Batman: The Court of Owls

"Can I choose a Batman one? Let’s have my favourite Batman comic of this year, just out in the shops, called Batman: The Court of Owls , by Scott Snyder. It’s a collection of eight comics, which came out monthly between 2011 and 2012. The plot suggests that everything Batman thought he knew about Gotham City was wrong. In fact, the city is run by an organisation called the Court of Owls. They are based in the 13th floor of key buildings in Gotham, so they literally have a secret storey, and occupy a shadow narrative in the history of Gotham. Bruce Wayne/Batman denies this, because he feels he knows the city, so it’s a threat much more fundamental than villains who come and go. The story takes us back to the 19th century and involves his parents, completely rewriting the history of Gotham. As such it’s a bold move for Scott Snyder. To introduce a hidden element to Gotham is to unnerve who Batman is. There is a key moment where Batman is placed by the Court of Owls in an underground maze, with a model of Gotham City and photographs of key Gotham citizens who, it transpires, were part of the Court. Basically, they try to drive him mad. But when he’s down to his very last ebb, his final dregs, he keeps on going. He nearly dies, but summons the strength to resist. And that’s what is special about Batman. He can die. He’s just a normal person. But he never gives up."