In the pages of ‘Batman’ #8, the Court of Owls sent their undead assassins, the Talons, to invade Wayne Manor and kill Bruce Wayne (along with a grocery list of other important citizens all across Gotham). As last issue closed, Batman was woefully outmanned and losing his home to these creatures. In defense, he suited up in a huge armored Bat-suit to hold off the Talons while Alfred dropped the Batcave temperatures to below freezing in an attempt to put the “zombies” into hibernation.

As this issue opens, Batman in full armor is smashing Talons left and right. But it quickly becomes apparently that he’s still outnumbered as he starts to lose ground. In the end…

SPOILERS

…Alfred gets the cave’s temperature low enough to slow down the Talon’s undead physiology and allows Batman a chance to escape. He immediately heads to find Lincoln March, one of the Gothamites scheduled for death at the hands (claws?) of the Talons. There, in March’s office, Batman gets a clue as to the home base of the Owls and is declares that he’s about to take the battle to their home turf.

Okay… the spoilers are done. Read on.

While the main story this issue is mainly Batman kicking undead Talon butt page after page, it’s the backup story that Bat-fans are going to be talking about. It begins with the line “From the desk of Jarvis Pennyworth…” (Jarvis is Alfred’s father) and details some of the Wayne family history. I won’t spoil the surprise but writer Scott Snyder has apparently been given free reign to change some key elements to the history of Gotham, the Waynes… and the Batman!

In the end, this main story is mostly action-packed filler. But it’s great action so it’s definitely worth reading. And that backup… I can’t wait to see where this one goes! Join me next issue as we continue learning the secrets behind ‘The Night of the Owls’.

Verdict: Buy

BATMAN #9
Written by SCOTT SNYDER and JAMES T. TYNION IV
Art by GREG CAPULLO and RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
Cover by GREG CAPULLO, DAVE MCCAIG, and FCO PLASCENCIA