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christajls's review against another edition
I really enjoyed The City of the Owls plot line. Thought it was well crafted and action packed. Even if it did end a little abruptly.
But my favourite part of this volume by far was the Harper Row short at the end. I think she's a fantastic, complex character - she's handy, she's loyal, she has a unique style. I think she is a fabulous new addition to the Bat-family. Most of her story was drawn by Becky Cloonan, who's style fit perfectly (think Killjoys). If Cloonan could draw her all the time that would be fabulous.
But my favourite part of this volume by far was the Harper Row short at the end. I think she's a fantastic, complex character - she's handy, she's loyal, she has a unique style. I think she is a fabulous new addition to the Bat-family. Most of her story was drawn by Becky Cloonan, who's style fit perfectly (think Killjoys). If Cloonan could draw her all the time that would be fabulous.
coolnameguy's review against another edition
4.0
The first half or so is amazing, but it kind of drags after that. They're clearly setup chapters, and solid ones at that, they're just not as good as the first few and obviously leave the story in suspension. So as its own condensed story, it suffers towards the end.
dantastic's review against another edition
4.0
The Court of Owls is striking all over Gotham and their first target is Wayne Manor! Can an injured Bruce Wayne and Alfred fight them off and mobilize the rest of the Bat-Family? And what is Bruce Wayne's connection to the Court?
The Court of Owls storyline comes to a conclusion in this volume. Batman dons a suit of armor and kicks some undead ass as he figures out who is leading the Court of Owls in it's assault on Gotham.
That's about all there is to it. Snyder crafts a pretty creepy Batman tale and Capullo's art is up to the task. The only gripe I have is that it felt like a ton of stuff was missing, probably because I've only read the Scott Snyder Bat-title in the New 52 and not all the ancillary bat-stuff.
Four stars. Snyder is shaping up to be the best bat-writer in decades.
The Court of Owls storyline comes to a conclusion in this volume. Batman dons a suit of armor and kicks some undead ass as he figures out who is leading the Court of Owls in it's assault on Gotham.
Spoiler
I liked that Lincoln Marsh was revealed as the head of the Court and he may or may not be Batman's long lost brother, Thomas Wayne Jr, who appeared in one tale pre-Crisis, only he was an older bad seed brother in that depiction. Owlman's ambiguous end leaves the door open for more Court of Owls intrigue down the line.That's about all there is to it. Snyder crafts a pretty creepy Batman tale and Capullo's art is up to the task. The only gripe I have is that it felt like a ton of stuff was missing, probably because I've only read the Scott Snyder Bat-title in the New 52 and not all the ancillary bat-stuff.
Four stars. Snyder is shaping up to be the best bat-writer in decades.
tmwebb3's review against another edition
3.0
Love the Court of Owls and Talon and Lincoln Marsh, but feel let down from the beginning of the story. Is this the end?
reickel's review against another edition
2.0
I did not find the follow-up to the Court of Owls to be particularly impressive. I think it suffers more pointedly from being crammed into the monthly-floppy page-count chapters. "Ghost in the Machine" was a lovely bonus chapter after the main Owls tale, and even it suffered from a very clashing art-switch halfway through the chapter.
miskatonickid's review against another edition
3.0
I wish they just made this one whole book, (they probably did.) Having the rest of an amazing story and then two mediocre stories just kinda sucked a little bit.
maxwellatewell's review against another edition
4.0
Overall a great follow up to Court of Owls, but the ending leaves too many loose ends to be a 5/5. Still so many memorable moments. Greg Capullo is on point with artwork. A must read.
clarks_dad's review against another edition
4.0
Snyder and Capullo continue to do fantastic work in the New 52 Batman. They’ve successfully added to the Rogue’s Gallery in a deep and meaningful way that reminds me of the introduction of now classic Batman villains like Hush. The Court of Owls has intimate knowledge of the Batman and Bruce Wayne that make for formidable rivals that place our titular hero in compromising and psychologically challenging circumstances - which are typically the hallmarks of great Batman storylines.
This volume presents the “conclusion” of the Owls storyline, and in that, the ambiguous nature of the resolution feels like a bit of a cop out. I’m also not overly fond of the “secret history” gimmick where comic authors try to introduce new elements to the story that “were there all along” and we just never knew it. It was cool in the 90s, but now it just feels tired—especially when the magnitude of said secret should have been absolutely unavoidable if our protagonist isn’t an absolute idiot. If Batman is the “world’s greatest detective,” there’s no way that the owls could have sprung this on him after years of intimately working Gotham from high society to its lower brows and there’s no way the intimate hidden storyline would have been a surprise either.
Points for the Jarvis Pennyworth narrative that followed as a kind of epilogue in the last few volumes. It’s intimate, poignant, and rich in Wayne family history and develops the relationship between Alfred and Bruce in new and interesting ways. Also, bonus points for the extra “Ghost in the Machine” one-shot story in issue 12, included in this volume. It’s not an Owl story, but one of those more intimate storylines that make for absolutely great comics (usually Superman stories like this are my favorites). It follows two siblings living in the Narrows who are harassed because of the younger sibling’s sexual orientation. Older sis does her best working her job with Gotham electric under the city to provide and protect her younger brother, but when shit gets real, Bats is there to protect them. The story is told from the sibling point of view with Batman as a kind of outsider, intersecting with their lives and showing us the ripple effect of said interaction. Great storytelling that hits you in all of the feels.
The extra star is for “Ghost in the Machine.” Other than that, 3 stars for this wrap up.
This volume presents the “conclusion” of the Owls storyline, and in that, the ambiguous nature of the resolution feels like a bit of a cop out. I’m also not overly fond of the “secret history” gimmick where comic authors try to introduce new elements to the story that “were there all along” and we just never knew it. It was cool in the 90s, but now it just feels tired—especially when the magnitude of said secret should have been absolutely unavoidable if our protagonist isn’t an absolute idiot. If Batman is the “world’s greatest detective,” there’s no way that the owls could have sprung this on him after years of intimately working Gotham from high society to its lower brows and there’s no way the intimate hidden storyline would have been a surprise either.
Points for the Jarvis Pennyworth narrative that followed as a kind of epilogue in the last few volumes. It’s intimate, poignant, and rich in Wayne family history and develops the relationship between Alfred and Bruce in new and interesting ways. Also, bonus points for the extra “Ghost in the Machine” one-shot story in issue 12, included in this volume. It’s not an Owl story, but one of those more intimate storylines that make for absolutely great comics (usually Superman stories like this are my favorites). It follows two siblings living in the Narrows who are harassed because of the younger sibling’s sexual orientation. Older sis does her best working her job with Gotham electric under the city to provide and protect her younger brother, but when shit gets real, Bats is there to protect them. The story is told from the sibling point of view with Batman as a kind of outsider, intersecting with their lives and showing us the ripple effect of said interaction. Great storytelling that hits you in all of the feels.
The extra star is for “Ghost in the Machine.” Other than that, 3 stars for this wrap up.
cassie_grace's review against another edition
4.0
Better than the first volume, I think. And it has some good backup stories once the Owls storyline is finished.