The Court of Owls has been manipulating Gotham City for centuries. The Talons are the secret society’s enforcers. Talons from different eras will arise to attack Batman and his allies.
Batman artist Greg Capullo is designing Talons from various periods of Gotham’s past and revealed his latest creation to The Source.
“It was like using a magnet in a junkyard. Just a lot of stuff that doesn’t mean much, but looks cool.”
Batwing will face this Steampunk influenced Talon in the Night of the Owls crossover.
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 writer Scott Snyder is revealing how the Council of Owls has a grip on Bruce Wayne’s hometown. But the secret society has been manipulating Gotham City since the 1880’s. When the Night of the Owls crossover hits this May even All Star Western will be in the grip of the Talons.
Writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti shared how the event affects their book on The Source. And they reference my all time favorite sci-fi epic to describe it!
“Plans within plans.” That’s one of my favorite lines from Frank Herbert’s eco-sci-fi epic, Dune. It is also one of the hardest things to convey in a monthly comic where readers are often second-guessing the outcome or direction of a series. There is always a larger plan at work and things are never quite what they seem,” says Gray. “Both Batman and Jonah Hex have been discovering this fact in their own unique ways. Having chosen Gotham City as the unlikely setting for All-Star Western, Jimmy and I thought long and hard about the different ways we could make the book interesting to both new readers and the Jonah Hex faithful. To do that we began our initial arc with the secret society called The Crime Bible trying to establish its roots in 1880’s Gotham. At the same time over in Batman, readers were introduced to The Court of Owls.”
Gray continues, “By now you know both organizations existed long before the caped crusader launched his one-man campaign to save the soul of a city. So starting in May, The Court of Owls, the Talon, the secret history of Gotham, Crime Bible, Jonah Hex and Amadeus Arkham…some of the most unlikely and surprising elements start falling seamlessly in to place. It has been months and months in the making, but the plans within plans are coming to fruition and even the most cynical fan has to admit this New 52 thing is pretty damn exciting.”
“This is the best of both worlds for comic fans and us, and we plan on delivering the goods. Everything about this crossover makes sense and is planned brilliantly. We are happy to make Jonah and the gang part of comic book history once again,” said Palmiotti.
See how the Council of Owls affected Gotham City circa 1880 in All-Star Western #9. This cool retro cover is by Ladronn.
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.”
The Talon sketch by Greg Capullo courtesy DC Comics
The Batman family of titles will invaded by the Court of Owls and their ruthless assassins, The Talons in May’s crossover Night of the Owls. The Court has been a secret manipulator of Gotham City for years. The Talons will sport different looks from the past. Batman artist Greg Capullo is revealing his designs for the Talon on The Source.
“Same approach as the 1660s owl, basically,” said Batman artist Greg Capullo of the 1770s Talon, who will be resurrected to menace Batman and Robin. “I looked at that period’s military. I was happy to find less frilly stuff. Overall, the period looks more bad-ass, despite the stockings.”
Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s macabre masterpiece that is Batman Vs The Court of Owls continues with a bloody night at the theater . After last month’s mind warping journey through the Owls’ labyrinth Batman takes a vicious beating while the Court cheers on their sinister champion, the Talon.
Capullo makes you feel the pain in Bruce’s battered body and you get uncomfortably close enough to his bloodshot eyes. We see just how massive, depraved and creepy the Council is and their surprise they’re about to unleash on Gotham City and Batman is chilling.
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 is broken and bleeding in the Court of Owls’ psychedelic deathtrap underneath Gotham City. Did their relentless assassin Talon really gut the Dark Knight? After last issue’s Black Swan style mind tripping issue – I believe anything is possible!
Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi #1
Before Obi-Wan, before Yoda – on a distant planet an order of warrior monks strive to learn the secrets of the Force but a stranger is coming to claim this power for his own. The creative team behind Star Wars Legacy reveals the mythic origin of the Jedi Knights.
The Misadventures of Adam West #1
The actor who played Batman in the camp-tastic tv show has his own outrageous comic. Magic and imagination send Adam West across time, space and alternative dimensions to fight crime.
The Winter Soldier #2 courtesy Marvel
The Winter Soldier #2
Bucky and Black Widow are Marvel’s hottest couple and coolest spies. The former Captain America must stop an army of stone cold super assassins and this may lead to an impossible mission: prevent the killing of Doctor Doom! Who has the balls to try to take out Marvel’s ultimate villain?
Army of Darkness #1
Based on the cult classic Sam Raimi film – A new chapter begins for the Army of Darkness saga. “Ash” played by Bruce Campbell in the movies is joined by a new female ally in his war against the Deadites that takes them to ancient Egypt. Bring your chainsaw and join the fun.
