REVIEW: ‘Absolute Batman’ Issue 7

Absolute Batman Issue 7 is published by DC Comics. Written by Scott Snyder, art by Marcos Martín, colors by Muntsa Vicente and letters by Clayton Cowles.

Batman investigates new leads as a new villain make themselves known.

Absolute Batman Issue 7 takes its foot off the gas, moving at a slower pace in this next arc. The story and the villain have entirely changed, so a period of information gathering is required in this issue. There are two major halves of the story. Bruce Wayne meets his group of friends and tries to separate himself from them to keep them safe. Then, there is an investigation as Batman tries to break into Ark M, a mysterious facility outside of Gotham. Time-based trickery is involved, but Snyder provides helpful captions to clarify how much time has passed.

There is so much familiarity with character names, but they are always used to lead readers in and then change things around. All of these origin stories have been told time and time again. But Snyder and the Absolute Universe alter them slightly to make something new. The issue still has time for craziness, with some horrific injuries and deaths happening to people Bruce cares about. But so much of Absolute Batman Issue 7 has the feeling of a classic Batman comic, too, with a mid-air fight scene being the pinnacle of that.

The personalities and connections within this series have become part of their unique universe. It’s so interesting to have a supporting cast like this around Bruce. Waylon Jones, Ozzie Cobblepot and others are voices to throw at a very quiet Bruce Wayne, making the comic busier. They’re fresh and new, changing the conversations in this world from figures such as Oracle and Nightwing. It’s fascinating that so many characters who are criminals and villains elsewhere are his friends.

Another major change in this chapter is that Batman is now narrating his own comic, which allows us to better understand his personality. Bruce takes a leaf from Frank Castle’s book and makes a war journal, or combat journal, as Synder puts it. It seems like a genuine, loving homage to The Punisher‘s approach. As Absolute Batman Issue 7 unfolds, you see him start to realise how dangerous it is to bring people into the life he leads.

The art sees a shift with Martín stepping in. The most notable feature of this artist’s style is how he draws his eyes. They are big and wide and captivating, able to tell stories just within those expressions. They can show happiness and fear in a few panels. Martín moves from a casual conversation on a bridge to a gory, disturbing mess presented in close and terrifying detail. That revulsion and creepiness can also be seen when the villain is introduced.

What is revealed is an adaptation of something that has been seen before in Batman comics but taken to a new level. Even when the villain looks relatively normal, there is still something off-putting about them. The other major part of the issue sees Bruce in an alleyway with his friends. It’s dark and gloomy, and everyone is entirely in silhouette. They don’t step into the light at all. And yet, making their proportions so distinctive suddenly pays off because it’s effortless to tell who is who just by the shadows.

The colors have a terrific range. The alleyway scene thrives on darkness and secretive shadows. But even when Gotham is gloomy and bleak, the panels are light and bright, showing everything else with clarity and detail. In the most distressing and alarming part of the Absolute Batman Issue 7, the blood is very rich and bright. It makes the scene even more hideous and shocking. There are even some neon, vibrant panels that make the issue livelier and intriguing. The lettering in the word balloons is very clear and easy to read, but the faux handwriting used for the captions is awkward and uncomfortable.

Absolute Batman Issue 7 continues to twist familiar tales. The origin stories of Batman’s most famous villains have become so legendary that they are akin to fables and fairy tales. We know how they become who they are and the consequences. Snyder toys with all of them in Absolute Batman, telling a story featuring the same characters but in a way that has completely refreshed the world.

It’s impossible to know what will come next after Absolute Batman Issue 7 because these characters are breaking a mold that many have been stuck in. The change of artist leads to a new look, with a different take on the creepiness and insidious nature of the threat that Batman will face.

Absolute Batman Issue 7 is available where comics are sold.