Review: ‘Absolute Batman’ #1
There’s been SO much talk about Absolute Batman #1 that I struggled to put my thoughts together. Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Marting, and Clayton Cowles delivered what will likely go down as one of the biggest, most consequential Batman #1s in the character’s storied history. What was left to say? Instead of trying to one-up all of the (well-deserved) platitudes this book has already been given, I figured I’d talk about a few of the aspects that struck me most.
First off, this reimagining of Bruce Wayne isn’t a gimmick. Sure there are exaggerated aspects (look no further than our boy’s thiqq new physique), but those pieces aren’t WHY this story exists. They just happen to insanely awesome details that add to the overall experience. What Snyder does so brilliantly to make this story have weight is strip Bruce down to the core ethos that has motivated him for decades — revenge. There is a singular moment in his life that shapes his worldview & defines his life’s mission. We’ve seen the death of his parents happen countless times in comics, tv shows, movies, etc. Snyder still pays respects to those events and their impact is on full display in this first issue. In this story, Bruce must find new means of achieving his goals without the unlimited resources of a rich playboy. There’s a rawness here that hasn’t existed in any Elseworld/Black Label/alternate universe retelling of Batman so far.
And holy crap the art! Dragotta’s use of unconventional paneling is so ingenious, so effective, and keeps readers disoriented ever so slightly as we’re discovering what this new world is all about. It’s a masterclass in visual storytelling that only exists when a writer and artist are fully aligned and trust each other completely. While I love the Chonk Knight’s look, I may love the his cape’s design and how Batman uses it during fights even more. It’s such a smart way to capture actual bat-like motion and reveals that where Bruce lacks in financial resources, his ingenuity and smarts are off the charts.
There are so many other things I loved about this book that I could fill several articles worth of fanboy musings. But I’ll end with something I’ve heard Brad Gullickson from Comic Book Couples Counseling say several times. My favorite thing about this book is that it was a comic book experience — it could only exist in comic form. And that is EXACTLY why I love comics.
Rating: 10/10
