REVIEW: ‘Absolute Batman’ Issue 5

Absolute Batman Issue 5 is published by DC Comics. Written by Scott Snyder, art by Nick Dragotta, colors by Frank Martin and letters by Clayton Cowles.

Batman is lured in to make a deal with Black Mask and the Party Animals, but the deal requires cooperation from both sides. Absolute Batman Issue 5 sets up a confrontation between Batman and Black Mask, setting them down on a rooftop in a messed-up, chaotic version of Gotham.

This is brilliantly represented in the confrontation. Initially quiet, the comic takes its time to build to an explosion of action and violence. It’s easy to see that tension will burst, but it’s all about when and how. First, the pieces have to be put in place: The Party Animals, Batman, and Pennyworth. The narration is goading the villains to blow up the deal, where Batman backs out of Gotham and gets paid for it.

There have always been other factors to the story in this series. A mayoral race is underway, and a tightly woven crime-busting operation is set to take out Black Mask’s empire. But then everything collapses, and the fighting erupts. Absolute Batman Issue 5 is arguably the most violent chapter of the run so far.

It’s brutal and unrelenting, flipping the tables on everyone. And the results are jarring and shocking. A city that is already on the verge of breaking is shattered. Allegiances are torn apart. Any time the reader can think of where this manic world is moving, Snyder shakes things up.

Batman again does not speak much in this issue, letting his fists do the talking instead. Around him, however, is a bustle of noise and voices. So much of Bruce’s personality has been created by others. Pennyworth’s narration creates a mythology around the character, tracking and following the vigilante across the city.

They may be working together, but the alliance is loose. Batman has barely made a connection or relationship for five issues, which is a notable difference from his mainstream counterpart. This has kept him mysterious. He can still seem simple and childlike, as shown when he has grand ideas but ignores the bigger picture.

However, the flashbacks to when he was a child actually highlight his emotional intelligence because there is much more dialogue in these moments. It raises questions as to why he’s so much quieter as an adult, leading to mysteries and suspicions. In contrast, Black Mask never shuts up, enjoying the sound of his voice.

This greatly affects the end of Absolute Batman Issue 5, delivering a powerful blow by the final page. Pennyworth’s fascination with Batman is tested in this chapter. Many of the characters go through a journey that demonstrates the long game Snyder is playing.

The art sees Dragotta return and excel. Absolute Batman Issue 5 has an excellent contrast between harshness and softness. When he’s a kid, there are really sensitive moments. Bruce’s eyes are wide and expressive as his mother holds him during a horrible period of his life.

Then, in the present day, there is a ruthless edge to the art. Batman is huge and bulky, awe-inspiring on that rooftop. As he swings his fists, chains, weapons, and tendrils of his cape are often reminiscent of Spawn. However, combined with the size, this design is truly unique.

The gore spreads as the fight gets rougher. Many of the villains bear the scars from their last encounter and will leave this one with even more. The spikes and blades leave visceral damage that draws gasps and winces from the reader. Batman picks up wounds of his own, nasty injuries crafted through grizzly details. Black Mask looks tiny compared to his enemy, with an overly large skull on his head. But he has brought tech, goons and weaponry with him to try and put Batman down.

The colors are kept beautifully minimal. Each panel has only a few shades, either with a dark or light background, depending on what Martin chooses. Alongside the grey of the buildings, there is a bright yellow tone created by a newly built Bat signal. The red of Black Mask’s suit and the blood that inevitably gets spilt by Bat and the bad guy alike are more visible in that light. The colors make the violence look even more stark and terrifying.

Absolute Batman Issue 5 has a lot of dialogue, and the lettering is executed superbly. The words are rough and easy to read, giving the characters a terrific grit. Even in the large word balloons amid the chaos of the action, the eyes effortlessly take everything in.

Absolute Batman Issue 5 is a ferocious showdown. The violence is unrelenting, tearing apart partnerships and deals. The fighting is animalistic, as Batman fights with an almost unmatched intensity. The injuries are horrifying, and the ramifications are impossible to predict. The whole city could burn.

Despite the extreme violence in Absolute Batman Issue 5, you can’t look away. Each page turn brings a new depiction of viscera, leaving jaws on the floor. It’s less technology and more purely physical as a fight for survival erupts.

Absolute Batman Issue 5 is available where comics are sold.