Night of the Owls screeches into comic book shops next. The Council of Owls unleash their army of Talons on Gotham City. The event will slash across all the Batman family titles. DC revealed the cover to Detective Comics #9 by Tony Daniel as Batman battles three Talons.
Batman must survive the Night of the Owls, an upcoming crossover clawing into all the Batman family of books. Batman #8 includes the first of a series of back-up stories exploring history of the Court of Owls, the mysterious secret society manipulating Gotham City. DC Comics revealed a first look at the issue’s variant cover by fan-favorite artist Jason Fabok.
“The description for this cover was that Batman was being tackled, or smothered by the Court of Owls,” Fabok told THE SOURCE. “The idea of the court reaching down to Batman in a zombie like manner immediately sprang to mind. Artistically I really wanted to play with the shadows on both Batman and the owl-masked men so I added a strong source light on one side to light the shot. I used my camera on my Macbook to get some rough shadow reference and went from there. I penciled the piece traditionally but inked it digitally on my cintiq. Peter did a great job as usual on colors. I’m very humbled to have had the opportunity to do a Batman cover, especially in connection with such an excellent Batman run.”
Batman #8 is by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo. The back-up story is co-written by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV and illustrated by Snyder’s American Vampire artistic partner Rafael Albuquerque. The issue flies into stores on April 18th.
Today DC Comics revealed the cover and solicit for Batman #10 in June teasing that in this issue Batman takes the fight to the Court of Owls and we learn the mastermind behind the secret society.
Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo are the creative team behind this epic new chapter in Batman history.
The Night of the Owls event affects the Batman family of books as the secret society unleashes an army of assassins knows as Talons on Gotham City’s heroes. Talons from different eras will attack different members of the Bat-family. The Source revealed three new designs a century apart.
Scott Snyder’s American Vampire collaborator Rafael Albuquerque created the 1980’s version of the Court’s Talon appearing in the back-up stories in Batman.
“I’ve tried to bring a clerical look,” he said. “Ceremonial, but also, something an assassin could use. Needless to say that I’ve followed what Greg awesomely did on the original Talon design, but also tried to do something different, with more leather than metal, and a cloak, to resemble almost a religious look to him.”
Jason Todd, Arsenal and Starfire will face a slick almost reptilian version of the eternal assassin.
“Our Talon is from the 1980s, so I think it reflects a very modern look,” said Bobbie Chase, Red Hood and the Outlaws series editor. “Our character is also an acrobat, and Kenneth [Rocafort] did a great, dynamic job with the design.”
The Talons were back in the 1880’s along with Jonah Hex. Here’s the design for the henchman appearing in All-Star Western.
“I first went to Racinet’s history of western costume. Then I looked a little harder at Ospery’s armies of the Napoleonic wars,” teased All Star Western artist Moritat, tongue firmly in cheek. “After several sketches I leaned toward Prussian cavalry, specifically Borstell’s Pomeranian brigade.”
Do you have a favorite Talon look yet? Night of the Owls begins this May.
By Editor
Batgirl will face the wrath of the Court of Owls when Night of the Owls crosses into all the Batman family of books.
Greg Capullo reveals his latest Talon design on The Source. This is an enforcer from the 1940’s that will clash with Batgirl and as you can see by the design – this is the first female Talon.
“Scott’s (Snyder) direction was she was an African-American female,” said Capullo. “I freely admit that the design of the breastplate was inspired by the fact that she had breasts.”
Night of the Owls begins this May.
The battle for Gotham City bleeds into Detective Comics #9 as the Night of the Owls crossover spreads across all the Batman titles. The secret society strikes Arkham Asylum in the issue by written and drawn by Tony Daniel. Sandu Florea co-illustrates the issue.
Here’s what Batman Series editor Mike Marts told The Source:
“In Detective #9, Batman finds himself in the unlikeliest of situations—saving Arkham Asylum administrator Jeremiah Arkham from a mysterious Talon assailant,” said Marts. “What is the secret connection between the Court of Owls and Gotham City’s oldest institution for the criminally insane?”
Batman artist Greg Capullo created the Talon – ruthless assassin for the Court of Owls. This May the secret society unleashes an army of Talons against Batman and his DC family in the Night of the Owls crossover.
All this week Capullo shares his designs for Talons from different time periods resurrected to fight the Bat-family. The latest reveal on The Source shows the Talon from the 1840’s.
“Now I’m thinking Jack the Ripper,” says Capullo of the mid-Victorian Talon that threatens the Birds of Prey during the crossover. “Cloaks and lots of layers. A bird’s feathers are all layered. Perfect.”
By Editor
The Night of the Owls is coming this May. The Council of Owls tighten their claws on Gotham City and take on the entire Batman family. The secret society has an army of ruthless assassins to execute their plot. Batman artist Greg Capullo shares how he came up with the design for the Talon on The Source.
“I thought about owls for a minute, and the hooded owl sprang to mind,” said Batman artist Greg Capullo about the creation of the original Talon. “So I gave him a hood like an executioner. As for the lines of the suit, I let the thought of birds guide my hand. An owl design simply made sense.”
Batman #6 arrived in stores today.