Alexander Staunton - Nightwing

Formerly a child performer at Haly’s Circus, Alexander Staunton was groomed to become a Talon for the Court of Owls as part of the secret partnership between the two.

Henry Ballard - Nightwing

Formerly a child performer at Haly’s Circus, Henry Ballard was groomed to become a Talon for the Court of Owls as part of the secret partnership between the two.

Benjamin Haldman - Nightwing

Formerly a child performer at Haly’s Circus, Benjamin Haldman was groomed to become a Talon for the Court of Owls as part of the secret partnership between the two.

"Grayson" - Nightwing

The son of Amelia Crowne and William Cobb, his true parentage was concealed by Burton Crowne, who forcibly ended the couple’s relationship due to class prejudice against Cobb and arranged for Amelia to marry her second cousin.

Originally raised as a Crowne, the boy was later kidnapped by Cobb during his first year as a Talon for the Court of Owls. In gratitude for the Court’s patronage, Cobb pledged his bloodline to them. The child was given to Cobb’s friend Nathaniel and raised in Haly’s Circus, where he was groomed to follow in his father’s footsteps.

To honour his descent from Gotham’s Gray Sons, he was given the surname Grayson. 

Nathaniel - Nightwing

A friend of William Cobb, Nathaniel was a member of the Court of Owls. Recognising Cobb’s potential, he offered him a chance to prove himself as a Talon.

After Cobb kidnapped his infant son, Nathaniel took the child and, on Cobb's behalf, arranged for him to be raised by Haly’s Circus, declaring him the first of Gotham’s Gray Sons—a chosen bloodline destined to rule the city among the elite who had once betrayed him.

Talon (Carver) - Batman: The Dark Knight

The alter ego of the Talon, Alton Carver, was one of the longest-serving assassins in the Court of Owls’ history.

Ruthless and efficient, he carried out the Court’s will with precision, preserving their secrecy and control over Gotham. However, after a series of costly mistakes—including the unplanned deaths of three police officers and a botched public execution disrupted by Batman early in his career—the Court deemed him sloppy and a liability. He was subsequently placed in cryogenic stasis for several years.

Carver was reawakened during the Night of the Owls in 2012 and sent to assassinate Lincoln March, ambushing him in his campaign office. Though he fatally stabbed March, the politician struck back with a taser and a gunshot to the head.

When Carver regained consciousness, Batman had arrived—but too late to save March. The two fought, and Carver was thrown from a window, surviving the fall and escaping into the sewers.

Batman then assigned Robin, Red Robin, and Nightwing to hunt down the Talon while he pursued March’s lead to the Court’s ruling council.

Alton Carver - Batman: The Dark Knight

A former performer at Haly's Circus, Alton Carver, showed exceptional talent as a knife thrower, gymnast, and acrobat—qualities that drew the attention of the Court of Owls. To test his ability to overcome fear, his ringmaster and handler locked him in a trailer and set it ablaze. Carver survived, badly burned but alive, and proved himself worthy of the Court’s interest.

He was inducted into the Court’s service and, for the next 26 years, operated as one of their most loyal and enduring Talons, holding one of the longest records in the role’s history.

After several professional missteps and a confrontation with Batman, the Court deemed him obsolete and placed him in cryogenic stasis—until his reawakening during the Night of the Owls in 2012.

Before the deaths of the Flying Graysons, the Court intended for his successor to be Dick Grayson.

Haly's Circus - Batman: The Dark Knight

While Haly’s Circus brought joy to thousands across America, it concealed a dark secret known only to a select few: it served as a recruitment front for the Court of Owls, grooming young performers to become their Talons.

Ringmasters acted as drill sergeants, pushing candidates to their absolute limits—only the best were deemed worthy of the Court.

As of 2012, and the Night of Owls, this practice was still ongoing.

Lincoln March - Batman: The Dark Knight

In 2012, Gotham City mayoral candidate Lincoln March became one of the many targets during the Night of Owls. Despite being an ally of the Court of Owls, they sent the Talon, aka Anton Carver, to assassinate him in his campaign office.

Carver fatally stabbed March, but March retaliated with a taser to the chest and a gunshot to the head.

Unbeknownst to Carver, March had stolen and ingested liquid electrum, granting him the ability to return from the dead.