Absolute Batman #23 shows the hero’s ongoing struggle to both grasp the far-reaching conspiracy surrounding him and navigate its consequences on his personal life, while also pitting The Dark Knight against the Absolute Universe’s monstrous take on Clayface. Writer Scott Snyder, artist Nick Dragotta, colorist Frank Martin, and letterer Tom Napolitano beautifully complement each other, capture both sides of this story, and elevate the stakes of the greater narrative.
Spoiler Warning: The following review contains spoilers for Absolute Batman #23.
Early on, a brief comment from Alfred Pennyworth sets the stage for Batman’s journey in the issue, as he notes that Bruce needs help because he has lost his way. This is evident as soon as the hero first appears in the story, as he is isolating himself and obsessively investigating the mystery involving Scarecrow and Jack Grimm. Bruce makes Charlie Kelly’s infamous conspiracy corkboard from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia look like child’s play as he tries to connect the dots and make sense of it all. Together, Dragotta and Martin capture the toll the investigation is taking on Bruce, as he looks sleep-deprived at best and obsessed at worst. Bruce’s eyes are somewhat surrounded by shadows that also double as subtle bags, showing that he’s practically out of his mind because he’s been pushing himself nonstop, which comes with the added cost of worsening his paranoia. To a degree, the reader is left to wonder whether Bruce’s lack of sleep or his relentless fixation is fueling his behavior throughout the story.
The turmoil escalates when Bruce’s friends—with whom his relationships have become increasingly strained—arrive, seeking to help him. Bruce yells that he doesn’t want help, with Napolitano’s bold, block text emphasizing his bitter frustration. The confrontation worsens as Bruce accuses several of his friends—Oswald Cobblepot, Harvey Dent, and Edward Nygma—of benefiting from Scarecrow’s schemes. The tension in these accusations is underscored by the use of black backgrounds, showing how harshly Bruce is treating people he has known since he was a kid. The impact is especially apparent when Martha Wayne arrives, seeking to comfort her troubled son.
Bruce first brushes her off before turning his rage on her. He puts his cowl back on and effectively turns into a monster as he screams at his mother, demanding that she tell him what she knows. Dragotta, Martin, and Napolitano perfectly capture this shift with fiery red and orange backgrounds, shaky block letters, and bestial depictions of Batman as he nearly attacks his own mother, driving home the message that the hero has truly lost himself. The combination of Bruce’s rage, his obsession to find the truth, and his friends’ realization that he’s out of control delivers a powerful blend of emotions that take the reader on a ride.
Throughout Absolute Batman, the series has leaned into horror, and this issue masterfully continues to do so. In addition to Bruce’s near transformation into a monster, the arrival of Clayface is right out of a slasher movie, as Dragotta shows him slowly forming into a copy of Batman in the background. The Dark Knight, captured by Tim Drake and Jason Todd, helplessly watches as Clayface sneaks up on the duo. Here, more bold, block lettering illustrates Bruce’s futile yet powerful pleas for the two Robins to look behind them before they get brutally attacked. Dragotta captures Bruce’s wide-eyed terror, as well as the villain’s monstrosity. This design of Clayface feels somewhat inspired by Venom, with white eyes and sharp fangs. The monster movie vibes continue when Clayface brutally impales Drake, as a blood-red background surrounds the hulking figure of the villain, along with his victims.
The shots of the aftermath are just as haunting, as the red background is interrupted by the silhouette of Drake’s falling corpse. The emotional consequences resonate as well, with an emotionally broken Batman holding Drake’s body in a callback to “A Death in the Family”, though Todd lives this time around. The contrast of the emotional confrontation between Bruce and his allies with this horrifying attack showcases the very best of Absolute Batman, as Snyder and the creative team brilliantly shift genres, sometimes multiple times an issue.
The Absolute Batman team continues to knock it out of the park, as the series keeps getting better and better. With this issue, the story packs a punch by incorporating horror while focusing on the emotional costs this journey takes on Batman, while the art continues to deliver some of the best visuals in comics.
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