Absolute Batman #19 is written by Scott Snyder and published by DC Comics. Artwork is by Nick Dragotta, colours by Frank Martin and letters by Tom Napolitano. Main cover art (left) is by Nick Dragotta and Frank Martin.
Absolute Batman #19 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
Poison Ivy proved to be just one of the many horrors within the bowels of the ARK M facility, and as Joker sets his sights on Absolute Batman, he decides to enlist the help of one of the center’s most terrifying doctors, Dr. Jonathan Crane. While Bruce Wayne tries to align himself with Barbara Gordon, there’s more than one alliance formed in this issue. New debuts,new villains, new arc starts here.
Review
A new arc and another disturbing villain make their debut in today’s brand new issue of Absolute Batman. With Nick Dragotta back where he belongs on main art duties the series is diving in to the Absolute Universe’s idea of Dr. Jonathan Crane and building towards a milestone moment in the series’ history.
This is a big one Super Friends, the ramifications of issue #18 are going to be felt for a very long time in the pages of Absolute Batman. Last month the series teased a potentially huge death in Bruce’s close circle as well as taking baby steps forwards giving us a fully-fledged Court of Absolute Owls. This month Snyder is taking a wild side-step leaving the fate of said character entirely up in the air. Creatively a bold move because there’s a lot already riding on the outcome of that gunshot.
Instead we pick up 1,500 miles from Gotham as Absolute Batman #19 kicks off. A not-so-mysterious stranger is instantly recognisable as Dr. Jonathan Crane aka Scarecrow though the reasons for his trip out into a cornfield – other than to cause chaos – remain to be seen. Snyder wastes absolutely no time in revealing just how ruthless this Dr. Crane can be with both bloody and explosive consequences. If we’re teeing up a Scarecrow versus Batman stand-off then I can’t wait to see these two going toe-to-toe.
Back in Gotham itself the Batman is continuing to become something of a local celebrity. It’s pretty cool seeing him out in daylight and it’s clear both Snyder and artist Dragotta are revelling in Batman’s newfound fame. Seeing him roaring through the streets in a vehicle he’s adamant NOT to name (a moment of really solid humour for the book) is pretty exhilarating but also serves a purpose. Batman is more than an urban legend now. He’s a fully-fledged avenger on the streets of Gotham.
With Harley and her crew now in his support team it seems like there’s little Batman can’t achieve, even under the noses of the GCPD. There’s a fun nod to a moment from Batman Returns as his new vehicle barrels down a skinny alleyway, allowing Bruce an easy escape. But things might not be as easy for Bruce Wayne as they are for the Batman. Finally face-to-face with Waylon, old worlds resurface and Snyder allows us just a small glimpse into Bruce’s current state of mind. Narratively speaking there’s a really satisfying ebb and flow to Absolute Batman #19 that transitions between these huge Bat-set pieces and Bruce’s more fragile state of being.
This month’s flashbacks hark back to a classic Gotham mob boss and an early entanglement with Bruce. Snyder layers in some new context to Bruce’s relationship with Jim Gordon, important for later in the issue. At this stage we’re really seeing the impact that Jim has had on Bruce’s life without his father around for those formative years. It leads both men to some rather startling revelations during what I think might be their first rooftop meeting. The moment utterly rips the rug out from underneath both men and the reader.
Snyder has never taken the safe option or the easy option. In setting up the Robins, teased on the cover of next month’s issue, there has to be a seismic shift in Gotham’s status quo. This book delivers that in spades. It’s not an understatement to say that nothing will be the same moving forwards, even if the cliffhanger moment from last month turns out to be misdirection. We’ve seen plenty of landmark moments in this series so far. But I would argue this might surpass even the events of “The Zoo”.
Over the last couple of months Eric Canete has done a brilliant job as guest artist. But there’s nothing quite like having Snyder reunited with Nick Dragotta. Firstly that means we get a grotesque design for Dr. Crane. It’s simple yet will easily fuel nightmares and make for a perfect cosplay. Secondly it just makes Absolute Batman feel like the series has come home. Everything looks great and instantly I feel like I’m in safe hands from start to finish.
Verdict
Bold, brutal and utterly unafraid to upend everything they’ve built so far. The reunited Snyder and Dragotta have delivered an Absolute Batman which continues to be the best superhero comic on the shelves.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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