This page is similar in name or subject to other pages. See also Batman: The Court of Owls for a complete list of references to clarify differences between these closely named or closely related articles.

Beware the Court of Owls, that watches all the time, ruling Gotham from a shadowed perch, behind granite and lime. They watch you at your hearth, they watch you in your bed, speak not a whispered word of them, or they'll send the Talon for your head.

-- Nursery Rhyme

Contents 1 History 1.1 The Court of Owls 2 Talons 3 Paraphernalia 4 Notes 5 Trivia 6 See Also 7 Recommended Reading 8 Links and References 8.1 Footnotes

History

The Court of Owls is an ancient conspiracy that has controlled Gotham City for centuries. They are a violent cabal who use architecture and murder to wield political influence throughout history. Their legend is told only through whispers and a nursery rhyme that bears their name. To carry out their interests, they employ a breed of highly-trained assassins known as Talons. The leaders of the organization appear to be human and wear owl masks on their faces. The rest of the court, on the other hand, are mutated and appear to actually be human/owl hybrids. Their owl-like distorted faces, long claws, and their eating style prove this.

The Court of Owls

Main article: Batman: The Court of Owls

The Court of Owls takes notice when billionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne announces plans to rebuild and reshape Gotham City for the future.^[1] He is sentenced to death, and their assassin the Talon attempts to murder him during a meeting with politician Lincoln March. They struggle at the top of Wayne Tower and the killer survives a fall from the top.^[2] Batman begins to investigate, and he discovers that their society has secret headquarters throughout hidden rooms in every building established by the Alan Wayne Trust. They attempt to kill him again by blowing up their most recent base.^[3] Bruce recounts that as a child he believed them responsible for the death of his parents, and personally investigated the conspiracy before determining that there was no evidence.

When he visits the sewer where Alan Wayne's body was found, the Talon surprises and abducts him.^[4] They trap Batman in a massive labyrinth used for all their victims where he spends over a week without food and regresses to the point of hallucination. The giant maze tells the story of every man and woman they've ever killed, including Alan Wayne, eventually leading to a room that contains his own. Talon finally walks up from behind and stabs Batman to kill him when he is at his weakest.^[5] The Court finally reveal themselves in person, having decided to honor their worthy enemy by displaying his skeleton in the maze. Talon asks for their sentence, and he is commanded to brutally beat the super-hero to death. Batman gathers his last reserves of strength when he is inspired by the memory of his tortured ancestor, and tears the Owls away from his body. Delivering a savage beat-down to Talon, he swears that he will hunt them down and escapes using a make-shift explosive. Talon is disposed of for having outlived his value, and they reveal that a small army of similar warriors is waiting to be released.^[6]

Not long after, apprently tired of their game, and angered at Batman's escape and discovery of their lair, the Court unleashes the full might of their army of undead Talons on the city to kill Batman and his allies and retake Gotham for themselves.

Talons

The Talons are a breed of deadly assassins absolutely loyal to the Court. They remain sleeping deep within their inner sanctum until they are called upon. Experts at murder, they are responsible for controlling the Court's interests with an iron fist whenever their services are needed for an execution.

• William Cobb is the assassin sent to murder Bruce Wayne, prior to Night of Owls.^[2]

• Mary is the assassin sent to coerce Commissioner Gordon into letting his police force handle the Night of Owls ineffectively, and into inadvertently lighting a modified Bat-Signal which fills the sky with the symbol of the Court of Owls, thereby killing hope that the Batman will save Gotham. She was horribly disfigured at a young age by a bomb attached to a balloon which was sent by Emperor Hirohito to cause panic in the United States during World War II. She faces Batgirl, but lets her go, because they both wear masks.^[7]

• Henry Ballard was encountered by the Birds of Prey. He remembered the Gotham City of 1847 as a violent place, and saw the city's present the same way. When he was unmasked, he already had the appearance of an old man. The Birds of Prey managed to subdue him when Poison Ivy dragged him into a refrigerated train car meant for carrying meat.^[8]

• Ephram Newhouse was the Talon of 1665. However, his sloppiness forced the court to retire him, stripping him of his weapons and armour with a mark of disgrace on his record. Four of his knives were stolen by Catwoman, centuries later. On the Night of the Owls, Ephram was revived, and sent by the Court to assassinate The Penguin. By sheer coincidence, the Penguin was in possession of the fifth knife, which Catwoman had set her own sights on. In the ensuing conflict, Catwoman saved the Penguin's life, and promised the five knives back to the Talon, preying on his need for redemption in the eyes of the Court. The Penguin shot him through the head before an exchange could be made, and so Catwoman - feeling as though she and the Talon were kindred spirits - laid his body on the roof of Gotham City Police Headquarters with his five knives, and turned on the Bat-Signal.^[9]

Paraphernalia

Equipment: None known.
Transportation: None known.
Weapons: None known.

Notes

• No special notes.
  

Trivia

• A group of Owls is called a parliament. ^[10][11]

See Also

• 20 Appearances of Court of Owls
• 16 Images that include Court of Owls
• Team Gallery: Court of Owls
• Fan-Art Gallery: Court of Owls
  
  

Recommended Reading

• Batman: The Court of Owls
• Batman: Night of the Owls

Links and References

• Discuss Court of Owls on the forums
• None.
  

Footnotes

Batman

Supporting Ace the Bat-Hound • Alfred Pennyworth • Azrael • Barbara Gordon • Batgirl • Batman Incorporated • Batman of Zur En Arrh • Batwoman • Bat-Mite • Bruce Wayne • Cassandra Cain • Catwoman • Commissioner Gordon • Crispus Allen • Dark Ranger • Dick Grayson • Helena Bertinelli • Flamebird • El Gaucho • GCPD • Harold Allnut • Harriet Cooper • Harvey Bullock • Huntress • Jason Bard • Jason Todd • Julie Madison • Knight • Legionary • Leslie Thompkins • Lucius Fox • Man-of-Bats • Martha Wayne • Matches Malone • Mr. Unknown • Musketeer • Nightrunner • Nightwing • Onyx • Orpheus • Outsiders • Red Robin • Renee Montoya • Robin • Sarah Essen • Sasha Bordeaux • Silver St. Cloud • Squire • Superman • Terry McGinnis • Thomas Wayne • Tim Drake • Vesper Fairchild • Vicki Vale • Wingman • Wonder Woman • Zatanna Villains Amygdala • Anarky • Bane • Black Glove • Black Mask • Black Spider • Blockbuster • Calculator • Calendar Man • Carmine Falcone • Catman • Catwoman • Cavalier • Clayface • Club of Villains • Cluemaster • Court of Owls • Crazy Quilt • Crime Doctor • David Cain • Deacon Blackfire • Deadshot • Doctor Death • Doctor Dedalus • Doctor Double X • Doctor Phosphorus • Electrocutioner • Firebug • Firefly • Fright • Great White Shark • Harley Quinn • Hugo Strange • Humpty Dumpty • Hush • Jane Doe • Joe Chill • Joker • KGBeast • King Snake • King Tut • Killer Croc • Killer Moth • Lady Shiva • League of Assassins • Lew Moxon • Lex Luthor • Lock-Up • Mad Hatter • Mad Monk • Magpie • Man-Bat • Maxie Zeus • Mister Freeze • Mister Zsasz • Nyssa Raatko • Penguin • Poison Ivy • Professor Pyg • Prometheus • Ra's al Ghul • Red Hood • Riddler • Rupert Thorne • Roxy Rocket • Sal Maroni • Scarecrow • Simon Hurt • Solomon Grundy • Spellbinder • Talia al Ghul • Tally Man • Three Ghosts of Batman • Tony Zucco • Two-Face • Ubu • Ventriloquist • Wrath Items Batarang • Batboat • Batmobile • Batplane • Batsuit • Bat-Radia • Bat-Signal • Utility Belt Locations Arkham Asylum • Batcave • Gotham City • GCPD Headquarters • Wayne Enterprises • Wayne Foundation • Wayne Manor Miscellaneous Origins • Publication History • Recommended Reading • Storylines • Video Games Comics Azrael • Batgirl • Batman • Batman and Robin • Batman Beyond • Batman Confidential • Batman Incorporated • Batman: Dark Knight • Batman: Streets of Gotham • Birds of Prey • Justice League of America • Outsiders • Red Robin • Superman/Batman Movies Batman (serial) • Batman and Robin (serial) • Batman (1966 film) • Batman (1989 film) • Batman Returns • Batman: Mask of the Phantasm • Batman Forever • Batman and Robin (film) • Batman: SubZero • Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker • Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman • Batman Begins • The Batman vs. Dracula • Batman: Gotham Knight • The Dark Knight • Batman: Under the Red Hood • Batman: Year One • The Dark Knight Rises Television Batman (1966) • The Batman/Superman Hour • Super Friends • The New Adventures of Batman • Batman: The Animated Series • The New Batman Adventures • Batman Beyond • Justice League • Justice League Unlimited • The Batman • Batman: The Brave and the Bold This box: view • talk • edit

Batman Villain(s) This character, team or organization, is or was primarily an enemy of the Batman, or members of the Batman Family. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Batman Villains category."