Comic Review: Batman #9
For an event travelling through all of the Bat-titles there’s a whole lot of stop and starting.
Comic: Batman #9Written By: Scott SnyderPencils By: Greg CapulloPublisher: DC ComicsRelease Date: OUT NOW IN STORES & DIGITAL DOWNLOAD (VIA COMIXOLOGY)
rating: 4.5
First off I'm going to get my one tiny gripe about this Night of the Owls crossover out of the way. For an event travelling through all of the Bat-titles theres a whole lot of stop and starting. For the most part this works because were getting to see each Owl Assassin squad attack each target at the same time but given that this issue of Batman picks up right after Batman #8 finished, with Bruce in the cave fighting Owls yet we know he gets out and heads to Arkham already due to last weeks Dark Knight # 9, it's a little silly how this is being put out. This would usually undermine the drama here somewhat. However Batman #9 is written by Scott Snyder so anything this back and forth crossover might fail on is won back here in spades. So with the gripe over lets get to the good stuff and that good stuff is all of Batman #9. Scott Snyder is clearly the best thing about DC 52 post the relaunch and it shines through on every page here. He writes Batman like everything is important to the character and his mythology and whats better he portrays Batman exactly like the character deserves. Theres a real drive to Bruce Wayne in Snyders writing. A passion to make Batman better and rather than just use the go to Bat-attitude other writers sometimes fall back on, Snyder makes Batman vulnerable, self critical and human without losing the strength and for want of a better word coolness of the character. All of this Court of Owls stuff in recent months feels as critical to Batmans history as most of his major storylines over the last twenty years and here with Bruce trapped in his own Batcave with a group of Owl assassins it feels as if Batmans history is about to come to a halt, even with that badass opening splash page of Bat-armour Batman ploughing though Owls.
With Bruce armoured up in his stronger than kevlar Bat-armour, Greg Capullos artwork is absolutely top notch. Theres a ferocious feel to the fight and key frames sell the action perfectly (I especially like the blade piecing the armour and we see Bruce having a bit of a panic) on top of that the dialogue between Bruce and Alfred and Alfreds growing concerns for Master Bruce is enough to make this feel like it could go bad for Batman and any moment. Its wonderfully dramatic stuff and plays into this much loved relationship very well but then this is another Snyder trait I love. Snyder writes Batman with a big canvas here. He draws in the history of Bruce Wayne as well as the Wayne family with absolute clarity. The history surrounding the Owls feels like a genuine addition to Bat-history and how the story about how the first Waynes in to live in the manor purchased owls (as in the birds not the assassins) to get rid of the bats in the house ties into a big Batman moment in the modern day cave that just felt like pure Bat genius. On top of that Bruce comes alive again and how hes tied into the manors bats is a perfect combination of imagery and slick writing. Theres even another fanboy feel good play on another Batcave regular that stomps a fun little twist into proceedings and again shows Snyders is a fan of his character and has a keens sense of what will bring a smile to his readers faces. There's plenty more I could say about how this plays out but it seems a shame to spoil it. However I will say that in all the action there's a Batman grin and who doesn't love that? Honestly this issue was great even though this Batman-arc sort of stands alone from the rest of The Night of Owls. I wish all of the DC 52 felt like this. I wish all of the DC 52 presented its characters at their best like Snyders Batman comic does. Snyder is doing exactly what the DC 52 promised with its bold reset and its pretty fantastic so far. 
It doesn't stop there though folks. At the back of the issue we get the first of a three part story involving Alfred Pennyworths father Jarvis in a flashback story that presents another Court of Owls connection to Bruces parents. This story is full of intrigue, especially given the fact Jarvis starts the issue writing a letter to his son, warning Alfred never to come to the Wayne home as its cursed. Im not 100% sure how big this story will get in its three parts or how much of a part it will play in Wayne history but the hints in this first part makes it seem like quite the reveal is on its way. So well wait and see. 