Over the past twelve months, since the launch of DC Comics’ “New 52” wherein the publishing company re-numbered every title with a new #1, writer Scott Snyder has been crafting a Batman tale long in the making. Well, long in comic book terms.
You see, he’s gone back to the origins of Gotham and reshaped the architecture of what we, as readers, had grown accustomed to: that the city was Batman’s. That no one knew its streets, alleyways, buildings and history as well as the Dark Knight Detective.
Over the last twelve months, Scott Snyder has made an overconfident Batman weak with his distinct lack of historical knowledge. He discovers, in essence, that he doesn’t know his own city! And we readers have followed the character in his naivety, making for some startling – and amazingly fun – reading!
Batman #12
Written by: Scott Snyder
Illustrated by: Becky Cloonan
Published by: DC Comics
The last eleven issues of Batman has given us the Court of Owls storyline, Gotham’s oldest, wealthiest, and most insidious cabal, that has controlled the city from the shadows since its founding. There have been shocking revelations here that tie the Court of Owls to even the Wayne family!
Batman, issue #12, is where this yearlong journey through Gotham’s history books has come home to, pardon the pun, roost.
But that’s not all.
Although issue #12 caps the Court of Owls storyline, it sets into motion what is arguably the most highly anticipated storyline since the launch of last year’s “New 52”: the return of Batman’s arch nemesis, the Joker!
Truth be told, the villain was seen, albeit briefly (and in complete darkness), within the pages of the first issue of Detective Comics last year. In a scene that sent chills through comic book readership everywhere and had everyone talking, the mad clown prince of crime literally peeled his face off and left the skin for the Gotham Police Department to find. It was a warning that he’d return, altogether different – altogether the same.
Issue #12, out today, is that warning finally made real.
So make the run today and pick up Batman #12. Find out what has become of the Court of Owls. Find out what a broken Batman has become. Indeed, find out what the treacherous Joker has become!
Readers, like Batman, will be starting a harrowing, madcap and wild ride with this issue! But it promises to be a memorably fun one!
Every Wednesday, JP makes the after-work run to his local downtown comic book shop. Comics arrive on Wednesdays you see and JP, fearful that the latest issue will sell out, rushes out to purchase his copy. This regular, weekly column will highlight a particularly interesting release, written in short order, of course, because JP has to get his – before someone else does!
