Absolute Batman #20 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 #20 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
As the dust settles in the city of Gotham after the loss of [redacted], Robins enter the scene ready to hunt and more than one secret will be revealed in this seminal issue.
Review
Absolute Batman is taking some giant, Gundam-sized steps towards introducing a whole team of classic Batman character to the Absolute Universe this month. Having teed up the revealed through both the cover for issue #20 and in recent issues, Scott Snyder is bringing the Robins into continuity. Dick, Steph, Jason, Tim and Duke are the exception to the Absolute-rule. Arriving with a youthful exuberance and levity rather than the gritty darkness which is Snyder’s trademark.
Gotham is reeling from the death of Jim Gordon last issue, with Batman squarely in the frame for his murder. But we know better don’t we readers? Scarecrow is likely the one behind all of this and his appearance forms the crux around which issue #20 is built. Whilst the ensemble cast of the book is all given a nudge further along in their stories it’s all in aid to complimenting Bruce’s brooding, tormented response to losing his father figure.
Snyder clever frames all of this through Bruce’s friends and comrades. It affords Absolute Batman #20 the chance to check in with Riddler, Penguin and Two-Face in their current state whilst showing Waylon’s re-dedication to his friend after being saved from his mutation into Killer Croc. Each of their journeys is tiptoeing its way towards potential villain-dom in the future. At this point it seems like a race to see who will get there first.
Meanwhile Harley seems to have now been fully folded into Team Bat, complete with her trademark hammer which is given a little Absolute upgrade by Nick Dragotta. Harley and Alfred share their concern for Bruce’s mental health following Jim’s death. With Bruce locked up in a corner of their base refusing to engage with the outside world. Side note but the fate of Martha is still completely up in the air. Kudos to Snyder for not cutting short the grief over Jim to re-focus the story of Martha and the Owls.
A scene during which Bruce chooses to visit Joe Chill – and Scarecrow – in Blackgate is at the heart of Absolute Batman #20. It starts with a ninja-like entrance into the prison but is quickly blown sideways by Scarecrow’s involvement. Snyder is using the villain almost like an evil Force-Ghost from Star Wars. He rarely seems to interact with the physical world around him. But his influence contorts and controls anyone it comes into contact with. Here that means pushing Joe Chill towards a rather finite decision which puts even more of a guilty spotlight onto Batman.
I know you’re likely asking: but where are the Robins??! But we’ve reached that point of the story. A Bruce make his escape from Blackgate, finally choosing to reach out to Alfred after cutting himself off, he’s confronted by the team and their giant kaiju-sized robots. The book ends before we can really dive into the confrontation between the team and the Dark Knight. But Snyder has successfully teed up another brilliant debut and a huge confrontation for next month.
Meanwhile Nick Dragotta is once again just hitting every home run Snyder can throw at him. From Edward’s question mark costume, to Harvey’s new look, the Robin’s robots and the grotesque Joker who sits in the Absolute equivalent of the Batcave. It’s all renders so perfectly and dutifully on the page that it’s no wonder this series has become the gold standard of comics.
Verdict
Absolute Batman #20 continues to exemplify a series that defies convention at every turn. At almost two-year old the series has yet to release anything close to a middling issues. Its consistently high stakes, the nuanced character drama and downright stunning artwork just keep impressing month after month.
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