Absolute Batman #16 is written by Scott Snyder and published by DC. Artwork is by Nick Dragotta, colours by Frank Martin and letters by Clayton Cowles. Main cover art (left) is by Dragotta and Martin.
Absolute Batman #16 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
Bruce Wayne is on a desperate hunt to help his friend Waylon, now transformed into a monstrous crocodile roaming the sewers, consumed with a deadly hunger. Batman’s last option for a cure is to turn to a god for help…but will he have to descend into the depths of hell to get it?
Review
It’s a brand new day in Absolute Gotham as Scott Snyder picks up the baton and continues the Absolute Batman and Wonder Woman crossover event. As the next phase of DC’s storytelling comes into focus the beginnings of connectivity between Absolute series offers a tantalising glimpse at what lies ahead.
Things are still pretty precarious for Snyder’s hulking Bruce Wayne. Following recent events it seems he’s exhausted. Not only that but he’s on the outs with all of his friends after Bane’s attack. In the opening pages of today’s issue Snyder lays out the playing field perfectly. There are hints of the monstrous transformations for Harvey Dent and Oswald Cobblepot. But the book stops short of revealing all the cards in its hand.
Though it’s not part of our mission this month, the glimpse into Bruce’s life is tantamount to signposting some of the challenges Bruce is set to face. What’s even more impressive is the subtlety with which it all happens. Perhaps it’s the excitement of seeing Bruce and Diana sharing the page for only the second time. Or perhaps it’s just yet another shining example of how Snyder just gets the balance of vigilante violence against genuine character development.
The crux of this latest issue is beautifully wrapped up in the guilt which Bruce feels for the predicament his friends are now in. Particularly Waylon Jones aka Killer Croc. We’ve seen Croc and Batman go toe-to-toe with Nick Dragotta’s brilliantly grotesque design breathing new life into the classic Bat-villain. But much like his Prime Universe counterpart, this version of Bruce is never one to back down from helping someone in need. It spotlights a slightly softer side to the Absolute Universe Batman which has so far only been hinted at. But Snyder charmingly employs Diana, a character much more experienced in empathy, to help develop this side of his personality on the page.
The two venture down towards hell in search of a cure for Waylon’s transformation. Handily time moves differently down there allowing Bruce to disappear without pissing off his boss again. What first seems like a potential plot contrivance to excuse Bruce’s MIA status from Gotham is actually a smart device to further develop these characters’ bond. Across a number of days they’re able to share their entire histories, building a solid connection for future storytelling. All whilst Dragotta is able to play with page layouts to keep events moving along swiftly.
This kind of hellish landscape and its inhabitants aren’t new to Snyder’s storytelling. Neither is dipping a toe into the fantastical nature of Wonder Woman’s world. We’ve seen exactly what he’s capable of in Dark Nights: Metal. But the synergy with Dragotta, colourist Frank Martin and even letterer Clayton Cowles is what makes Absolute Batman so captivating. Writer and artist are adept at balancing Bruce’s humanity, even bringing a little humour into this issue, against Diana’s bewitching nature. It’s perfectly blended throughout and is exactly why the series is such a fan-favourite.
Snyder rounds out the issue with an interesting sense of potential closure. Though Waylon may not take Bruce’s olive branch the sentiment is seismic for the book moving forwards. We’ve seen just how much humanity lies underneath that (literally) spiky exterior and perhaps also the beginnings of an Absolute Justice League.
Verdict
Another masterpiece of storytelling and artwork, Absolute Batman #16 blends the worlds of the Dark Knight and Wonder Woman splendidly. Whilst Scott Snyder deftly tiptoes the line between worlds Nick Dragotta’s visceral artwork grounds their fantastical journey in brutal beauty. A thrilling step forward for the Absolute Universe that proves these heroes work even better together.
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