As small compensation for what was probably an indefensible exclusion from the 50 Greatest Batman Comics, Scott Snyder manages to make this list twice with a second appearance for the New 52 arc The Court of Owls. Set well into Bruce Wayne's tenure as the Dark Knight, the plot concerns an ancient, hidden brotherhood operating for centuries behind the scenes of a dark Gotham City. Like The Black Mirror, The Court of Owls is likely too recent and too Batman-centric to serve as a direct inspiration for plot points in the early episodes of the Gotham TV show. Still, the Court arc presents a twofold argument for inclusion on this list. Firstly, the depiction of Gotham City is nothing short of awe-inspiring, and for a location that's been depicted again and again for nearly 75 years, Snyder and artist Greg Capullo do a hell of a job making it feel fresh again. Secondly, and more importantly, The Court of Owls did what every New 52 title should have done: it respected the past while simultaneously being unafraid to mess with it. The Gotham series - and any other live-action or animated adaptations - are essentially setting out to do what the New 52 did, creating fresh stories from existing material. It's certainly a fine line to walk, keeping new fans excited without neglecting old fans (and vice versa). Snyder has shown this to be his major strength, even in later arcs like Zero Year, where he subtly paid homage to Frank Miller time and again. The Court of Owls has flaws, certainly. But the Gotham series would do well do adopt a similar practice of toying with the comic book lore in a respectful way, lest they unleash the wrath of that other hidden brotherhood: The Court of Batman Nerds.
