TALON #1

Review by: Syntax

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Avg Rating: 3.7
 
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Written by Scott Snyder & James T Tynion IV
Art by Guillem March
Cover by Guillem March
Variant Cover by Trevor McCarthy & Guillem March

Size: 32 pages
Price: 2.99

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I heard there was a spinoff book based on Snyder’s ‘Court of Owl’s” story arc. The fact that Scott Snyder would continue to be the architect behind his own creation was reassuring. However, when I read that there would be a co-writer, I couldn’t help but think of the recent let down that was the ‘Gates of Gotham.’ Despite my hesitance, I decided to give this book a try. Although I wasn’t blown away, Talon # 1 was good enough to get me to come back for a second issue.

Talon is a fresh storyline that comes straight from the pages of Batman. Although the concept behind the Court of Owls was something covered in Snyder’s first Batman arc, this book does not require any prerequisite reading (though you’d definitely be missing out). The reader is introduced to the new character of Calvin Rose, who was the most dangerous assassin within the Court. Rose has since escaped, and is now on the run from the Court who wants nothing more than to reestablish him as a Talon. When he hears of Batman’s recent destruction of the Court, he decides to go back to Gotham to make sure.

This is the gist of who Calvin Rose is, however I’d rather leave this review spoiler free, and instead give you a general synopsis of what I thought of the book in general.

As a fan of the most recent Batman run, I thought that this book was true to what Snyder built throughout the pages of Batman. The idea that Gotham is a living, breathing city, was still a concept further explored, The constant world building within the history of the Court of Owls also added depth to story.

I cant say that Calvin Rose was the most interesting character as much as he was a predictable one. A lost assassin with a long lost love, on the run from the people who created him. Sorry, but I cant say that this is exactly the recipe for originality. That said, how much originality do we really have these days? Anyway, I digress.

Regardless of media redundancy, I still had fun reading this book. I’m a sucker for spin-offs, despite the fact that if there was ever a DC character who didn’t need a spinoff, it would be Batman.

Guillem March’s art was good, even though at times Calvin Rose’s face seem to be a little inconsistent. The tone of the city was similar to that of Greg Capullo’s, however comparing the two would be impossible because of their obvious difference in styles. If March became the regular on this book, I definitely wouldn’t complain. His rough pencils fit the slight noir feel of the book.

If your pull list is already Bat-Book heavy, and you don’t think that another one seems enticing, don’t worry. Talon does not feel like any other book within the Bat-Family, and reads more like a hard boiled revenge story. If you are a fan of Scott Snyder then at the very least you should give this book a try.

Story: 4 - Very Good
Art: 4 - Very Good

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