The Fall Into The Labyrinth
While investigating the Owl's Nest inside Wayne Enterprises, Batman sets off a trip wire that nearly takes his life. Batman continues to entertain the idea of the Court Of Owls by investigating the death of his great-great-grandfather, Alan Wayne.
My Thoughts:This series has been without a doubt my favorite to follow each month from DC. Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo have had me hooked from the very first issue.
Last months issue ended with Batman setting off a trip wire shortly after entering the Owl's Nest he stumbled upon. We saw an explosion occur and Talon watching from a distance. The issue opens up mere seconds after setting off the trip wire. Batman's prowess comes into play as he instinctively knows how to escape the building before it's too late. I liked the detail Scott Snyder went into during this part concerning trip wires. Nice to see him bring a little knowledge and perspective to the subject.
One of the best parts, if not the best part of this issue was the flashback scenes to Bruce's childhood. They're so good I really don't want to ruin them for anyone who hasn't read this yet. Needless to say, Snyder shines during these moments.
This game of cat and mouse between Batman and Talon has become so much fun to witness. It keeps you on the edge of your seat every time. You know it's only a matter of time until the two have an epic showdown. They've thus far had a couple of quick encounters with each other. Towards the end of the issue we see Batman hit the sewers, specifically the spot his grandfather Alan Wayne died. We see him begin a little detective work until he's interrupted by Talon who was watching from the shadows. What happened next was completely unexpected. I don't think anyone could have predicted this. I wonder what Snyder has in store for us next. I have no doubt at all that it will be incredibly interesting.
Greg Capullo's artwork is consistently amazing. In this issue he offers a different dynamic we haven't seen from him yet. His style switched when illustrating the flashback scenes of Bruce's childhood. I found myself really enjoying the art through these scenes. Capullo knows how to match Snyder's writing perfectly. I think the two are bringing out the best in each other every month.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, this series is the best series to spawn out of DC Comics New 52 initiative. This is grade A storytelling and artwork all around. This creative team is creating one of the most compelling and thrilling Batman stories I've had the pleasure of reading.
Rating: 5/5