Scott Snyder (Author), Greg Capullo (Illustrator)

> Review by Carolyn Marcille

After so many iterations of the Batman mythos, you may think you understand everything there is to know about the Dark Knight. But the rollercoaster of the Court of Owls story arc manages to skillfully unveil new and unexpected facets of a character that is arguably one of the most recognized in comic book history. Court of Owls performs the difficult task of simultaneously pleasing readers old and new. The most intriguing aspect of the first volume of Court of Owls is the highlighting of Batman/Bruce Wayne’s intimate knowledge of Gotham City itself; without giving too much away, let’s just say it’s a fool’s errand to try and dupe a man who has made his city the singular passion in a life devoid of more traditional avenues of success and fulfillment. When any villain (even a whole host of them) comes up against his extraordinarily focused drive, it’s bound to get crazy—literally, as characters in the story are expected to work through a mindscape designed to invoke madness. But Bruce Wayne is an individual who is lacking normal avenues of fulfillment, and his seemingly arbitrary focus on the arcane ultimately leads to salvation in a way that is extraordinarily clever and deeply satisfying.