and deciding to become The Dark Knight. This first page has so much relevance as it refers to when you die. We know that Batman is the true man and Bruce Wayne is the mask. Here we see that this was the last time that Bruce Wayne lived before Batman took his place as the dominant characteristic in that man. As in Issue Three, where we saw the Court watching everything, it is brilliant watching the other talons waking up. Some of the camera angles used really build a sense of dread for what is about to come. Further we actually see Batman afraid in this issue. It is a new sensation for the reader as it is for Batman. We are not used to the character being afraid as we know that he is the one that puts the fear into his enemies. We can see that the Owls have broken the Bat but he is not done for yet. There is still a glimmer of that detective which is what Batman is even if you break him down. The revelations in this issue are shocking and if written by someone else it might not have worked. Yet Snyder makes them work so well. Issues Eight and Nine follow the Owls’ invasion of Wayne Manor. The first few pages of Issue Eight are shrouded in darkness. What I really like about this is Bruce’s reaction when the light suddenly appears. He is shocked and wants it off straight away showing that he is not just a creature of the night but how much his experiences with the Owls in the last two issues have affected him.
Again the creative team use symmetry in a thrilling way. When the Owls first attack Wayne Manor, we see Bruce getting ready to stand and defend his base whereas Alfred goes to the cave to help him. We see the two running to their positions with Alfred on the left hand side and Bruce on the right. It flows nicely. What works so well in this issue is that we see that the Owls may think they know Gotham better: but they don’t know Wayne Manor. Some classic Batcave props such as the giant sized penny and the dinosaur are used. Issue Nine plays on the history of Batman, in particular the history of the Waynes. It adds depth and makes the issue even more exciting as the events unfold.
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Issue Ten was introduced as a game changer and it certainly is that. It is a fantastically scripted and plotted issue with the pace being perfect. At the start of the issue, we see that Batman is back to his old ways with his ability to put the fear of god into his enemies. It i s an issue that is full of surprises. We think one thing, are taken down many different routes until we finally know what is happening. It is a fantastic merry go round. When the big spoiler comes a-knocking it might take you a wee bit of time to get adjusted to what had been offered to you. What works so well is that Snyder has you right in his palm. He wants you to feel unsure just like he wanted to fear you were going insane in Issue Five of this arc. After you have time to let it resonate you realise just how clever it is and how much it connects with everything. It is wonderful watching something that had been built up so well come together in such a satisfying way. Issue Eleven is the perfect end to a brilliant saga. Everything is tied up nicely. You feel like you have just read something that might never be repeated. And yet with the knowledge that this creative team is about to get their hands on The Joker I am sure that even better things are just around the corner. Something that I really like about this run is that Dick Grayson has clearly grown since his time as Batman and Bruce now seems to listen to him as an advisor rather than treating him as a sidekick.
These are the first issues to have a backup story just like Snyder’s earlier work, The Black Mirror had. It plays right into the main story and feels essential reading. Rafael Albuquerque takes over on the art for these and does a fantastic job, whereas James Tynion IV helps Snyder out with the writing duties. The first part builds on the Night of the Owls but it is the second slice of this four piece pie that I really feel we start to get moving in an interesting direction. We delve into Alfred’s father’s life: something I don’t think has ever really been done before in Batman. Again like everything else that Snyder does with his history, he adds a freshness and intrigue to the Bat mythology whilst still feeling comfortable.
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