Comic Review: Batman #10

Comic: Batman #10Written By: Scott SnyderPencils By: Greg CapulloPublisher: DC ComicsRelease Date: OUT NOW IN STORES & DIGITAL DOWNLOAD (VIA COMIXOLOGY)

rating: 4

So apparently Night of the Owls has finished, yet here in Batman #10 the story continues. Beginning in a high rise apartment, Batman takes the fight directly to wife of Joseph Powers. Breaking in and trying to track down the court, the face off between Maria Powers and Batman is pure Batman awesome full of cool lines, slick bluffing and pure drive. Then Batman is off after the Court and in a twist, the Court of Owl's story as well as the Gotham based group themselves seem to be all over, giving Bruce a sense of emptiness. The scenes with Bruce staring off into the sunrise subconsciously playing with the two bullet shells that killed his parents is probably one of the best visuals we've had in post DC 52 Batman. Alfred trying to comfort Bruce after the Owl problem has disappeared plays on how the audience must also be feeling about this event, that has simply fizzled out but Snyder's writing still carries a rewarding goodbye to the Owls in this quiet scene between Alfred and Master Bruce. But it's not over yet. This is Batman afterall and the detective in him puts the final pieces together in spectacular fashion and this issue that feels like it was wrapping up events actually takes us somewhere new and if Night of the Owls hits it's final act like the best thrillers out there. The twist here, and it actually ties into the secondary Jarvis Pennyworth story at the back of the comic very well, is one that will no doubt play a much bigger part in the life of Bruce Wayne than all this Owl stuff has so far. There is a reveal that a certain someone has a much closer connection to Bruce and the Waynes' and I'm not sure how intentional it is but there's quite a Bizarro feel to the introduction of a new villain that is about to tussle with Batman in the closing panels. To say more would reduce the impact of this twist. Questions are raised that I'm not even sure Bruce is ready to deal with yet but there's a distinct acceleration of pace in the closing pages that feels very cinematic. I wouldn't say the twist was all that original, in fact there's a fair few movies and comics and have pulled this sort of trick time and time again but given the personal connection to Bruce Wayne, this suddenly brings it all home to Bruce again. The drama of the Night of the Owls has only felt this powerful in the Snyder entries into the event and here he takes it up another notch. This may not officially be a Night of the Owls chapter (though it painfully is) but this is certainly the sort of climax the arc deserved. This all concludes next month and frankly I can't wait to see how this all plays out.