Late last week word came out that some titles, such as BATMAN AND DETECTIVE COMICS, were increasing their price and page count. If we're going to get a raise in the price, having more pages of stories could be justifiable, providing those stories are worth the difference in price. I voiced my thoughts many times on the Second Features we used to see and my main problem that they often didn't feel they belonged in the title they appeared in. DC revealed their plans for the back-ups beginning in BATMAN #8, via The Source.
The back-up in BATMAN #8 won't be just an ordinary back-up story. It's going to "explore the dark history of the Court of Owls." That, in itself, is enough to sell me on the idea. But there's more!
The back-ups will be by the amazing creative team of Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque. You should be more than familiar with their work in the pages of AMERICAN VAMPIRE. James Tynion IV will also be co-writing with Snyder.
These back-up stories with continue to reveal more about the Court’s sinister agenda as we move toward “The Night of The Owls” – a massive crossover event coming in May, which will span the Bat-books and reveal the full breadth of their master plan. With their claws sunk into Gotham history, the Owls represent a threat unlike anything Batman’s faced before, threatening to tip the city’s balance of power once and for all.
“The first backup, in issue eight will give a sense of the terrifying scope of the Court of Owls’ attack on Gotham. This really will be the first shot in a war for the soul of Gotham City,” said Snyder. “And then, starting in issue nine, we’ll begin a three part story called ‘The Fall of the House of Wayne’ that will investigate the secret history of the Court of Owls and its relationship to the Wayne family – particularly to Thomas and Martha Wayne, Bruce’s parents. The story will be told from the point of view of Jarvis Pennyworth, Alfred’s father, and offer some big surprises and shocks about the forces that shaped the bat-mythology as we know it. Can’t wait for you all to see these stories!
BATMAN #8 will be on sale in April. Check out Rafael's character sketches courtesy of The Source.
I didn't think it was possible but BATMAN's going to be even better than it is now.