With this volume, anticipation for DC's The New 52 reboot of their superhero universe, should be firmly replaced with a deep and abiding appreciation for what Snyder, Capullo, and Glapion have done with Gotham's caped crusader. The initial story arc centers on the mysterious Court of Owls, a group of individuals who legend says control Gotham from the shadowy recesses of the city while using a deadly assassin named Talon to do their bidding. Batman must figure out whether the Court of Owls actually exists-something he claims to have fully investigated and discounted as a boy-and what connection the group might have to the history of the Wayne family, especially after a grisly murder brings with it a warning that "Bruce Wayne will die tomorrow." The re-launch comes complete with villains old and new, and a cast of current and former Robins who aren't afraid to stand up to the Bat. This is a clever and sophisticated Batman-with a dark, edgy, and thought-provoking narrative ably abetted by Capullo's pulpish, detailed art. Readers will find it hard to put down. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Bruce Wayne has resided in Gotham City forever, so what else is there to discover? Quite a lot, it turns out. Batman has taken for granted that he knows everything about Gotham and this time it's going to come back to bite him. While investigating a grisly murder, Batman discovers owl images on the murder weapons. Soon he sees owls everywhere and discovers a part of the city he'd never known. The more he learns about the Court of Owls, the more he realizes he is outnumbered and maybe even outsmarted. Snyder continues to revitalize Batman with a fresh story, surprising plot twists, and a thrilling, spooky new villain. Capullo's artwork is gruesome, gritty, and mirrors Batman's disorientation: when he is captured by the Court of Owls, trapped in a maze and drugged, the text and pictures rotate around the page, forcing the reader to turn the book upside down. This is an exciting chapter opening up the New 52 Batman reboot, and it's sure to keep readers coming back for more.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2010 Booklist

DC's New 52 relaunches Batman villains more than the heroes. Bruce Wayne with his own "court" of sidekicks (Alfred, plus old and new Robins: Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Damien Wayne) must accept that a centuries-old Gotham horror rhyme is real. A malevolent Court of Owls does exist, and its undead assassin, the Talon, is out for Batman. This new villain aims to terrify Bruce by challenging his mind and memory. The overall concept has a brilliant cohesiveness as an introduction to a creepy new clique of evildoers, wrapped in a well-crafted plot with cool details (Dick impersonating the Joker; the owl-insignia tooth characteristic of the Court's assassins) and incredibly good art. Some of Capullo's images of Batman grappling with the Talon have an almost sensual passion and beauty. The story is also a prequel to the Night of the Owls crossover event, which will fold in a dozen DC series, and kicks off an all-new series devoted to the Talon. VERDICT A must for superhero collections, Batman fans (of course), and new Batman readers, older teens and up, since the plot requires no prior familiarities.-M.C. (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.