The following article contains spoilers from Batman: Urban Legends #23 on sale now from DC Comics.
The final issue of the Batman: Urban Legends series seems to be setting up a major return for one of Batman's deadliest foes -- the Court of Owls. In the issue, both "Arkham Academy - Part 3" (by Dennis Culver, Hayden Sherman, Jordie Bellaire, and Pat Brosseau) and "The Murder Club - Part 4" (by Joey Esposito, Vasco Georgiev, Alex Guimaraes, and Carlos M. Mangual) revealed that the Court is making a concerted effort to once again manipulate Gotham City behind the scenes.
They have attempted to alter Gotham's past and influence the city's future. As always, the means by which they employ their tactics are brutal and heartless. However, given that this happened in conjunction with both being an effort to undo Batman's influence over Gotham indicates that they are preparing for a major return to battle the Dark Knight, this time willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that he can never be a threat to their plans again.
The Court of Owls Wants to Control Gotham's Future
Despite being a cabal of Gotham's wealthiest citizens, the Court is no stranger to employing greater powers to get their way. They have already defied the laws of life and death by using reanimated soldiers as Talons, their personal assassins. This time, however, they wanted to alter the DC Universe's timeline. Using Time Commander, they traveled back in history to execute Joe Chill, thus preventing him from killing Thomas and Martha Wayne, subverting Bruce's drive to become Batman.
Likewise, their distaste for Gotham's current vigilante culture has motivated them to try and influence it. In the past, they have attempted to destroy the latest generation of heroes. Since that failed though, it seems they are now content to try and mold the next generation of villains, trapping a number of teenagers in Arkham Academy to teach them the skills they would need to become successful criminals, and loyal soldiers of the Court of Owls.
The Court of Owls is Preparing for a Comeback
Manipulating the present day is one thing, but the Court is now trying to control the future. It is important to recognize that their ultimate target in both instances is Batman, or at least, the effect he has on the people of Gotham. They have seen how just one man can be a threat to their plans and how his presence inspires others to also defy them. So, their latest schemes have been an attempt to undo that threat.
While the time travel scheme has failed, Arkham Academy is still running, and it seems no one is the wiser to what is actually going on inside its halls. It all seems to indicate that the Court is getting ready to go after Batman once again, making him the sole focus of their efforts until he is finally dead, as well as anyone else who could challenge them. What's truly distressing about this is that the Court has clearly evolved and recognized its vulnerabilities, and now, it's doing everything it can to compensate for its failures.