Absolute Batman #17 is written by Scott Snyder and published by DC Comics. Artwork is by Eric Canete, colours by Frank Martin and letters by Clayton Cowles. Main cover art (left) is by Nick Dragotta and Frank Martin.
Absolute Batman #17 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
Dr. Pamela Isley has been unleashed from the Ark-M facility with an unending hate and burning fire for revenge on Gotham City, and those who put her in the belly of the beast. When Batman hunts her down, he must survive a labyrinth of levelled horrors, one more gruesome after the next, as he tries to save the city from a monster it created.
Review
Scott Snyder’s gargantuan Dark Knight has faced a twisted Black Mask, a hulking Bane and a mutated Killer Croc during his first two years. That’s a lot of for one vigilante so early in his career. As new arc “The Seventh Kingdom” kicks off today, Snyder is introducing another classic Bat-villain with a twisted, fantastical Absolute-upgrade. Enter Pamela Isley…
It’s a brand new day in Absolute Gotham and we’re kicking off the latest Absolute Batman with a flashback into the past of this arc’s villain, Poison Ivy. Snyder’s epic storytelling in this Darkseid-inspired world has been exceptional from the outset. It’s clear that painstaking effort has been put into crafting each of the villains and supporting players our hero has come up against. This new version of Ivy is no different. Firstly it’s in keeping with the overall theme of the Absolute books. There are devastating elements to her story which speak to her drive as a scientist as well as her villainous turn.
Snyder capitalises on Ivy’s heartbreaking story by stitching brief moments from her past throughout the book. Whilst the audience is fully aware that all roads are leading to a monstrous turn, seeing the steps which brought her there is perfect to achieving the ultimate goal of the series. When her true form is finally revealed it’s not just tragic, it’s sorrowful and that has so much more impact that simply making her just another black and white villain.
There’s a really gratifying flow and juxtaposition between the past and present scenes. Particularly as Absolute Batman #17 juggles three distinct times. Snyder is even able to draw parallels between Isley and Bruce as both struggle as outsiders in society. Having built up Bruce’s segregation from his friends he’s really on the outside now and that’s reinforced this month as he tries to connect with his mother, only to find her preoccupied by her burgeoning relationship with Jim Gordon. This all plays out whilst Batman climbs to the summit of Ivy’s monstrosity in order to come face-to-face with his latest adversary.
Whilst Bruce is dealing with the emotional fallout of recent events Batman is the one facing Ivy’s creatures. There’s not much time for the issue to deal with Gotham’s reaction to the takeover of the Heart Building. So our way in is through the GCPD caught up in the chaos and through Batman’s journey plus some limited interactions with Alfred. But this is where guest artist Eric Canete comes into his own. You see Absolute Ivy isn’t just another plant-loving eco-terrorist. She’s a full on botanical mutant and a major threat to the city thanks to her airborne mutagen and its fantastical creations.
Canete has big shoes to fill, especially introducing a new interpretation of a classic villain series artist Nick Dragotta’s turf. But there’s no need to worry. The transition between artists is seamless, aided by the continuity of Frank Martin’s sublime colours and Clayton Cowles’ letters. With a change of artist like this I don’t think enough credit is given to the colours and letters for how they give a level of familiarity which softens the upheaval.
As for the design of Ivy, Canete has several different stages and states to represent the character with. In the flashback sequences there’s a persuasive warmth and innocence to Ivy. It’s a masterful starting point that opens Absolute Batman #17 to run the full gamut of her state of being. Canete steps that up by injecting Ivy with a confidence boost as she becomes a scientist. That confidence is then replaced by Absolute Batman’s trademark extravagant villainous final form. It’s might be less disturbing than Bane and more recognisable than Croc. But that doesn’t make Ivy any less shocking, even if it isn’t the biggest twist in the book…
I’m not spoiling the final twist here, that’s one you’ll need to discover for yourselves. It will certainly drive conversation going into the next issue with fans falling on both sides. It puts Snyder in a position to retread some storylines from his past in a new way. But it poses the question of whether lightning can strike twice. Given the level of creative talent we’re talking about here I sincerely hope that it can.
Verdict
Absolute Batman #17 is yet another example of how Scott Snyder balances an entire universe of moving parts. Not only does this month’s issue perfectly setup a brand new villain, it introduces new story elements for the supporting cast whilst progressing the storyline of Bruce’s personal struggles. Masterful storytelling with delectable artwork from guest artist Eric Canete.
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