Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls by Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo

In September 2011, DC Comics relaunched their entire line of comics with new #1s.  They called them "The New 52."  The title that I was the most excited about was "Batman," written by Scott Snyder and drawn by Greg Capullo.  Fast forward to now, and the first collections of the relaunch are hitting the shelf.

Batman Vol. 1 begins with an unexpected and kinetic team-up between Batman and the Joker as they battle their way out of Arkham Asylum.  It only gets better from there.  Bruce Wayne fends off an attack from an assassin, dubbed the Talon, and discovers that it was sent by a mysterious group that has silently  controlled Gotham for generations--Court of Owls.  The Court's existence, which Bruce has doubted his entire life, shakes him to his core and makes him question how well he knows the city that he has been trying to protect.

Snyder is a better writer than comic fans deserve.  He makes the story accessible while effortlessly blending new elements into the Bat-mythology.  His writing is clever and natural, and he nails Batman's voice.  Capullo blew me away too.  I only knew him as a "Spawn" artist before (I know, gross), but he has already shaken that negative association in my mind.  His art is gritty and detailed, and he is perfectly suited for the horror elements that creep into the story.

This is easily the best Batman comic that is currently being published, but it also makes a strong opening argument that it's going to be the best Batman run ever.