Absolute Batman #25 is a major milestone issue for DC Comics most popular series right now. Given that this is a milestone issue there is no doubt that Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta have big plans in place. They did a lot of set-up for this to be a major chapter in the series with the developments throughout this “Straw Man” story arc. Though given how things have gone that might not be a good thing for our Absolute Batman and those around him. Let’s see how things with Absolute Batman #25.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Nick Dragotta
Colorist: Frank Martin
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
ABSOLUTE BATMAN #25 SOLICITATION
“All the villains. All the heroes. All the stakes. What’s left… of Absolute Batman?” – DC Comics
REVIEW
Absolute Batman #25 acts both as a culmination of this first quarter of issues and a set-up for the next phase in the life of this Absolute Universe series. The way Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta do this further pushes the idea of how the Absolute Universe continues to challenge the concept of being a superhero. The universe, thanks to the Absolute Joker, does everything to challenge and push Bruce Wayne to break him and whatever sense of hope he has. In that we truly see what Bruce and what remains of his allies must overcome just to survive in the Absolute Universe.
Survival is the big idea that we see pushed throughout this issue. It was a statement driven home by the big surprise that was waiting for Absolute Batman at Grimm Manor. Just as Bruce mentally and physically prepared himself for a final clash with Jack Grimm he instead finds his friends waiting for him. The surprise turns to anger as we see how Bruce immediately understands that Jack Grimm got to his friends before they even said a word.
This was where Snyder and Dragotta were already in their bag. Dragotta did an excellent job at balancing the concern and guilt Waylon Jones, Edward Nygma, Harvey Dent, and Oswald Cobblepot felt for Bruce. The guilt in particular didn’t come from feeling like they sold out Bruce. Rather that Bruce was possibly to far gone to understand why Jack Grimm’s deal was so good. They were fully bought into what Jack sold all of them.
The way Waylon, Edward, Harvey, and Oswald spoke to Bruce further solidified why Jack Grimm is arguably the biggest threat in the Absolute Universe. He has an understanding of human nature to such a degree that he knows exactly what to say and tone to take to get even Bruce’s closest friends to buy what he is saying. The way Jack spoke to them made it so when Bruce talks about what happened to him in Ark M and what Grimm’s plan is he just comes off as crazy.
Bruce doesn’t help matters that he does this by speaking in a way that is the opposite of Jack Grimm. He spoke with such anger that he did come across delusional. Not only to his friends but to the reader as well.
All of this goes to show the power behind the words Snyder wrote throughout this issue. Every line was crafted in a way to get things to the point when we finally see Absolute Batman vs Absolute Joker you know this is what these twenty five issues have been built to. Grimm’s transformation into his monstrous Absolute Joker form further helped to get across this payoff moment.
The Absolute Batman vs Absolute Joker delivered exactly in the way fans want. Dragotta made the action hit hard as Batman was fighting to survive and defeat his villain. Meanwhile Joker was clearly playing with his food as he wanted to enjoy how he made Batman into, in his eyes, the special and funny person he has been waiting for.
The battle itself was choreographed well to make this a great battle. What took Absolute Batman #25 to the next level is the revelation of how Absolute Joke has fought several people through several centuries that were “special” and “funny” like Bruce. The detail that Absolute Joker has put on display the armor and weapons of these “special” and “funny” in the same displays the main DCU Batman display previous versions of his costume adds to how Snyder is twisting Batman’s mythology.
All of this made it clear that Batman was fighting a losing battle. Which is driven home by the fact that even when Absolute Barbara Gordon’s The Bat saves Batman it all still feels as part of Absolute Joker’s plan. Even Batman understands that Joker could chased and killed him and The Bat if he wanted to. That knowledge makes Joker even more menacing as it does feel like the result was exactly what he wanted as everything is still going according to his plans.
Then there is the final stinger with Absolute Selina Kyle showing up pregnant. That is a massive hook ending that could take things in many different directions. Is this part of Absolute Joker’s plan? Or was it the wild card that Bruce doesn’t know he needed? And what does this mean for Selina and her status as Absolute Catwoman? All of these questions and more made Absolute Batman #25 a grand slam homerun of a milestone issue.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Even when you don’t think you can be amazed any more than you have by Absolute Batman Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta prove you wrong. They masterfully handle how the Absolute Universe constantly challenges and pushes Batman and the entire concept of the character. Absolute Joker is the perfect villain with how he has manipulated everything that’s gone on in this series as the ultimate chess master. Then there is final page of Absolute Batman #25 that is the drop the mic moment for what is one of the best comic books on the market.
Story Rating: 10 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 10 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 10 Night Girls out of 10
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