Court of Owls (DC Animated Movie Universe)

“	Beware the Court of Owls that watches all the time. Gazing from the shadows behind cement and lime. They see you at your hearth, they see you in your bed. Beware, take care! Or they will send a Talon for your head!	„
	~ A rhyme taught to young Bruce Wayne by his father.

The Court of Owls are the main antagonists of the 2015 animated superhero film Batman vs. Robin.

The Court is a secret organization consisting of the wealthy elite of Gotham City. They plan to retake control over the city and are grooming an army of undead elite soldiers, called the Talons, in order to do so. However, one of their Talons betrays them in the end, slaughtering most of the members of the Court.

History[]

After the death of his parents, a young Bruce Wayne firmly believes that his parents were killed by the Court of Owls. As Thomas Wayne taught him a rhyme about the Court, claiming that everyone who even mentions their existence will be killed by one of their Talons, Bruce thinks that the Court wanted to kill Thomas for that exact reason. However, after some investigation, Bruce believed that he had mistakenly taken for fact what his father told him as just a story.

After one of Batman's enemies, the Dollmaker, has been killed by one of the Court's Talons, Batman realizes that there may be more to the Court than he thought. While investigating, he is attacked by three of the Court's Talons and severely wounded.

A day later, Bruce is kidnapped by members of the Court of Owls who attack him while he is sitting in his car. They cause Bruce's car to crash and drag the unconscious Bruce away. Bruce is brought to the headquarters of the Court, where he sees the entire assembled Court surrounding him. The Grandmaster speaks to him, revealing that despite all of the rumors, the Court of Owls very much exists and that it consists of the financial elite of Gotham. The Grand Master claims that they know much better what's best for the city than the 'rabble'. The Grand Master invites Bruce to join the Court, claiming that his vision for Gotham is what the court needs. Claiming that he needs time to think it over, he puts the mask offered to him back on the pedestal. He also plants a tracer on the mask, which is not noticed by the court. Bruce is then knocked out and returned to Wayne Manor.

The Grandmaster, his Lieutenant, Talon and other members then walk through their headquarter. Although the lieutenant claims that he senses that Bruce will not become one of them, the Grandmaster reassures him that despite his philanthropic and munificent behavior, deep down Wayne is one of them. They then use a secret elevator which brings them into a laboratory where more owl-masked scientists are tending to the Court's Talons, remaining unconscious in stasis in caskets filled with water. The Grandmaster claims that she envies them their immortality, although Talon questions the cost of such conditional immortality. She also reveals that she plans to use them to reclaim Gotham for the Court, with Talon as their general.

By tracking the device he left in the mask, Bruce enters the Court's headquarter. There, he is expected by the Court and the Grand Master reveals that they have been expecting Batman. The Grandmaster reveals that the sewers through which Batman entered the building were flooded with a hallucinogenic. Immediately, Batman succumbs to the gas and falls to the ground. Through some way, he is saved by Nightwing. While Bruce is brought back to Wayne Manor, Talon brings Robin before the court, claiming that the boy is ready to join them. The Grandmaster asks for proof of his loyalty and orders Robin to remove his mask. When she recognizes Damian, she orders Talon to kill Damian as she sees this as the ultimate way to hurt Batman and Bruce. Instead, Talon slaughters the Court.

Members[]

Samantha Vanaver - The Grandmaster[]

Samantha is the daughter of one of Gotham's elite families and introduced as the girlfriend of Bruce Wayne. While at Wayne Manor, Bruce introduces her to his son Damian Wayne, claiming that he is his ward, not his son, and reveals to her a project he has in mind for the future of Gotham. However, in truth, Samantha is the Grand Master of the Court of Owls and is watching Bruce to assess whether he is worthy of joining the court. After gathering enough information, she invites Bruce to dinner but on the way, Bruce is captured by agents of the Court. As the Grand Master, Samantha offers Bruce to join the Court but he does not accept yet, claiming that he needs time, which she permitted him to take.

Samantha also has her enforcer Talon (who she is in a secret romantic relationship with) get close to Robin in order to hurt Batman, viewing him as the only obstacle standing in the way of the Court's grand plan to rule over Gotham City. When Robin is brought before them and removes his mask, however, Samantha recognizes Damian and thus realizes that Bruce Wayne is Batman. Samantha orders Talon to kill Damian, seeing it as the ultimate way to hurt Batman, but Talon, seeing too much of himself in Robin, attacks the Court instead. Samantha attempts to escape the slaughter but Talon catches up to her. He corners her and tells her that he has never been one of them, nor ever will be. He removes Samantha's mask and kisses her, but then stabs her in the gut and kills her, claiming that he believed that she would have done the same thing to him.

Talon[]

Talon is the main enforcer of the Court of Owls. During his youth, he was an apprentice to a man who may or may not have been his father, as they burgled wealthy properties; the man never showed encouragement when the boy succeeded, and punished him harshly when he failed. Tired of the abuse, the boy called the cops on the thief, who died in a shootout; however, he was left a street kid, until taken from the gutter by the Court, and he has been trained by the Court to become a skilled fighter. He is voiced by Jeremy Sisto.

Talon is encountered by Robin on multiple occasions. He watches Batman and Robin defeat the Dollmaker, and after the Dollmaker flees into the woods and is pursued and stopped by Robin, Talon sees that Robin does not kill him, as he has been taught by Batman to pursue justice, not vengeance. Talon drops on the ground behind the Dollmaker and rips out the man's heart, killing him. He also leaves the feather of an owl in the man's mouth. To Robin, Talon says that he should listen to his instincts before jumping onto nearby trees and escaping.

Talon also watches Robin when he defeats two Robbers in the streets of Gotham. Again he reveals his presence to Robin, this time telling him that people like the robbers do not deserve to live. He tells Robin that this time, Talon will not finish his work for him. Robin leaves the two alive but goes after Talon, who invites him to follow. Talon brings Robin into his home, where Robin sees multiple armors. Talon reveals that he has great respect for Batman but that opposed to him, Talon has no line he will not cross. He tells Robin that he has come to Gotham to eradicate crime altogether. He also gifts Robin with one of his daggers and reveals that he wishes for Robin to join him. He gives Robin a device and claims that Robin can contact him with it should he make his decision. Talon is indeed later contacted by Robin.

Back at the Court's main headquarter, Talon informs the Grand Master of the Court that Robin has taken the bait. He is then told by the Grand Master and the Lieutenant that they intend for Talon to lead the Talon Warriors in a war to reclaim Gotham for the Court. Talon is suspicious, claiming that the ritual will make Talon like the other warriors, an undead killing machine. The Lieutenant confirms it, but tells Talon that it is for the greater good.

The Talon, together with Robin, later takes out a group of criminals. He attempts to persuade Robin into killing their leader but once again, Robin refuses. Afterwards, on a rooftop, Talon tells Robin that he still thinks too much like Batman and that he has to choose whether to join Batman or Talon.

TalonRobinCourt — Talon brings Robin before the Court

Talon betrays the court when he is ordered to kill Robin. After murdering all members, he returns to Robin, claiming that he just sacrificed a world for him. However, Robin has realized that Talon is insane. Talon tells Robin that Bruce Wayne is a complication and that Talon will deal with him. He puts Robin in one of the containers containing the Talon Warriors while unleashing all other Talons, planning to use them against Batman.

Eventually, he joins the fight against Batman. While confronting Batman, Talon falsely claims that Robin has betrayed him in order to catch Bruce off guard. Bruce, however, is aware that Damian was manipulated by Talon. Batman retreats to the Batcave where Alfred and Nightwing are already waiting. Inside, they are once more attacked by the Talons who blow up the ceiling. Talon engages Nightwing in a duel, beating and defeating the already badly injured hero with ease.

While Batman defeats his warriors by use of a robotic armor, Talon enters the Batmobile, drives it off the edge of the platform and runs it into Batman's armor. He then leaves the vehicle to kill Batman personally but Batman opens the hatch Talon is standing on, sending him flying. Batman then starts fighting Talon one-on-one and is able to land multiple hits. Although he is the better fighter, Talon is able to stab him into the hip with one of his claws, plus Batman had already taken multiple hits from the undead and he suffered a concussion from the crash. As Bruce falls to the ground, Talon kicks him with his spiked boots, injuring him further. Before he can kill Batman however, Damian, who freed himself, drops down and prevents him from doing so.

Although Talon again attempts to kill Batman, Damian attacks to stop him. Furious about Robin's ingratitude, Talon then attempts to kill Robin but is overpowered by Robin, who holds the sai Talon gave him earlier to Talon's throat. Smiling, Talon once more tells him to trust his instincts and them grabs Robin's hand, yanking it forward and driving the blade into his own throat. Talon left his mentor's fob watch in Robin's hand, but he dropped it in disgust.

The Talon Warriors[]

The Talons are undead soldiers who served the Court for hundreds of years.

Court of Owls Lieutenant[]

One of the members of the Court of Owls serves as a lieutenant to the Grand Master, overseeing many of the Court's operations. He is voiced by Troy Baker.

The Lieutenant is the leader of the group kidnapping Bruce Wayne for the court and is also the one to reveal to Talon that he is destined to lead the Talon Warriors in the war to come. He seems to be the only one arguing against Bruce Wayne becoming a member of the Court. He also shows other elitist tendencies, as he dismissed Talon's concerns of becoming an undead as irrelevant for the greater good, and Talon should just be grateful to be useful, considering his street urchin past.

Amongst most members of the Court, the Lieutenant is killed when Talon betrays them and kills them.

Gallery[]

Images[]

Videos[]

Bruce Wayne Meets the Court of Owls - Batman vs. Robin

Talon Murders the Court of Owls - Batman VS Robin

Trivia[]

Two members of the Court of Owls are revealed to be a couple and have a daughter who is also a member, meaning some of the members are families and have children who are members too. Which gives Talon a similarity to the film's opening villain, Dollmaker, as both manipulated and murdered children.
While it is never confirmed, it seemed likely that the Court did NOT kill Bruce's parents; even if his parents refused an invitation, Thomas Wayne clearly believed the group to be a fairy tale.

Navigation[]

Animated Movie Universe Villains

Villains

Television
Batman (1943)
Prince Daka

Batman and Robin (1949)
The Wizard | Wizards Henchmen

Batman: The Animated Series/The New Batman Adventures
Joker | Harley Quinn | Poison Ivy |Joe Chill | Ra's al Ghul | Talia al Ghul | Two-Face | Penguin | Catwoman | Riddler | Scarecrow | Killer Croc | Clayface | Mr. Freeze | Bane | Mad Hatter | Man-Bat | Ventriloquist and Scarface | Phantasm | Firefly | Clock King | Baby Doll | Rupert Thorne | Boxy Bennett | Buzz Bronski | Carlton Duquesne | Chuckie Sol | King Barlowe | Salvatore Valestra | Sidney Debris | Tony Zucco | Cameron Kaiser | Daniel Mockridge | Grant Walker | Maxie Zeus | Roland Daggett | Hugo Strange | Terrible Trio | Lloyd Ventrix | Kyodai Ken | Emile Dorian | Red Claw | Boss Biggis | Sewer King | Professor Milo | Arkady Duvall | Count Vertigo | Ferris Boyle | Arnold Stromwell | Anthony Romulus | Condiment King | Calendar Girl | Farmer Brown | Lock-Up | Montague Kane | Roxy Rocket | King Barlowe's Bodyguard | Klarion | Teekl | Arthur Reeves | Gil Mason | J. Carrol Corcoran | Mighty Mom | Mad Bomber | Dr. Gregory Belson | Bud and Lou | Captain Clown | Mo, Lar, and Cur | Murphy | Rocco and Henshaw | H.A.R.D.A.C. | Randa Duane | Batman Clone | Susan Maguire | Michael Vreeland | Crocker and Nitro | Raymond Bell | Candice | Enrique El Gancho | Thomas Blake | Cult of the Cat| Ubu

The Penguin
Falcone Crime Syndicate (Penguin, Carmine Falcone, Sofia Falcone-Gigante, Alberto Falcone, Johnny Viti, Milos Grapa, Luca Falcone, Castillo, William Kenzie) | Maroni Crime Family (Salvatore Maroni, Nadia Maroni, Taj Maroni, Ervad Hakimi) | Victor Aguilar | Julian Rush | Doctor Ventris | Squid | Eve Karlo

Bat-Fam
TBA

Video Games
Batman (1986)
Joker

Batman: The Caped Crusader (1988)
Joker | Penguin

Batman: Return of the Joker (1991)
Joker

Batman Returns (1993)
Penguin | Catwoman | Red Triangle Circus Gang

Batman Forever (1996)
Riddler | Two-Face

Batman and Robin (1998)
Poison Ivy | Mr. Freeze | Bane

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000)
Joker | The Jokerz (Chucko, Dee Dee, Ghoul, Bonk, Smirk, Coe & Woof) | Harley Quinn

Batman: Vengeance (2001)
Joker | Harley Quinn | Mr. Freeze | Poison Ivy

Batman: Toxic Chill
Riddler | Mr. Freeze

Batman: Justice Unbalanced
Two-Face | Penguin | Raven | Jay and Gully

Gotham City Impostors
Jokerz

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
TBA

Batman (2013 arcade game)
Mr. Freeze | Bane | Joker

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
TBA

Villains