REVIEW: ‘Absolute Batman’ Issue 25

Absolute Batman Issue 25 by DC Comics. Written by Scott Snyder, Art by Nick Dragotta, colors by Frank Martin, and letters by Clayton Cowles.

The Joker has controlled Batman’s life since the very beginning, and now he is starting to turn those he loves against him.

The very start of Absolute Batman Issue 25 is the most unexpected aspect of this book, because it is all about loyalty. Batman marches into Jack Grimm’s mansion, this universe’s version of the Joker. The tone is slow and frightening as he is greeted by all the friends he loved most. And instantly, his support system is stripped away and turned on him. It’s isolating and unsettling as the first scene, and the flashback shows just how peculiar it is to have such division within the group.

Then the adrenaline kicks in as Batman goes on the run again. So when he finally comes up against the Joker, which has been building for decades in the world of the comic, and a long time in reality, he feels alone. The fight is everything the Absolute Universe was built to represent. It’s visceral and hardcore, but emotive and carrying so much pain within it. Then comes a new dawn: a selection of figures that could represent a fresh start for Batman, as he has to change who he can trust. It’s a remarkable and satisfying first fight.

Snyder imbues the dialogue with a lot of personality in Absolute Batman Issue 25, and the script is superb. Batman’s hurt grows as he realizes he’s lost his friends. Snyder lets each of them talk, showing how they have been turned, bought, and persuaded by Grimm to believe him and not Bruce. His childhood friends – Waylon, Eddie, Harvey, Ozzie- would have forgiven him for anything. It feels like a real severance of a connection that Snyder has beautifully laced within this comic.

This version of Joker is evidently a genius at manipulating his own life, wealthy and philanthropic. But he is also a terrifying nightmare. He has a way of chilling you to the bone, with an ancient glee towards hunting and violence. What is also pivotal in this comic is highlighting that Bruce’s clearly has a lot of issues when it comes to trust, but he has been working on letting others in. This is what makes his best friends’ betrayal so powerful.

The quiet start to Absolute Batman Issue 25 is a brilliant choice because it creates a false sense of security. The shift from flashback to present day shows what Batman and his friends have been through. Waylon is the only one who doesn’t look completely different, but we’ve seen the reptilian ordeal he was put through.

In this scenario, Batman looks like the mad one. He’s furious and upset, axe in hand. But that weapon comes in handy for the second half of the book, where the fight really kicks off.

This version of the Joker is truly unique, largely because of his power. He is a shapeshifter, and a terrifying one at that. He transforms into multiple monstrous forms- tall, skinny, bulky, whatever works to instill fear. The teeth and claws instigate a primal terror. There is something primordial about him, and he’s entirely unpredictable. When he first appears in Absolute Batman Issue 25, he is covered in body parts, highlighting how ruthless he is and how ridiculous it is that he charmed Bruce’s buddies.

The colors are also terrific. Even though it takes place in a different universe, Martin uses shades synonymous with an age-old battle. Batman’s black and gray faces off against the pale skin and green hair of the Joker. There is more red involved because the sinister smile of Joker is so much bigger, and there are some fleshy tendrils.

But the red also serves as a buffer for the most intense moments of the fight. It means there is something recognizable amidst all of the change and transformations. The lettering creates a gritty tone of voice for most of the characters while staying easy to read.

Absolute Batman Issue 25 recreates fiction’s most iconic battle in the most hardcore setting. The power dynamic has absolutely been flipped and made Batman’s greatest enemy even more horrifying in every way. He can be unwaveringly intelligent, with influence and decades’ worth of hunting at his disposal. And this Joker is also more powerful than Batman.

Joker in other universes is scrappy and sneaky, but can’t truly beat Batman in a fair fight. This one can, and it makes the fight in even more unfair. This Batman is bigger and his nemesis more than matches it. And the extreme violence is balanced out by exploring such an individual friendship group. Absolute Batman Issue 25, from its dialogue to its art, encapsulates everything that makes the Absolute version unique and engaging.

Absolute Batman Issue 25 is available where comics are sold.