REVIEW: ‘Absolute Batman’ Issue 23

Absolute Batman Issue 23 is published by DC Comics and written by Scott Snyder, art by Nick Dragotta, colors by Frank Martin, and letters by Clayton Cowles.

As the closest figures in Batman’s life host an intervention, some of the Robins break rank.

Absolute Batman Issue 23 demonstrates just how far gone Batman is mentally. He is desperately trying to break away and hide, his paranoia stemming from Jack Grimm and, most notably, the Scarecrow. They have been in his life from the start, trying to create and control him, and that has broken any form of trust the Dark Knight once had in anyone.

The first half of the comic is the intervention, featuring almost everyone who cares about him. Even his former friends turned villains, who have spent so much time developing a hatred for him. The pressure is instantly high because Bruce is so resistant to help. And it only increases, a pressure cooker that has no possible chance of cooling down.

The reveals and the surprises don’t matter because he is so far inside his own head, lost to Scarecrow and Grimm’s machinations. The arguments only grow louder until an eruption of rage leads to a true separation.

And then, inside Absolute Batman Issue 23, Batman is finally all alone, right before another enormous fight. Within every conflict in this series, Snyder adds something new and unexpected, and it makes each chapter exhilarating. It’s not just another fight with the Robins. Another villain makes their way into the Absolute Universe. And that leads to another shocking conclusion that shows how ruthless this world is.

Absolute Batman Issue 23 demonstrates a severe change in Bruce’s psyche. What made this version of the Dark Knight so unique was his cabal of friends and his devotion to keeping his friendships from falling apart. It was a group that grew up together, before Bane broke and shattered them.

But Bruce has been twisted so much by his enemies that even their reuniting fails to resonate. Where he once craved the closeness of his friends, he now wants the opposite. And it’s because all he sees are conspiracies and crows. He is scary in this issue, loud, furious, and inconsolable.

The personalities of the Robins are also starting to come through, with each of them displaying signs that make them stand out in a sea of voices. Dick is a leader. Jason is a loner who really looks up to Deathstroke. Tim is lovable, funny, and overconfident. It creates a necessary energy within a comic that can often drown in melancholy.

There are two halves to Absolute Batman Issue 23, and the art reflects that. The first is in the tunnel, where Bruce has created a board of suspects. Even though the conversation is static, it has a marvelous intensity. The characters have almost all now evolved into new versions of themselves, brilliantly designed by Dragotta. And they’re very different to the versions of them in the mainstream universe, with more body horror elements.

Batman towers over them all. As he gets more irate, Bruce loses his humanity, roaring, his face twisting in fury. The details are incredible. They highlight how much of a presence Scarecrow occupies in his head. From there, there is the fight.

The Robin mechs have been seen before, and they remain impressive. They are huge and distinct, and it’s becoming easier to identify which mech belongs to each Robin. However, something else starts pulling the focus of the battle, and it reminds us just how terrifying the Absolute Batsuit can be when it’s put to nefarious means.

The colors are fantastically dark and ominous. During Bruce’s intervention, Martin frequently uses pure black as a background, wrapping it around the characters. It helps focus all the attention on the fighting in the foreground. When the Robins appear, they are very bright and vibrant, standing out among the grays and blacks of the panels. With all the small panels that Dragotta’s style is synonymous with in this run, the lettering stays focused and easy to read.

Absolute Batman Issue 23 does more to sever Batman from everything and everyone. Anyone who could have been considered an ally, loved one, or friend shows up in this issue, and Batman rejects them. The fury and instability within him is palpable. He may be aware of what the Scarecrow is doing, has done, and will continue to do, but he’s incapable of stopping any of it. And it’s not just Scarecrow either, with the whole of Ark M toying with the Caped Crusader.

Absolute Batman Issue 23 is available where comics are sold.