Batman (The New 52!) # 8

By Mark Rodriguez

Batman has discovered the Court of Owls and while trying to find them, he was trapped in their deadly maze for 8 days. Finally defeating the Talon and escaping after suffering starvation, dehydration and hallucinations, Batman is back in the Batcave and back on the case. He discovered that Dick Grayson had an owl filling in one of his teeth which would have made him a Talon sometime after death. Elsewhere the Court of Owls unleash ALL of the Talons.

This issue is called ‘Attack on Wayne Manor’ and has Bruce observing a toy model of Gotham and contemplating how little he really knew about it. As Alfred tries to console him… they heard a noise. Someone is trying to break in. Bruce runs to deal with it and tells Alfred to go to the BatCave, since they can keep in touch through his sophisticated contact lens that connects him to everything Batman-related. It’s 7:01 and the Night of Owls has begun.

Alfred picks up multiple signals, as one of the Talons breaks into the Manor and attacks Bruce. He says the now-classic ‘The Court of Owls has sentenced you to death’ but Bruce shuts him up and fights back.

As Bruce takes down the Talon… he’s quickly surrounded by more of them. Alfred tells him that there are many more and they’re entering the Manor from all sides. Just then… one of the wanders into the BatCave. Bruce flips out of the window and takes the action to the roof. He manages to pin down one of the Talons, but several more continue to surround him. Bruce escapes through the chimney, which seals itself so the Talons can’t follow. Telling himself that he was a fool for not seeing this sooner… he arrives in the BatCave and sees one of the Talons there, already discovering that he is Batman.

Alfred pushes that infamous giant penny that is always seen in the Batcave onto the Talon, pinning him down. Bruce demands to know how many more are coming, and starts to break the Talon’s arm to get some answers. The other Talons leap into the Batcave. Bruce and Alfred escape in the Armory. Bruce hands Alfred a chip he found on the Talon’s gauntlet and wants him to figure out what their plan is. He also tells them to set the cave’s temperature to sub-zero since the cold will shut them down. Alfred warns that this will also be bad for Bruce, but he has it covered.

The Talons continue to force their way into the Armory and are surprised to see the doors open by themselves. Bat is in full on armor and ready to kick some Owl. The story seems to end on this cliffhanger… but there are still some pages to go.

The next part, ‘The Call’ has the Armored Batman facing the Talons, as Alfred has already hacked the chip and discovered that it was a list of targets of every major person in Gotham. As they speak, the City Controller (never heard of that title before), the Deputy Sheriff, the Kane County Supreme Court Justice, a Gotham City Public Advocate and many others are being brutally murdered by the Court of Owls. Even Commissioner Gordon is on that list. Batman tells Alfred to put out ‘the Call’.

Alfred calls upon Red Robin, The Red Hood, Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl and the Birds of Prey to help out. He’s given them the list of the targets and gave a general idea about the Talons. 

The Owls continue to try to break into the BatCave as they announce that they are after Alfred. Baman prepares to face the Talons. The Night of Owls has begun.

My Opinions

And so, all hell breaks loose as the Talons go all over the city and the Bat Family spreads out to stop them in their individual issues. Red Robin, Red Hood, Nightwing, Batwing and Catwoman will face the Owls in their own issues. I do find it funny that they have to call Damian, since he is supposed to live with Bruce and Alfred, and we haven't seen him there since issue 1. Where the hell has he been all this time? Catwoman might not be invited to the party, but she does become involved as the Owls happen to target The Penguin at the same time she plans to rob him. 

The only one that is left out is Batwoman, so I guess her stories are about their own thing and doesn't get affected by crossovers. Both Detective # 8 and Dark Knight # 8 were meant to be part of a 2-part story, but both stories were rushed and crammed into one shots so their issue 9's would be part of this event.

As for the story itself, it was cool seeing Bruce Wayne kick ass on these Talons the best he could before he was overwhelmed. I don't know why they had to set 'The Call' as a separate story by a different artist.

Well, I do have to say, being careful with my money back in the day, I only bought the issues I was buying anyways, namely the 4 Bat Books, Batgirl, Catwoman and Justice League. But years later I managed to score a graphic novel with all the Night of the Owls stories in there, so I will have the full story on this crossover event. Stay tuned for issues of Nightwing, Batgirl, Catwoman, Red Hood and the Outlaws, Batwing and The Justice League.