REVIEW: ‘Absolute Batman’ Issue 22

Absolute Batman Issue 22 is published by DC Comics, written by Scott Snyder, art by Werther Dell’edra, colors by Frank Martin, and letters by Clayton Cowles.

Running from the Robins, the secret origin of Harley Quinn is revealed.

This is an intriguing issue that primarily takes place in the past. The present day is somewhat inconsequential, with Batman and Harley trying to escape from the prowling and persistent Robins. It’s entertaining and tense, always moving. The key element is the conversation between Bruce and Harley as they work to escape.

At the heart of Absolute Batman Issue 22 is the history of Harley Quinn. The character has always been loosely related to psychiatry and mental illness. That is still present, but in a very unexpected way. The origin is completely rewritten, with where Quinn grew up and who her parents are playing a very important role. It’s also impossible to see where the flashback story is heading when it begins.

At first, young Harley is menaced by a monster under the bed. But the real threat isn’t under her bed, it’s under the house. The scale of the plot grows larger as the mystery unfolds. The ending is twisted, dark, and horrifying. It’s not frantic or noisy, but like descending into a circle of Hell.

The exposition within Absolute Batman Issue 22 is heavy, but it is laced with the personalities of both Batman and Harley. The original Batman is elusive and not exactly talkative, but this version takes that to an extreme. The man is so averse to company and any conversation. He’s just not interested in the stories that others have to tell, just the salient info.

Harley is the opposite. She is a yapper and really wants to help stop Batman from getting absorbed by Scarecrow and Grimm’s manipulation. She’s very open about what she went through with her family. From start to finish. Her connection to Grimm is much bigger than expected, and the role her mother plays is disturbing.

The Absolute Universe has more than one version of Harley Quinn, since this one is so drastically different from the one everyone recognizes. And the other one is just a quiet but haunting revelation. It’s so dramatic that we think that’s the only bombshell within Absolute Batman Issue 22, but there’s an even bigger one just waiting in the wings.

The art is fantastic in Absolute Batman Issue 22 as Dell’edra steps in as a guest. Many of the creative decisions Dell’edra makes remain similar, most notably in the size comparisons. Harley is very small, and the lack of hair makes her seem even smaller. Next to Batman, she’s tiny, yet she is still scrappy and strong. She flips through the air, swinging her hammer like any other Harley.

Batman is big and bulky, and there is a slight change in how his cape moves in Absolute Batman Issue 22. There’s a slight fog around the edges of the cape, which illustrates how fluid it is. Other times, when he moves, Batman just looks like a solid black mass. He’s pure strength and violence, plowing through soldiers like they’re nothing. Then there are the Robins, in mechs that are just enormous. In this universe, you’re never far away from something hardcore. The size of Batman becomes more important when the surroundings of him and his partner get progressively smaller.

In the flashback, Absolute Batman Issue 22 has more horror features. The shadows are crucial, as are the doors. The opening of the closet door, and others, are the start of strange events in Harley’s old and creepy family home. And there’s always a sense that there is something within the darkness. Even deeper is a new and unfathomable amount of both bodily and psychological horror. The iconic Harley Quinn costume design makes an appearance, but in a twisted way.

The colors are sensational, reveling in the darkness. For a lot of the comic, the brightest part of the panel is Harley’s jacket. That shade is the one signifier of who the character is, alongside the blue diamonds. In a comic filled with darkness, that red is the one slight piece of hope and positivity. The sound effects are intense and have a consistent presence. It helps amplify the noise and increase the feeling of movement. In the fight scenes, they’re huge and powerful. But in Harley’s home, they are smaller, where each tiny creak could signal danger.

Absolute Batman Issue 22 is an excellent example of escalation. The comic starts small, with just two characters in a tight space. And through them comes so much expansion of the story. There is a stuffy, claustrophobic feel to both timelines in this storyline, and that is integral to how scary and atmospheric it is. But at the same time, the plot takes huge strides and connects the characters through familial connections. This series is heavy metal and hardcore, and that can be delivered in a variety of ways.

Absolute Batman Issue 22 is available now wherever comics are sold.