ABSOLUTE BATMAN #23 (DC COMICS)
The devil is right at Bruce Wayne’s doorstep.
Jack Grimm has been making his life hell long before anyone realized. With the help of Scarecrow, Joker continues to break the Bat.
More dead bodies. A city losing its’ faith.
Now a new threat arrives ready to finish the job. His name is CLAYFACE!
ABSOLUTE BATMAN #23 by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin, & Tom Napolitano (DC COMICS) delivers Batman versus Batman!
Let’s take a deeper dive into the latest chapter.
ABSOLUTE BATMAN #23 by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin, & Tom Napolitano (DC COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Snyder tackles a few growing side plots before diving into the main event. Seeing Alfred have a long overdue talk with Julia showcases the tension that has bee building for quite some time. Their dialogue is cutting as there is much resentment in Julia’s reaction to Alfred’s choice to help Bruce. The scenes with the Robins are easier with their conversation. Jason Todd’s desire to find Batman ruffles some feathers but none to a degree quite like Bruce. Even Harley’s time is short and direct. Nothing like the star’s brooding.
Readers watch as his “friends” arrive to have an intervention of sorts. Snyder lays out a few themes in this interaction. Bruce’s paranoia is a major driving force in the talk. His firm belief in Grimm’s manipulations sparks friction with his crew. The breakdown of the Zoo incident connects many dots but who truly believes it. This factor is a great piece for readers to cypher. A few more surprises come into the mix leading to an impulsive pivot point. This leaves the final act to handle many moving parts. Snyder delivers a few shocking points while delivering a showstopping finish. This will leave many impressions on readers as this conflict only heads further into madness.
READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW HERE!
Dragotta returns after one issue off and goes for the emotional impacts early and often. Alfred’s talk with Julia is presented casually but not without some spite. Her feelings toward him carry some spite and quite frustration. The Robins panels are more relaxed and hit with an obligatory Dick Grayson image fitting of current social memes. It eases readers into a more personal round showcasing Wayne at his lowest.
The panels with the rogues convey concern while Bruce is slowly breaking down. Their half panel entrance showcases some familiar looks. It camouflages the worry they have, Brice’s anger reaches a boil when he starts presenting his case. The art shows how he becomes consumed with rage as more people try debunking his thoughts. It concludes with a chilling wall vision. This leads into a strong final act. His latest confrontation builds up to a horrific point. The full page shot of the Robins cements the dangers arriving. Once here, the art flashes some action while one panel pays homage to a classic Bat moment. Events wrap up on a steady point with a flashback as the road to violence has only just begun.
FINAL GRADE: 9.3
A new enemy pushes Batman to the brink as his world crumbles around him. Snyder dives into the strain of Bruce’s convictions with the writing. Dragotta and Martin focus on the painful reality of Grimm’s manipulations. There’s a reason why this book is on the top of everyone’s pull list.
Let me know your thoughts on Absolute Batman #23 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
