Night of the Owls VS Death of the Family

[Conway]

I was trying to think about Snyder's Batman, and it hit me, that almost two and a half years in he's only written two arcs (CotO and NotO are the same arc). The were both "major" crossovers, and critically acclaimed, but Batman fans haven't been as nice.

Which do you prefer?
What did you hate about one or the other?
Anything you preferred in one?
Anything Snyder can do better? yada yada yada

So far I have to go with NotO. Batman was the only title worth reading in that crossover. It was compelling and impressive, then the army of Zombies invaded. Everyone killed their one zombie, and that was that. In DotF Batman is the title I'm dreading the most. Everyone else's story is interesting, even Suicide Squad's "50 Shades of Psycho" makes me wonder and think. Batman has been like reading a children's book, every concept is spelled out and the lead is an idiot.

[TheGoshDarnBatman]

First five issues of Owls were brilliant, I've only really enjoyed one issue of Death of the Family. So Court of Owls gets my vote.

[Aquacatlungfish]

In terms of tie-ins, DotF all the way. The only good Owl tie-ins I read were Nightwing (which I would say is moderately essential to the story). Catwoman felt less forced and natural but still pointless to the main story. I enjoyed the main stories equally.

[Conway]

In terms of tie-ins, DotF all the way. The only good Owl tie-ins I read were Nightwing (which I would say is moderately essential to the story). Catwoman felt less forced and natural but still pointless to the main story. I enjoyed the main stories equally.

The tie ins are way better (WAY WAY WAY BETTER) in DotF but I just don't think Batman compares favorably to CotO. Maybe it's as good as the NotO parts, but taken as a whole, I just don't feel it in this arc.

[Aquacatlungfish]

The tie ins are way better (WAY WAY WAY BETTER) in DotF but I just don't think Batman compares favorably to CotO. Maybe it's as good as the NotO parts, but taken as a whole, I just don't feel it in this arc.

While it may get carried away with exposition, I'm one of the few on this board that likes Snyder's Joker. Take into account that I haven't read #15 because the post here's is a bitch. The tie-ins are what swayed me. I was dropping BaR but then 15 hit me and Batgirl had the best issues of the series. So I think it's a better crossover as it doesn't waste a month of Bat family comics with it's pointless fights (that's what the Owls issues were, just pointless fights).

[Fate's Faith]

I agree the tie ins are better in DotF and that first return of the Joker in Batman #13 was wonderfully thrilling and creepy. But I really enjoyed the whole Court arc and since I haven't gotten to read the ending of Death yet, its still holding itself well. But I think I'm more invested in Death which doesn't surprise me since its still happening.

[Xarcon]

I was trying to think about Snyder's Batman, and it hit me, that almost two and a half years in he's only written two arcs (CotO and NotO are the same arc).

It's only been almost one and a half years.

I'm not sure which event I like more. In fact, it may be be a question of which I dislike the least. DotF only takes up five issues of Batman compared to the eleven that CoO took, so that's a point for DotF. However, with the exception of Nightwing each of the NoO tie-ins only lasted for one issue, but the DotF tie-ins are lasting two or three issues each, so that's a point for CoO. Overall, I guess that makes them about even.

Of course, I'm not exactly in love with either story. I think the tie-ins are the worst part. They do absolutely nothing for me. Most of the CoO tie-ins were pointless and left me saying, "So what?" after each of them. The DotF tie-ins, for the most part, feel like they actually have a story to tell, but they still feel forced. They also mean more months where half of my Bat-Books are dealing with the Joker instead of telling their own stories. Both events lose big points from me for the tie-ins.

Looking strictly at Batman, though, I would say that I'm enjoying DotF more so far...so I guess that's my choice.

Also, I still hate the Joker's face. I really hope they fix that soon.

[BatWatch]

Court of Owls had a pretty good leadup with a very mediocre finish just as you described. Still, good work altogether, but a bit overrated by most people. Death of the Family is not yet finished, so I don’t think it is fair to grade it, but at this stage, I can definitely say that some of the crossovers are stronger, but I’m just not sure on it being either better or worse than Court of Owls beyond that.

[ticklefist]

I liked Snyder's Detective run a lot. Good, moody, with wacky "BAT IN MY HOUSE!" bits tossed in. Stopped reading his Batman run early on. Seemed like the fast food action figure tie-in version of the same thing.

[MajorHoy]

I would rather he waited longer before hitting us with the first mega-arc, and I definitely would have him do a few shorter stories before throwing us in to a second mega-arc!

[booyah]

I liked Snyder's Detective run a lot. Good, moody, with wacky "BAT IN MY HOUSE!" bits tossed in. Stopped reading his Batman run early on. Seemed like the fast food action figure tie-in version of the same thing.

DOTF vs CoO? winner= Black Mirror.

[DrSimonHurt]

I liked Snyder's Detective run a lot. Good, moody, with wacky "BAT IN MY HOUSE!" bits tossed in. Stopped reading his Batman run early on. Seemed like the fast food action figure tie-in version of the same thing.

Yeah, it's the fast-food mass consumption version of Grant Morrison's Black Glove story. Could you imagine how silly it would have been to have all the RIP tie-ins feature Dr. Hurt masks over the cover?

[maxpower00044]

but Batman fans haven't been as nice.

So, did you really just imply that anyone who likes Snyder's Batman (which I'm sure is more than people who dislike Snyder's Batman) is not a Batman fan?

DoTF isn't even done yet. Why not wait till the end of the story to compare?

[RoughNTumble]

Black Mirror

Snyder's horror sensibilities work far better with smaller scale more personal stories. When he tries to go larger scale the plots seem to suffer. He makes the main character seem incompetent to build up the villain. Unlike a joss whedon or morrison story, not everyone comes out looking better. Bruce's arrogance makes it hard to root for batman. He writes a better dick grayson.


James Gordon Jr. is an awesome villain, and the court of owls have an awesome concept and design. Leatherface joker is his weakest villain yet. I still have yet to see a satisfying explanation for joker having his face taken off. Is this a question that's going to be answered in the final two issues of the arc? I'm not sure.

[darkseidpwns]

For now I prefer DOTF,it has better tie inns.But on the flip side the tie inns>main book as opposed to the Court Of Owls and they also dont make sense either.I mean how exactly is Joker running all over the place despite the Bat family being on high alert and I presume this story takes place in the span of few days(maybe 2-4?).It appears that Snyders idea of making Joker more deadlier involves giving him nonsensical plot power.

I hated the whole thing with Lincoln March just randomly becoming Bruce's brother,also hated how the Court was involved in stuff from Alan Wayne's murder to Haly Circus.The Court itself was a generic group of rich guys and assassins who had no distinguishable personality,skills,powers,looks to make them different from each other.The plot made no sense after issue #5.

For DOTF I dislike the whole angle with Joker's face,I seriously dont get it.But what exactly is the point? what is it's relevancy to the story at hand, there is no message or theme behind it.Lame stunt that's what it is.I also dislike how they are going on and on about Joker being more deadlier when he hasn't done anything worthy of bragging aside from now having the ninja power to sneak in,and being at various places at once(lazy IMO,any villain can be written to do that.)

I prefer DOTF being much shorter than COO.

Doubtful