Comic books frequently flirt with larger-than-life concepts and conspiracy theories, some of which revolve around secret societies that pull the strings from the shadows. Gotham City has its own ultra-secretive group in the form of the Court of Owls, a group that has gained more prominence over the last few years in TV shows like Gotham, not to mention the Batman comic books at large.

  • Gotham Knights is launching on consoles and a brand-new audience will be diving into the narratives surrounding the Court of Owls for the first time. This antagonistic group is very familiar to comic book fans though, and these details could help to inform players that want to get to know the villainous unit better.

The Court of Owls is not explicitly political, but it does have its fingers in plenty of Gotham’s institutions. It’s a criminal group not unlike SPECTRE from the James Bond universe, but its roots go far deeper. Comic book fans have amassed a good deal of information on this shadowy cabal that the average fan may not be aware of.

Owls In The Multiverse

The Court of Owls has managed to survive across multiple different Earths throughout the Multiverse, whether that’s within realities that have remained largely the same regardless of events, or whether that’s on Earth-Prime within its many incarnations like the New 52.

While within DC Comics there is often some evolution, the Court of Owls has remained largely the same regardless of the reality presented to audiences. Batman’s evil counterpart on Earth-3 is Owlman, which in some narratives the Court of Owls were actually influenced by the mythology of.

Funding Villains

The Power of the Court of Owls is undeniable, with its members often made up of the most corrupt senior figures in public and private life. Their influence is already felt at every level of society, but they’ve used their unique positions to fund other villains for their own personal gain.

There are examples of this throughout Batman’s history, with a full range of dastardly foes getting the backing of the parliament. Cluemaster’s campaign against the Dark Knight is one such instance where the Court threw their full force behind an outsider, helping to destabilize the vigilante slightly to their own benefit.

How To Join

As was documented in an episode of Harley Quinn, comic book fans are aware of the slightly humorous history of joining the Court of Owls. Just like any cult, there are seemingly some shadowy practices that are required for new members to be inducted into the parliament.

Sacrifices, specific tasks designed to test loyalty, and financial donations are often expected from newcomers. For those who want to fill very skilled roles such as the assassin-based Talons, readers will be well aware of the brutal training these warriors undertake to combat the Bat-Family.

The Leadership Debate

Lincoln March, who has donned the armor of the Talon on numerous occasions, is one of the most storied leaders of the Court of Owls. The political debate at the head of the parliament has always been a violent one, but March has given his life in service of the Court, eventually getting resurrected.

After DC Rebirth, it was March who sought to take the cult in a new direction, bringing in the black masks and promising a more prosperous future. Comic book fans will be well aware that it’s dangerous to try and shift the direction of the Owls, with the Raptor quickly disposing of March to dissuade his supporters.

They’ve Been Around For Centuries

The Court of Owls is a loose fictional nod to many conspiracy theories involving supposed secret societies that have existed for hundreds of years, be it the Illuminati or the Knights Templar. Apparently, the outfit has been around since the 1600s, if not earlier than that. Like many horror films based on real-life cults, the Court of Owls has a similar feel, making it one of the more believable criminal outfits in the DC universe.

The full origin story of the villainous Court has yet to be revealed, but it might actually ruin their aura of mystery. With so much information shrouded in darkness and speculation, there’s no telling how their actions have influenced and shaped Gotham’s development, particularly when it comes to crime.

Their Operations

The Court of Owls might operate in near-total secrecy, but their various bases of operation are littered throughout Gotham, especially in buildings created by Alan Wayne. Secret rooms and hidden bunkers are everywhere, allowing the Court’s members to move secretly between them and affect their plans.

What’s more striking about this realization is the fact that its members have retained their secrecy for so long. It’s especially difficult to tighten up loose lips on the best of days, and the fact that so few secrets have managed to spill out is a testament to the order’s commitment.

The Secret Of The Talons

When it comes to dispatching foes, silencing whistleblowers, and installing change within Gotham City, the Court relies on the expertise of highly trained assassins known as Talons. Typically, the Court employed one Talon at a time to do their bidding, possibly to prevent a hostile takeover.

Talons are expert killers with combat proficiency that allowed one such recruit, William Cobb, to fight both Batman and Nightwing at the same time in one of the best of the New 52 timeline’s moments. They rely on a serum tinted with an elemental compound to heal wounds, and they can even be resurrected after death. This guarantees that the Court wastes minimal resources, and the need to train more Talons.

Secrecy Is Paramount

The Court of Owls is different from many other fictional criminal syndicates that don’t mind throwing their name around now and again. The organization would surely have not survived as long as it has without a strict and uncompromising approach to secrecy. As such, they eluded even Batman’s superior detective skills for years.

One of the few snippets of information about the Court is an old nursery rhyme that insinuates that those who speak so much as a “whispered word” will face retribution at the hands of a Talon, one of their elite assassins. Given the nature of the Court of Owls, it’s amazing they allowed even this seemingly benign clue to remain in the wild.

They’re Arrogant

For all of their secrecy and shadowy behavior, it seems that centuries of operation have made the Court’s members a deeply arrogant lot. They were incensed when Batman managed to defeat William Cobb, one of their star Talons in a fight, and they retaliated by activating all of their remaining Talons at once to take him out.

By that time, Batman had become Gotham City’s most popular and enduring legend. Criminals feared him, residents cheered him, and the police were happy for his help. The Court was so enraged by this fact that they attempted to wipe out not just Batman, but all those who stood with him, in order to secure their own petty legacy for future generations.

The Wayne Connection

The New 52 reboot of the DC Universe introduced the character of Lincoln March, who seemed to have direct ties to the Wayne family. It was later revealed that he thought of himself as Thomas Wayne Jr., Bruce’s sibling who supposedly lived for only twelve hours after his mother gave birth.

Evidence continues to be shaky, but it is possible the Court faked this story in order to manipulate March. Batman was forced to contend with his supposed brother on several occasions, before finally defeating and freezing him. The Court also murdered Bruce’s ancestor Alan Wayne. In fact, they were once suspected of killing Bruce Wayne’s parents, adding another layer on top of one of the funniest Batman memes to go around.

Murder Suspects

There was a rather serious aspect to the accusation that the Court of Owls had been behind the deaths of the Waynes. As part of the New 52, Bruce spent a great deal of time assuming that the Court was responsible, and embarked on an investigation that turned up with no evidence.

The reason for the deaths of the Waynes has been changed in so many narratives, but what’s interesting is that there is always another shadowy figure pulling the strings. The idea that the Court of Owls might have been responsible and removed their fingerprints from the crime is one that continues to permeate through each narrative, despite never being proven.

They’re Not All Entirely Human

Though typical clandestine criminal organizations tend to focus on regular humans adopting eccentric customs in a cult-like manner, the Court of Owls takes it a step beyond. Their symbolism is designed around fear and intimidation, hence the use of frightening owl masks and the uniforms of the Talons.

However, some members of the organization aren’t even entirely human, but rather half-human/owl hybrids with grotesque features and behavioral patterns. There’s a certain obsession with the Court’s branding among its members, which signifies a radical fundamentalist devotion to the order.

They’re One Cog In A Large Machine

Batman’s most terrifying villains are a blight on Gotham City, but the Court of Owls represents one of the most insidious criminal threats yet. However, they’re just one piece of a much larger international syndicate known collectively as the Parliament of Owls. This fact was uncovered by Dick Grayson, the former Robin who joined the Court as a double agent in order to bring them down from within.

Though part of a much larger entity, the Court of Owls was vulnerable to local attacks by its enemies, and that could be due to a difference in priorities. While technically one and the same, the Court and Parliament seemed to have different priorities, at least in the long run.

The Supernatural Connection

Bruce Wayne’s bat epiphany may not have been random chance. According to the Parliament of Owls, they descended from a tribe who worshiped Barbatos, the Bat God whose purpose is to devour decayed universes. He’s also a scheming and manipulative entity that saw fit to pull Bruce Wayne’s strings, forging his path as the Batman.

Though Barbatos might have been lying, he clearly had a hand in how the Owls were shaped and molded throughout the centuries. The Court never explicitly makes the worship of this God a paramount must, but it has helped define their own manipulative and scheming playbook.

Dick Grayson’s Legacy

For a time, Dick Grayson joined the Owls as the “Gray Son,” where he acted as a double agent in exchange for ending a feud that put the Court at risk. In reality, his connection with the Court of Owls dated back decades into his own family’s past and was tied directly to William Cobb, one of the infamous Talons.

As Nightwing, Dick was almost killed by Cobb, who kept taunting him to live up to his potential. Later, it was revealed that Cobb was actually Dick Grayson’s great-grandfather, who was kept alive by the serum used to keep the Talons alive over the centuries. The hope was for Grayson to go down the same path, but Nightwing is simply one of the most wholesome DC superheroes around, and that was enough to foil his plan.