REVIEW: ‘Absolute Batman’ Issue 13

Absolute Batman Issue 13 is published by DC Comics, written by Scott Snyder, art by Nick Dragotta, colors by Frank Martin, and letters by Clayton Cowles.

Batman is reunited with Selina Kyle, as he plans a final showdown with Bane.

This issue finally brings Catwoman into the present day, in what might be Batman’s most vulnerable moment. Selina had been seen alongside Bruce through much of his early life, with flashbacks revealing both their early friendship and later lusting dalliances in much of this series. Absolute Batman Issue 13 starts immediately after the final page of the previous chapter, with a two-meeting for the first time in a while.

The first part of Absolute Batman Issue 13 is pretty quiet and tense, as the new, unpredictable character enters the fray. Bruce and Selina spend time in the present, while the past continues to affect them both. It’s soothing and intriguing. Snyder then moves the plot forward, as new Absolute adaptations are introduced. It’s always fascinating when newcomers are brought in, as they bring fresh energy to a book that may be expanding slowly.

Absolute Batman Issue 13 erupts in the second half. The fight is furious and explosive, perhaps too extreme for the enemies they’re facing. The end of the issue marks the beginning of Bruce’s preparation for Bane, reverting to a quieter tone as it becomes increasingly clear that the next issue will be a phenomenal clash.

At the core of Absolute Batman Issue 13 are two former lovers. Snyder is fantastic at crafting dialogue between the duo. There’s both hostility and tenderness. In the flashbacks, Bruce and Selina are very close, gentle, and clearly magnetized towards each other. So it’s actually what hasn’t been said that carries the most strength in this chapter. The history is engrossing, and you want to know more.

Selina has similarities to her counterpart in the central universe. She’s confident, enjoying the thrill of a fight. She’s also elusive, capable of being independent. There is genuine affection for Bruce, but whatever happened between them has created a rift. This version of Batman is fascinating. He’s quiet most of the time, and is still reeling from the treatment in Ark M and the beating he took from Bane. There’s the humiliation and the incredible guilt from what Bane then did to his friends. Catwoman is the only one who hasn’t been tarnished or scarred by those events. But when challenging his enemies, he is vulgar and loud, with a voice and veins loaded with venom.

The art is sensational in Absolute Batman Issue 13. The most notable new addition is Catwoman, who combines classic elements with additions that fit the universe. Dragotta designs her a tight catsuit with a large helmet with cat ears. It has a similar bulky size to the Black Mask, raising further suspicions. She’s not a tiny woman in the slightest, with muscular legs that make her very tall, but she is small compared to Bruce.

Even without the bulky armor, Batman is massive and still bearing scars on his back and arms. But then Bane is even bigger still, with muscles blown up to an extreme extent. There is another newcomer, one that had been given a punky and grungy makeover. Dragotta implements the character’s iconic image distinctively.

The colors are very pretty in a world that’s often presented as ugly in Absolute Batman Issue 13. Martin conveys the passage of time brilliantly. When the Bat and Cat first meet, their blue costumes are in the dark. Then they make love, and their shadows are cast in a beautiful purple light. This shifts as the Sun rises outside the window and they move in the early dawn. The people Bruce and Selina meet are clad in a vibrant red hood, which is a striking shade. By the end of the issue, Batman is surrounded by pitch black. The lettering is fantastic, superbly etched onto the page.

Absolute Batman Issue 13 gives the Bat his Cat back, briefly. Catwoman has been hidden away for the first 12 issues, but this is the perfect time to bring her into the fold. This version of Batman is particularly withdrawn and reclusive, especially now that all of his friends have been altered or brutalized. But Selina can unlock him slightly, or at least try to do so. It’s nice to see Batman have someone to bounce off of and fight alongside. No issues of this series ever truly leave the darkness, but this one has the most light.

Absolute Batman Issue 13 is available now wherever comics are sold.