Absolute Batman #21 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 #21 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
Friends become enemies. Enemies become friends. Final forms are revealed, and Scarecrow’s reign of terror threatens to upend everything.
Review
Don’t be fooled Super Friends, whilst the cover of Absolute Batman signals a potential focus on just one of Bruce Wayne’s closest friends the issue itself is an immense and uncontrollable beast. As teased by the synopsis, there are plenty of huge moments packed into Absolute Batman #21 as Scott Snyder steers the ship towards its next phase of storytelling.
There’s a lot of ground to cover as we come into the issue in the middle of Batman’s battle with Dick Grayson, Slade Wilson and the Robins. Snyder opens issue #21 wide and bombastic as the war rages on. Nick Dragotta brings a cool scale which has echoes of a Megazord versus giant villain fight from Power Rangers, just with a hell of a lot more packed into every punch.
As is so often the case with Absolute Batman Snyder peppers in a heap of moral grey area which really complicates the motivations of these characters. My gut tells me that not all of the Robins are fully on board with the level of violence Slade is willing to throw at Batman. There’s a clear moment where Dick questions the level of violence the group has been pushed to. The moment seems innocuous at first but watch out, I think it will have much bigger ramifications in the future.
Seeing the hulking Bruce Wayne taking on the Mecha-Robins is incredible. It’s the real spectacle which has made Absolute Batman the juggernaut title that it is for the industry. It would be easy to make that the focal point of the issue. But when has Snyder ever been a writer who relies solely on action to carry the story? With Alfred and Harley in his corner, Bruce is able to escape and live another day whilst Gotham turns its attentions to the fallout of Jim Gordon’s death.
If you’ve been reading about the future of Absolute Barbara Gordon in the news then seeing her return for her father’s funeral feels like the beginning of things to come. Snyder is sowing seeds throughout the second half of this month’s issue to great effect. As has been the case throughout the run of this book, Snyder leans on its supporting cast, specifically Bruce’s close circle of friends, to underpin all of his storytelling ambitions. We’ve reached a huge turning point for each of those friends. They’re no longer edging towards a similar fate to their prime universe counterparts. Snyder is literally dangling each of these poor folks off the edge of a cliff, waiting to see what they do next.
That’s all before we go into the final moments of Absolute Batman #21 which, if you aren’t already hooked, will grab hold of you with full force. It’s a meeting of opposing forces that has been building for months now. Considering the death of Jim Gordon, the continuing cliffhanger with Martha Wayne and Owls and everything happening with the Robins, it’s impressive that Snyder is able to work in another twist. Let alone another seismic one that spins the entire storyline off in an entirely new direction.
There are so many distinct beats in Absolute Batman #21. From the fight with the Robins, to the huge funeral procession for Jim Gordon and into that tantalising final sequence at the building site. Dragotta never puts a foot wrong in rendering any of it on the page. The team of Dragotta, colourist Frank Martin and Tom Napolitano are unparalleled in their ability to move comfortably between Snyder’s often challenging story beats. It follows all of the emotional ups and downs and, as is the case almost every month, leaves us hanging on a beautiful (and somewhat terrifying) cliffhanger.
Verdict
Absolute Batman #21 is another huge triumph for Scott Snyder and the team. It navigates a number of different setups between huge action set pieces, a rather grand funeral and a slightly twisted finale to setup a number of huge storylines for year three of the Absolute initiative.
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