BATMAN #8

[ MY SALE. NOT YOURS ] 

It's the Bat verses the Owl. It's stranger than a polished cowl. Bruce is deterred. Alfred has the final word. And the whole world muses with an 'Owww'. Or maybe you can think of a better rhyme. Unlike Writers: Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV; Artists: Greg Capullo and Rafael Albuquerque; plus Publisher: DC Comics in May 2012. Boo!

So what’s the STORY morning glory?

It has begun. The mega-bat-related cross-over event starts here. With a vengeance.

Now Bruce Wayne sensed that 'The Court of Owls' were going to make their move for quite some time now, whilst brooding to himself in stately Wayne Manor. However, what he never sensed was how many of their assassins (called 'Talons') would attack him and Alfred in his very home - with every move they make. In the dinning room. In the Batcave. And In the armory. Bit by bit trying to kill one of the most influential men in Gotham City.

Oh! But not only him though! Oh No! 'The Court of Owls' has also sent out many other 'Talons' to kill forty of the top people in the City as well.

Alfred finds out this bit of information from a data-disk Bruce swipes from one these killers, prompting him to send out a distress call to all of the Bat-operatives in the area.

To be continued whilst a Dark Knight amour's up for the attack...

What is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

I found it very harrowing when the Talons were bashing at Alfred's door just after he sent out the signal, and they said to him...

"We're coming for you, too, old man. Going to tear the skin off your back".

Very descriptive, isn't it. And not a nice thing to say to our pal Alfred. Unless... errr... I come back to that later.

What was the BEST thing about this issue?

This whole story had a very imposing sense of dread throughout. It was as if this book had been haunted by a wandering spirit that wanted to taunt the reader at every turn of the page. I also enjoyed the way that 'the Talons' had a 'Terminator' like quality about them. Persistently niggling at Bruce and Alfred continuously.

What was the WORST thing about this issue?

Now at first I did not realise that this story was divided into two parts. And although it did not feel that way in the reading. It did feel that way visually in the actual telling. Greg Capullo and Rafael Albuquerque are very different artists indeed, so when one story segwayed into the other, I felt a bit of a jolt thematically. Not a massive gripe. But one still worth mentioning

What was the most CREATIVE thing about this issue?

STORY: As I stated before, I did enjoy the stark and foreboding tone to this tale. Moreover, I did enjoy how both Bruce and Alfred worked as a team, synergizing even better than Bruce has done with any of his other partners as of late.

ART: OK, so the two artists on this book, Greg and Rafael, may have very different styles of art. But I have to state for the record that they both suit the flavour of this story down to the ground. Also, I did like the design of the Armoured-Up Batman. Very 'I'm going to smash your face in', huh?

If you had to CAST TWO CHARACTERS in this comic book, who would they be and why?

BATMAN: He played Jesus. He played a Detective. And he played a solder too. Perfect experience for John Caviezel to play everybody's favorite Dark Knight.

ALFRED: Although he is dead now, I am sure that if he was still alive today, John Cazale would be the right age to play Batman's Butler. He worked opposite De Niro in the 'Deer Hunter' and Al Pacino in 'Dog DayAfternoon'. So this would be a walk in the park for him.

If this issue had a MOVIE TAG LINE, what would it be?

The Court Of Owls Has Sentenced You To Die. So Suck My Egg.

If this issue were a MOVIE, an OBJECT, or a piece of MUSIC, what would that be and why? 

OK, I know that I have said this previously, but this issue did have a certain 'The Terminator' like vibe about it. The hounding. The persistence. The stature. This clip.

Fair enough.

FINAL thoughts...

I have a slight suspicion how this story arc may take a sudden turn. Now you remember when I said previously that 'The Talons should not speak that way to Alfred', yeah? Well, why kill Alfred? He isn't part of the list? Or is he? We've only seen a snippet of the list printed upon Alfred's computer screen, so who is to say if he isn't one of the influential men associated with Gothams elite? Also, what of Bruce's parents? Thomas and Martha. One of the Talons said that 'The Wayne's always liked to hide'. Is this a little nod that this sect was somehow involved with their demise?

Ohhhhhh! DCnUuuuuuuuu!

MARKS out of 10? 9.5