimney stacks.
The fight now finds its way into the heart of Bruce Wayne’shome, and Batman and Alfred find themselves trapped within an interior vault of the Batcave—the Talons have the legendary Wayne heir in their claws—but, the Bat always has a plan in place.
The issue concludes with Alfred sending out a distress signal calling all immediate members of the Bat Family to action, while Bruce ‘suits up’ and brings the fight to the unsuspectingTalons.
The storytelling is phenomenal in this issue and really showcases Snyder’s talent for prose. The dialogue is tight and believable, and Bruce and Alfred hold true to their well-established characters. I enjoyed watching Bruce fight theTalons mano y mano without the aid of his specialized weaponry and technology. It shows that the man behind the cowl is to be just as feared as the legendary Gotham Cityicon that he created.
The art is superb and detailed. Bruce Wayne is scruffy and weakened from his last run in with the Court of Owls, and it shows in Greg Capullo’s art. As always, Alfred remains stoic and grounded--representing Bruce’s lightning rod. I particularly enjoyed the model city depicted in the opening sequences and the laser illuminated towers that in essence represent the future of Gotham. The symbolism is slight, but powerful. The action doesn’t lose its flare in the sequence of events either. It’s fluid and harkens back to Bruce’s martial arts training portrayed in his origin story. Jonathan Glapion’sinking is wonderful and matches the mood excellently. The tones are dark and shadowy due to the Talons cutting the power to the manor, as well as Bruce’s aversion to the light, because his prior sustained injuries.
Thus far, this was my favorite issue of the Night of the Owls’event. It hit in all the right places and provided an excellent foundation to easily tie-in all of the other Bat Familymembers. With the writing, penciling, and inking in mind I give Batman #8 four-and-a-half out of five stars.
Check back here for my soon-to-be-released review ofDetective Comics #9—the next part to Snyder’s already excellent Night of the Owls series.
WATCH Review - Night of the Owls: Batman #8 (2012) FULL MOVIE ONLINE STREAMING
