Call it hyperbole if you like, but this is another Batman story–the second in 2011–that we'll be talking about for quite some time.More of this, please. Until the Devil comes to collect. And then I hope there's some stashed in a drawer somewhere. Read Full Review

Part of what makes Snyder's Court of Owls so cool is that it is so steeped in myth. Bruce is convinced the Court can't exist, but the signs are all around him and he really doesn't know what to do. And as always, Greg Capullo's artwork is damn near perfect for the Dark Knight (unlike David Finch's weird renditions of Gothamites.) Without spoiling the last pages, this arc is set to get even more engrossing in the coming months. Read Full Review

Plus, if you've been reading Capullo's Twitter account, it sounds like things are about to get crazy-awesome so you better come aboard now before you miss out on something spectacular. Read Full Review

Someone recently asked me which book I thought was the best of the New 52. Try as I might, I couldnt decide between this title and one other but make no mistake, if this isnt the best book DC is putting out right now, its in the top two. Read Full Review

Just a terrific comic, and a good, fresh look at a classic character. Recommended! Read Full Review

See, again I can't wait for the next issue. Read Full Review

Joey is IGN's Comics Editor and a comic book creator himself. Follow Joey on Twitter, or find him on MyIGN. You may or may not discover a profound number of cat pictures. Read Full Review

Jumping on point?: Nope. You could read this issue alone, but you'd be a little confused. Best to start with issue #1. Read Full Review

As Batman gets closer to the mysterious Court Of Owls, The Talon, like a bird of prey is closing in for the kill! Plus: Bruce Waynes first detective case before he was ever Batman. Another great ish! Written by Scott Snyder (American Vampire) and illustrated by Greg Capullo (Spawn). From DC comics. Read Full Review

The story to this point has been a high-stakes collection of near misses, almost fatalities, and compounded stress for the titular character. Given what Snyder puts upon the cowl and cape of Batman in this issue, it doesn't look like it will be changing up anytime too soon. Snyder is doing a very good job of expanding Batman's world without alienating long-term fans. He's found new ground to overturn and, in doing so, just so happens to give Batman an unearthed mystery to try to solve. It's fun reading that combines the very best of the Batman mythos with the energetic brilliance of Capullo's artwork. The duo seems like the odd couple of comics, but with this story, their collaboration shines. Batman's fun to read again, and there truly is a sense of adventure as Snyder and Capullo make this a run that will prove to be memorable. Read Full Review

But really, what's truly on display is Snyder's work. The layers built into this plot are immense, but not overpowering. The plot is strong, but so too is the character development. This is what hooks readers. While a rip roaring and thrilling premise has its appeal, the examination of character traits and how they affect the narrative progression is what really separates a good comic from an excellent one. Batman #4 is neatly the latter, and that, in and of itself, tells readers what to expect going forward. Read Full Review

Batman may very well be my favorite book of the re-launch. Snyder is proving that there are still aspects to Batman that haven't been defined in the decades that the character has seen print. The Owl story is building to something special and it looks like a payoff could be coming in the next issue based on the cliffhanger. It isn't too late to jump on this book. I definitely recommend doing so. Read Full Review

Batman is still the best Batman book DC is putting out, even though there are some problems with dredging up the death of the Waynes as the major hook for the issue. The art is still full of detail and the story moves at a good pace, which earns Batman #4 3.5 out of 5 Stars. Read Full Review

Snyder and Capullo are one of the most talented creative teams working for DC right now, but while Capullo is firing on most of his cylinders here Snyder loses a lot of this issue to clumsy exposition. Read Full Review

The art by Greg Capullo looks great, and the comic ends with a panel that suggests things will pick up in the next issue. Worth a look. Read Full Review

If you took out the middle 8-10 pages of this comic, it wasn't that bad. But I just never got into Bruce's flashback tale. I'm sure a lot of people enjoyed it, but for me it was just kind of time-wasting... But your opinion of this issue will definitely be decided on that flashback, so for me, this issue was a letdown. Read Full Review

The Court of Owls are continuing to be a very interesting villain despite not really challenging Batman on a physical level yet. This is the World Greatest Detective at his best. Its cool to see Dick Grayson involved again and now we get to hear a bit more about the Court of Owls and why Batman has such an interest.

Issue #4 focuses on the past, directly connected to the present, and to the future as well, leading to Batman's first "official" introduction to the Court of Owls.
Bruce reveals he looked for the Court as a child, not long ater his parents' murder, obsessively investigating every single clue, little detail and doing his best to discover a conspiracy, to give their deaths twisted meaning, relevance. All that gives his young self so much depth and emotional baggage, the entire retcon feels right. Sure, surviving a week without any resources like you know, water, may be a subject of critique, but overall I've enjoyed how it connected to the ongoing story arc.

"The Court of Owls" proves itself to be a hell of a Bat-tale with an increasingly awesome background. What Batman finds himself in in the last page is something both shocking and utterly unpredictable, confirming that Scott Snyder is a good acquisition for the DC Comics team, which is right now not so full of great writers. Capullo gives us an intense and very dark performance, with the habitual style for the present time story and a nightmare-like one for the past experiences of young Bruce. This book is unmissable.

Loved little bruce’s investigation

last issue we saw Batman clumsily stepping on a tripwire booby-trap, causing the building he was in to blow up. but he we find that Batman is STILL alive, and STILL intact! ....in FACT, Scott Snyder goes on this WHOLE inner monologue from Batman about how the danger of a tripwire is NOT in the blast, but in the feeling of helplessness it instills in it's victim! ...REALLY??? tell that to all the poor souls who lost their legs (or lives) stepping on tripwires in all the wars over the years!!!! and this whole mumbo jumbo monologue is going on while Batman is trying to escape a fiery death!!!

((and_i_quote))-->> "Most people assume the danger of a tripwire lies in the blast. Not so. The real threat from a tripwire comes later ... in the aftermath. The truth is, a tripwire is a greater instrument of FEAR than of violence. It demoralizes everyone in range, suggesting that the enemy knows the terrain better than you do, that this is their home, and they're everywhere at once ... ready to bear down at any moment. In Gotham, there is an old nursery rhyme about the Court of Owls. A group of men who, the rhyme goes, rule the city from the shadows and enforce their will by means of an assassin named the TALON ... a highly trained killer the Court keeps hidden in bases around the city. Tonight, I discovered a series of bases, seeming to date back to the 19thth century--bases hidden in buildings constructed by my own family, the WAYNES. I was inspecting this, one the most recent, when the tripwire went off. Lucky for me ... I don't scare easily." <<--((end_quote)) ... REALLY SNYDER??? a deadly trap isn't really dangerous?? sure! ..the issue ends with Batman trapped in the Court of Owls underground labyrinth. more