Talon
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Real Identity: Unknown
Affiliations: Court of Owls
Appearances (Shorts): Nightwing and Robin
Appearances (Movies): Batman vs Robin
Powers/Skills: Above Average Physical Attributes, Above Average Acrobatics, Armed Combat, and Unarmed Combat
Voiced By: Jeremy Sisto and Robin Atkin Downes (ADR Substitute)
There once was a professional thief and his young son. The thief was good and made sure his son was, too. The son tried to be his shadow - his echo. He worshiped his father and only wanted to please him. However hard he tried, it was never good enough for the father. One night, at 10:15 pm, they broke into the upper floor of a residence. They stole jewels, gold, and other valuables from a safe but were forced to run from a security team. While scaling the front gate, the boy dropped the bag of stolen goods. At 12:20 am, the father beat his son for botching the robbery. As retaliation, the son stole his father's pocket watch, went outside their apartment and called the police from a phone booth. At 12:45 am, a S.W.A.T. team confronted the father and a gun fight followed. The father was gunned down. Soon after that, the boy was recruited by a member of the Vanaver family belonging to the Court of Owls. He was raised and trained by Vanaver to be a skilled assassin. The boy grew up alongside his daughter, Samantha. The boy was given strength and purpose. He became the Talon of the Court of Owls.
The Court of Owls was ready to take back Gotham City and restore it to a golden age. To achieve this, they settled on a plan to resurrect all Talons that served the Court throughout history. The current Talon would also undergo the resurrection process then lead the others as their general in a war to reclaim Gotham City and revitalize it.
From the skylight, Talon watched Nightwing and Robin take down the Scarecrow and his hired men during the Atlantis incident. After Nightwing and Robin were the last standing, Talon left the roof. Talon saw a kindred spirit in Robin and continued to monitor his activities for months. Talon followed Robin to Ichabod and intervened in the confrontation with Dollmaker outside the Schott's Toys factory. While Robin was distracted with invoking Batman's mantra of "justice before vengeance," Dollmaker escaped his restraints and was about to bash Robin with a log. Talon ripped the Dollmaker's heart out from behind. He advised Robin to trust his instincts and left a stolen owl feather on Dollmaker for Batman to find. The feather was part of a ruse to lure Batman into an ambush at the Gotham Museum of Natural History. The next night, Talon followed Robin when he went into Gotham City on his own. When Robin threatened the lives of two thugs with one of their own switch blades, Talon implored him to decide on his own to execute them. Police cars converged on the scene, prompting both to leave. As Talon scaled the space between two buildings, he allowed Robin to follow.
Talon took Robin to his home. Talon assured Robin he could speak freely and admitted his respect for Batman and all he's achieved was high. Talon, however, admitted he didn't agree with the line Batman drew on no killing. Talon mused the policy was out of fear or a misguided moral code then proclaimed there were no lines he wouldn't cross to reach his goal. The end always justifies the means if the goal is a worthy one. He told Robin his vow was to eradicate crime and criminals once and for fall. Talon then offered Robin the opportunity to join him. Robin didn't answer right away so Talon gave him a communication device for when he was ready and let him keep a sai as a gift. Talon returned to the Court of Owls' base at some point after Bruce Wayne was returned to his manor. After the Grandmaster finished her meal, she, Talon, and several Owl Lieutenants inspected their scientists' progress on refining the resurrection process of the deceased Talons. Talon was not so eager to become the Court's version of immortal and implied he thought it was damnation rather than a miracle. The Grandmaster assured him he could be a god, not a soulless thing and a great destiny awaited him. Talon bowed and reiterated he would do what the Grandmaster wanted.
The next night, Talon and Robin went to an Italian restaurant named The Garden to put down Mr. Draco, a mob boss. As Draco choked on his dinner, Talon performed a maneuver that saved his life. Talon slayed Draco's men as Robin neutralized them. They cornered Draco. Talon implored Robin to finish him. Robin stalled and stated they had enough evidence to put him in prison for the rest of his life. Robin spared Draco's life and joined Talon on the roof. Talon pointed out Draco had an army of lawyers that kept him out of prison for years and they had the chance to erase him for good. Talon's patience drew thin and he was not pleased Batman's teachings got between them for a third night. Talon warned Robin it was time for him to cross the line or he would find a replacement in short measure. Realizing Batman was like a father to Robin, Talon recounted his own origins. He reiterated he only wanted to do for Robin what the Court did for him. Batman suddenly landed near them and declared he had done quite enough.
Talon told Robin this was the point where he would choose a side once and for all. He leapt off the roof. Robin battled Batman but didn't kill him. Talon returned to his home and left a note for Robin to congratulate him on choosing the Court and to wait for him to return. Talon then went to Samantha Vanaver's penthouse, where they engaged in sexual relations. At 12:45 am, Talon became pensive and checked his pocket watch. He worried the rest of the Court wouldn't go along with their new plan - to make Robin the general of the Talons and Talon would sit beside her, the Grandmaster, as her partner and love. Talon reminded her he wasn't a wealthy elite like the Court and was just a nobody from the streets. Vanaver recalled they grew up together and she always sensed a greatness in him. The Vanavers controlled the Court for generations and she could make the Court go along with their plans.
Several hours later, Talon presented Robin to the Court as his protege. The Grandmaster asked Robin to pledge his loyalty by removing his mask. When Robin hesitated, Grandmaster ordered his removal but Talon asked for a moment and reminded Robin of their talk. Robin removed his mask. The Grandmaster recognized Damian Wayne's face and realized Batman was Bruce Wayne. She ordered Talon to execute Robin to break Batman's will and heart. She swore to find Talon a replacement and ordered Talon again. Talon was about to apply the death blow but saw his younger self in Wayne. Talon spared Robin and executed every Owl present. He cornered Grandmaster in a room, removed his mask, and stabbed it through. He declared he never was and never would be like the Court. Talon kissed Vanaver and fatally stabbed her with his gauntlet blade. Talon returned to Robin and asked him what he would in turn sacrifice. Robin called him a lunatic. Honoring Robin's loyalty, Talon promised he wouldn't ask Robin to betray Batman any further.
Bruce Wayne, however, was still a complication to be dealt with. He knocked Robin out and placed him in one of the casket chambers. Talon started the resurrection process for Robin and revived every single Talon. Talon and his army converged on Wayne Manor. After Batman stowed Nightwing away into the Batcave, Talon made his presence known. Talon gloated about how easy it was to take Robin away. Batman quickly knocked Talon aside then detonated the room. The Talons soon blew open an entrance to the Batcave. Talon observed Nightwing's fighting style and admitted he, too, could have been a Talon. Talon had the upper hand on the injured Nightwing. Their battle ascended to the level where the costume cases were kept. Talon stabbed his shoulders and pinned Nightwing to one of the cases. Noticing the dwindling temperature, Talon jumped into the Batmobile. He drove off the edge straight to the lower sub-level and fired on Batman in the Bat Armor. He clipped an arm off before the Batmobile crashed into the armor.
Talon leapt on the back of the armor and declared victory. The rear hatch blew off and knocked Talon down. Batman emerged and declared he was going to enjoy beating Talon up. Talon managed to stab Batman in the side with one of his gauntlet blades. Even though Batman was down, Talon continued kicking him in the face then sank his spiked heel into Batman's back. Robin arrived and landed in front of Batman. Talon demanded Robin to let Batman die. Robin remarked he wouldn't let Batman die like Talon did to his father. Infuriated, Talon fought Robin sai to sai. Talon knocked Robin to the ground them held Batman up by his throat. Talon rationalized that if Batman died, both he and Robin would be free. They could steal the Wayne fortune and evade the Court. Robin leaped onto Talon's shoulders and start punching his head. Talon let Batman go and fought Robin again. Robin knocked Talon's sai away and held the tip at his throat. Robin declared Talon would never replace Batman, his father. As Batman looked up, Talon grabbed Robin's arm.
Talon once again advised Robin to never doubt his instincts then pulled his arm forward, essentially committing suicide. Robin's sai plunged into his throat and he expired. Robin, in shock, saw Talon left his pocket watch to him. Robin threw it down in disgust. Batman welcomed Robin home but Robin pulled away. He thought he could have killed Talon and maybe should have. Struggling to find his own voice among Batman, Ra's al Ghul, and Talia, Robin decided to leave Wayne Manor and figure out who he was. Half a year later, Robin returned to Gotham to look into reports of Batman's disappearance. He and Batman, Dick Grayson, encountered Batwoman who claimed to see the death of Batman. Robin didn't trust her but Grayson reminded him he trusted Talon. Robin told him to shut up.