To say an issue of Batman is amazing at this point is kind of redundant. As I type this review 1363 other people are buying this issue and right now it’s has a Community Pick of the Week status of 39.8% (which will more then likely go even higher before this is even published). This review will more then likely get buried with ten other user reviews on this issue alone. So what can I say that no one else already well? Well to hell with that I’ll join in on the crowd as usual and say this issue is fantastic.

Greg Capullo….That’s all I should say at this point. Why it took SO long for DC to hire him for this series is puzzling me. Cause everything about this issue (and eight before it) is superb. I literally was having a ‘crisis’ when I saw the opening two-page spread of Batman in his new suit beating the shit out of Talons. I literally have no idea how a single man can do this every single month. It’s gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. He can draw anything when Snyder throws it at him! Millions of Bats, the T-Rex smashing undead Owl people to death, and a GORGEOUS looking new Batmobile. It’s just….I’m having another ‘crisis’ just recapping it here for you.

Snyder is just giving us more and more reasons why he should be chained to a desk and write Batman till the end of time. This is, pretty much, the ‘fight’ issue as Batman and the Talons go back and forth in the cave. When Snyder isn’t going deep into a story you also gotta remember he’s a 5-star writer just by writing ‘Punch’ in the script. The fight in this is paced beautifully and he adds a lot of unique moments to keep the fight interesting. The only thing I had a problem with this issue is Batman addressing the Detective Comics tie-in. I understand in today’s world you have to explain how a character is in nine million places at once. But to be honest Bruce addressing it in this issue just felt too clunky. It doesn’t hurt my rating with this issue but maybe it would have been wise to just cut that line out.

More should be addressed with the back up and it’s safe to assume James Tynion IV is a good find by DC. We don’t get a lot of Alred’s history in Batman books so he’s got a huge blank canvas to work with. I was enthralled by the Pennyworth history and how it ties into this Court of Owls and I want to see more of it. Also, we get some actual character progression with Martha Wayne who I think is a character we know little about. The art by Rafael Albuquerque is just as fantastic as Capullo’s. I do love the painted style Dave McCaig’s brings to the colors. If this team could stay all the team once the Night of Owls story is over I’d be quite happy paying extra dollar to DC.

So there you have it. Once again a member of the ifanbase gives a Scott Snyder/Greg Capullo issue of Batman ‘Pick of the Week’. It’s not surprising since every issue is pretty much perfection at your fingertips. But don’t forget about the backup by Tynion and Albuquerque because we are seeing the start of an interesting family history with a great, new writer. Nine issues in a row of perfection….and yet somehow this series can only get better.