Spoilers Ahead!
Initial Thoughts
Absolute Batman #21 was a high-stakes, Nolan-esque issue that finally brought Bruce Wayne and Jack Grimm face to face in a tense showdown that confirmed Project Batman. As if Bruce’s plate wasn't full enough with the death of his mentor and the chasing by the Robins, he now has to deal with Grimm knowing who he is. The Absolute Batman universe offers plenty to enjoy, whether you look for fantastically plotted action, fantastically planned dialogue, or a story that keeps building momentum issue after issue. There is something here to love.
Every issue adds something new or important to the lore of Absolute Batman, and issue 21 is no different. To me, this will go down as one of the more memorable chapters of the Absolute Batman story so far, not only for the confrontation between Bruce and Jack, but for the Robin fight and the continued rounding of the Oswald, Waylon, Harvey, and Edward characters. At its core, regardless of the universe, Batman is always Batman. So while the world is at its bleakest, there is always a light-- even if unrecognizable-- of hope. I think that is what these issues do best.
This Seems Like Rock Bottom. Where Does Bruce Go From Here?
Bruce Wayne staring into the abyss, trying to process what happened and figure out his next move, might be the most relatable this larger-than-life version of Batman has been. Now that Project Batman has been confirmed straight from the horse's mouth, I think that will be the driving force and central focus for the rest of the run. Bruce coming to terms with the fact that his entire existence and life’s mission were all created at the hands of a demonic court jester will be at the center for the rest of the run--or at least until Bruce defeats The Joker. No matter what iteration, no matter what universe, “The Joker” and “The Batman” are destined to do this forever, and I think that was the central theme of Absolute Batman #21.
Scott Snyder is breaking Bruce down to rebuild him. As they say, there is no way but up after rock bottom, but something tells me that this might not be the complete bottom for Bruce, as he still has his “friends” to deal with. Bruce now has multiple plates to spin for the rest of the series: The Joker, the death of Jim Gordon and the Robins, Project Batman, his “friends,” and whatever else I’m forgetting and future problems. What a series!
This Series Continues To Evolve
I think what Scott Snyder does well in every issue of Absolute Batman is give the reader—well, at least me—a reason to come back after every issue. A lot of comic books have lull moments where there is a lot of exposition or story development that can sacrifice some excitement. I think Snyder in Absolute Batman mixes both elements fantastically well, so when lore and story take the forefront, there is still enough action to keep the pace up.
A case in point is the faceoff between Jack Grimm and Bruce Wayne. Not only was I not expecting it this early, but even though it didnt turn into a full-blown fight, it still felt tense. But just like in Batman 1989 fashion, the villain and hero need to meet in the middle of the day to size each other up before their big, undoubtedly battle under the light of the full moon. The fight is personal, and this scene proved it.
The ending face-off was great, but so was the opening. The cold open—a straight continuation from the previous issue—is not something we usually get with Snyder books, yet in Absolute Batman #21, we started with the fight between the Robins and Batman. I think the placement of the fight put it at the center, making it just as important as the Joker vs Batman face-off. Even though it seemed to have been a tie, something more important came out of the ending.
The seeds for Robins to abandon—well, at least R1 (Dick Grayson)—have been planted. It doesn't seem like Harley or Pennyworth will actually be helping Batman on the battlefield, so Bruce needs his son. Whether it happens or not, the mere possibility of a team-up gives me hope. In a fictional world that seems hopeless and bleak, this seed might be the rose in the concrete that we need to feel like not everything is shit.
Sometimes Things Need To Breathe
Not a major complaint by any means, but the portion of the book with Oswald, Waylon, Harvey, and Edward felt a little out of place. A lot happened in this issue, and that part of the book might be overlooked when looking back on it. I think it would have hit harder if the transition had gone straight from the funeral to Bruce contemplating life at the construction site. That beat would have given Bruce staring into the abyss a bit more emotional punch. With that being said, what do I know?
With all that is going on in this series, I know that The Penguin, Riddler, Killer Croc, and Two-Face can't be left too far behind; however, I think these characters deserve their own story arcs and plots. It doesn't look like Absolute Batman is going anywhere, and Snyder will have the time and room to give these characters time to breathe, instead of just trying to shoehorn them in with a couple of pages--especially with an issue that is already so chock-full of plot. Overall, this isn't a major complaint. ABSoulte Batman #21 was another great issue, but it's something I wish I had seen, or not seen, I guess in this case.
Every Inch Of The Pages Are Used For Great Art
Nick Dragotta’s art not only continues to live up to the moment but also keeps finding new ways to be unique and evolve as Absolute Batman grows. New characters, new variations, and new places in this world continue to be revealed, and Dragotta continues to rise to the challenge with fantastic drawings. Not to be outdone, colorist Frank Martin also comes up big, especially between the flashback and current timeline panels. The lighting change automatically cues your brain that we’re going back to Bruce’s formative years, a complete contrast to the dark, depressing Gotham City of the current timeline. I honestly don’t think you even need the “Then” subtitle.
The panel Dragotta used is exquisite. He uses all of the space provided to him to tell the story, and this is especially true during the fight scenes in Absolute Batman #21. Using smaller boxes within larger panels makes the fight look chaotic, and the pace feel faster, which is what a fight should feel like. At the climactic points of the book, larger panels are used to provide full vision and to play with the landscape, for example, when the Joker and Bruce face off. Panel use can be used, as Dragotta did, to slow down or speed up the pace of a story. In this issue, which had such highs and lows in terms of storytelling pace, it's a great technique to have; it adds so much layering to complex storytelling.
Final Thoughts
Absolute Batman #21 is the next great chapter in the Absolute universe, with Bruce Wayne hitting rock bottom--though this might not be the lowest it gets. The face-off between Jack Grimm (Absolute Joker) and Bruce came earlier than expected, adding extra suspense to an already heart-stopping storyline. Scott Snyder’s story, Nick Dragotta’s pencils, and Frank Martin’s coloring continue to evolve as the Absolute Batman story grows more complex, adding more to the plate of all the artists. The “Absolute Universe” keeps growing, and this creative team is meeting the moment.
While Absolute Batman #21 might have missed some emotional beats due to pacing issues, this series continues to deliver every month. It feels like the start of something new in this universe, and this issue reinvigorated some of the characters as they take their place in the main event.