For over a century, the Court of Owls has ruled Gotham City in secret - their reach inescapable, their power unstoppable. Until they battled the Batman. Gotham's vigilante protector managed to escape the talons of the Court with his mind and body barely intact. The Dark Knight managed to win the battle with his deadly new aggresors, but certainly not the war. Batman was just the first part of their conquest. Now they have their sights set on something much bigger: Gotham City. A critical and commercial smash, BATMAN: THE CITY OF OWLS (collecting BATMAN 8-12 and BATMAN ANNUAL #1) continues the instant-classic saga of the Dark Knight's battle with Gotham City's oldest and darkest forces from the #1 New York Times best-selling creative team of writer Scott Snyder (AMERICAN VAMPIRE) and artist Greg Capullo (Spawn), plus an array of talented guest contributors!

Hidden for years, the mysterious Court of Owls surface in Gotham City--what must Batman to defeat them and what deadly connection to they have to his past? Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's masterpiece epic is collected in its entirey in trade paperback for the first time ever! After a series of brutal murders rocks Gotham City, Batman begins to realize that perhaps these crimes go far deeper than appearances suggest. As the Caped Crusader begins to unravel this deadly mystery, he discovers a conspiracy going back to his youth and beyond to the origins of the city he's sworn to protect. Could the Court of Owls, once thought to be nothing more than an urban legend, be behind the crime and corruption? Or is Bruce Wayne losing his grip on sanity and falling prey to the pressures of his war on crime? Considered one of the greatest stories in the Dark Knight's historic lore, BATMAN: THE COURT OF OWLS SAGA is an epic tale told by two of comics' finest storytellers. Collects issues #1-11 of BATMAN, as well as bonus material including sketches, scripts, design concepts and variant covers.

Following his ground-breaking, critically acclaimed run on DETECTIVE COMICS, writer Scott Snyder (AMERICAN VAMPIRE) alongside artist Greg Capullo (Spawn) begins a new era of the Dark Knight as with the relaunch of Batman! After a series of brutal murders rocks Gotham City, Batman begins to realize that perhaps these crimes go far deeper than appearances suggest. As the Caped Crusader begins to unravel this deadly mystery, he discovers a conspiracy going back to his youth and beyond to the origins of the city he's sworn to protect. Could the Court of Owls, once thought to be nothing more than an urban legend, be behind the crime and corruption? Or is Bruce Wayne losing his grip on sanity and falling prey to the pressures of his war on crime?

"Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger - Court of Owls created by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo"

Before the era of superheroes began-before the Batman spread his wings to protect the innocent and punish the evil-Gotham City's prodigal son, Bruce Wayne, had been missing for years. But this was exactly the cover of darkness Bruce needed. Patrolling Gotham's streets in a series of disguises, he began a career as a faceless vigilante. The #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling creative team of Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Danny Miki and Rafael Albuquerque present an astonishing new vision of the Dark Knight's origin-and his first encounters with the Riddler, the Red Hood, and more-in BATMAN VOL. 4: YEAR ZERO-SECRET CITY. Collects issues #21-24.

When a supervillain known as the Riddler causes a citywide blackout in Gotham, it’s only a matter of time before other like-minded criminals start to emerge under the cover of darkness. Now Batman and Jim Gordon must form a reluctant partnership to save Gotham City not only from the Riddler’s twisted mind games, but also from a more subtle, but just as deadly foe-Dr. Death. Comics superstars Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo continue their bold reimagining of Batman's origin in BATMAN VOL. 5: ZERO YEAR-DARK CITY, a stunning saga of a city under siege! Collects issues #25-27 and #29-33.

In the wake of the death of his son Damian, Batman is in danger of losing his humanity. However, the foes of this grief-ridden Dark Knight mean to strike him when he's at his weakest. Has Batman's worst foe become... Bruce Wayne? Plus, three pivotal chapters from the epic Zero Year storyline! From the critically acclaimed, New York Times #1 best-selling creative team of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo comes the next genre-defining graphic novel in their monumental run. Collects Batman #0, #18-20, #28, #34 and Batman Annual #2.

Be here for the start of a new era for The Dark Knight from writer Scott Snyder (AMERICAN VAMPIRE, BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM) and artist Greg Capullo! A series of brutal killings hints at an ancient conspiracy, and Batman learns that Gotham City is deadlier than he ever knew.

"After a series of brutal murders rocks Gotham City, Batman begins to realize that perhaps these crimes go far deeper than appearances suggest. As the Caped Crusader begins to unravel this deadly mystery, he discovers a conspiracy going back to his youth and beyond to the origins of the city he's sworn to protect. Could the Court of Owls, once thought to be nothing more than an urban legend, be behind the crime and corruption? Or is Bruce Wayne losing his grip on sanity and falling prey to the pressures of his war on crime?"--

This preview book will give you an inside look at what's coming up in each of our 52 debut issues.