Robin Hood (Disney) (1973)
Movie Watch
An imaginative Disney version of the Robin Hood legend. Fun and romance abound as the swashbuckling...
Disney RobinHood BeforePixar ClassicMovies
Wish Upon (2017)
Movie Watch
Twelve years after discovering her mother’s suicide, 17-year-old CLARE SHANNON (Joey King) is...
Home Alone 4 (2002)
Movie
Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House is a 2002 American made-for-television Christmas family comedy...
The Architectural Heritage of Sri Lanka
C. Anjalendran and David Robson
Book
Architect C. Anjalendran, aided by an army of assistants and students, has been recording Sri...
The Poisonwood Bible
Book
Barbara Kingsolver's acclaimed international bestseller tells the story of an American missionary...
Alfred the Great: Pocket Giants
Book
'Alfred is one of the most remarkable rulers of any time or place. This clear, readable and...
Strings of Pearls: A Collection of Poems
Janie Hextall and Barbara McNaught
Book
While having fun with Washing Lines: A collection of poems, Barbara and Janie discovered they have...
Under the Dome
Book
The second season of the television adaptation of UNDER THE DOME will receive its UK premiere on...
Joe Goodhart (27 KP) rated Batman: The Court of Owls in Books
Nov 30, 2020
****
Cox does a brilliant job with Batman! Seriously, I wish <u>he</u> had been writing BATMAN instead of Tom King! The characterization is one that shows us the "I'm Batman!" version, as well as allowing us to see a side of him not always presented well in the comics of late: he has a human side, but he also has a dedication to see cases/mysteries through to the end, as it is what he feels he has to do for the city of Gotham, as well as her citizens. The great thing with the way Cox presented both sides was balanced, neither too much of one or the other.
I also quite liked how Cox returned to the Court of Owl's previous "lair", the one with that marbleized labyrinth and that huge marble owl statue in its center. Reading throughout, it really seemed as if Cox had spent more than enough time reading the source material, taking all of it in, and then presenting his addition to Batman's dealings with the Court of Owls. So, so brilliant!
And, while she was not in it as much as Bats, the little bit that Batgirl/Barbara Gordon appeared was spot on. Her dialogue interactions with Bats are tense, in relation to the case, as well as fun and playful, when the situation called for it. Again, just as his treatment of Batman's character, Cox presents us with a balanced Barbara Gordon, making her inclusion a welcome treat!
As much as I loved seeing both Bats and Barbara, I was equally invested in the supporting characters. No one felt like cardboard or trope-ish. Everyone had roles to play within the story, and the roles were played well and memorable, even after the book was finished! Definitely well appreciated of all the effort invested in both the main characters, as well as the not-so-main folks!
I don't know that this would be considered canonical as far as Batman and the Court of Owls, but it should be! The story flows well, offering an edgy, exciting adventure that succeeds in being memorable as well as being taken as canonical! Good stuff, folks, and one not to be missed! Unless, of course, you don't like Batman, and then, well, it would just be a lot of suck! Just sayin'..
Crush: Writers Reflect on Love, Longing, and the Lasting Power of Their First Celebrity Crush
Cathy Alter and Dave Singleton
Book
A star-studded collection of essays from acclaimed and bestselling authors and celebrities that...