MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD
Initial Thoughts on Absolute Batman #19: A Wild Ride
Absolute Batman #19 pulled us into so many different emotional states (fear, sorrow, mad, happy), which is why this is the best comic book series on the market right now. The world that writer Scott Snyder, artist Nick Dragotta, and colorist Frank Martin are creating is magical and has invigorated the comic book industry. Bruce continues to fall down this dark hole, and the death of Mayor Jim Gordon will undoubtedly stick with Batman and how he patrols Gotham City moving forward.
Now, Bruce—not just Batman—has to face the loss of his mentor, Jim Gordon. To make things worse, Batman was spotted at the scene, which couldn’t have come at a worse time. This new version of Scarecrow is truly scary and has figured out how to mess with Batman. We still don’t know if he’s working with Absolute Joker, but I have a feeling he is.
Batman is now persona non grata in Gotham City, and with Alfred now asked by MI6 to keep an eye on “the subject,” his mission has gotten exponentially more difficult. Ultimately, this issue will go down as the moment(s) Bruce Wayne and Batman lost their way.
Darkseid must REALLY hate Batman, because MY GOD.
What’s Next for Absolute Bruce Wayne?
One of the underrated aspects of this entire Absolute Batman run is that nobody really knows what is going to happen next. Very few saw the Death of Jim Gordon coming, and now this will undoubtedly affect Batman’s trajectory in this universe. Gotham City is now after Batman, many believing he is responsible for the death of former Mayor Jim Gordon. The person behind Gordon’s suicide is Batman’s new villain, Absolute Scarecrow. The Scarecrow will be Batman’s most formidable foe yet, as this has nothing to do with physical strength. This will test Batman’s mental fortitude, ultimately making him a better hero.
This universe’s version of the Robins, Slade Wilson, and Court of Owls are biding their time, looking to make their presence felt in this story. That doesn't include how Harvey, Oswald, Edward, and Waylon reenter the story. I love that I can't predict what will happen next.
The Death of Jim Gordon
Jim Gordon throwing himself off the roof --thanks to Absolute Scarecrow--will be the obvious talking point and headline-getter that comes out of Absolute Batman #19. In this issue, it was revealed that Gordon had either found out or had a hand in the shooting at the zoo, which killed Thomas Wayne, planting the seed for the creation of Batman. Gotham City is now after Batman, and I think this element of the story is going to be treated a lot like the death of Harvey Dent did to Batman in The Dark Knight Rises.
The big question left is if the citizens of Gotham find out Batman didn't do it either after Scarecrow is defeated or not until the very end of the run. Depending on when that happens, Batman will go into seclusion while he figures out his next move. The Scarecrow will cause havoc until Batman remembers what his mission is and comes back to save Gotham City, even though they won't deserve it.
Overall, I think his death, while premature, was done smartly and will be something that lingers for the rest of Snyder’s run. As a result, it will fundamentally change how Batman sees the world.
Absolute Batman Is About to Be Tested
Where do I start? As a lifelong Batman fan, I have kept finding this iteration of the Caped Crusader fascinating and refreshing. Specifically, in this issue, the killing of Jim Gordon will force Bruce to change. I think, initially, he will get the wrong message from Gordon's Death. Batman will become more brutal and ruthless. The adventure will see Batman become compassionate and evolve into the imperfect, yet perfect, hero of Gotham.
The introduction of Absolute Scarecrow stands out as one of the most effective villain debuts I can remember. Scarecrow presents a new challenge by testing Bruce's mental strength, which marks a shift from previous stories that focused on Batman’s physical capabilities. This angle is central to the narrative, positioning mental resilience as a core test for Batman in this series and distinguishing this run from others. Meanwhile, the Joker currently holds the advantage in the Absolute universe.
In Absolute Batman #15, Snyder delved into the truth about Jack Grimms, better known as the Absolute Joker. In Absolute Batman #19, we got to see how the public perceives Grimms in Gotham. Making the Joker, a popular philanthropist who helps the city, essentially making him Bruce Wayne, is a fantastic way to make him seem even more unattainable. Who would ever believe that he is this demon monster who controls the world? Kinda relatable, huh?
Bringing in ALL of the Robins at once, as a team to take down Batman, led by Slade Wilson, is just Scott Snyder flexing his writing skills on us, and I love it. Will they eventually turn “face” and help Batman? I think so, but with the Court of Owls looking like they are here to help, who knows if the Robins stay as foils for Batman?
Ultimately, Absolute Batman #19 marks the beginning of the transformation—a standout chapter in the Absolute Batman universe and one of the greatest issues of this experiment. Darkseid is.
“Project Batman” Has Me Worried
The complaint I have—or, really, a possible future complaint—is that I’m personally tired of the “everything was planned, and nothing happens by chance” trope in comic books. "Project Batman" looks like a forced way to reconnect a superhero’s world to something bigger and beyond his control. To me, Bruce losing his father in a random shooting speaks to a more social experience. Many people in this country have experienced similar trauma. Making this an “experiment” dulls the pain of someone who has lived through a school shooting. I also think making this a bigger conspiracy takes away Batman’s agency, his core as a character, and the reasons why he acts as he does.
However, all of this might just be a nonexistent complaint. My worry could be for nothing. This could be a scare tactic by Scarecrow to mess with Batman and give Jim Gordon a reason to kill himself. It might also all work out well in the end. I am hopeful that “Project Batman” is just a red herring or will leave me content with the outcome.
One line of dialogue made me cringe: “Hardest no in the history of nos.” I realize this is a different Batman, but his Absolute Universe version is even less whimsical than Earth-0's Batman, who is already a party pooper. I can't see Batman saying this in any universe. It pulled me out of the story and made me wince.
Overall, I finished the book satisfied and am waiting for Absolute Batman #18.
The Absolutely Scarecrow Is Here, and They Are Beautiful
The obvious starting point is the Scarecrow character design. Each villain introduced in this universe is a disturbing reinterpretation of their Prime Earth counterpart, but this Scarecrow has something unique. While Poison Ivy and Bane were reimagined with intense body horror, this Scarecrow's design leans more toward occult or magical influences. Whether or not he is actually supernatural, his appearance strongly suggests a demon-like presence.
Building on that, his eyes, the color, and the button design are unsettling, and his mouth appears sewn shut. The Scarecrow’s suit features dull colors, offering a striking contrast to his unnerving presence while revealing nothing about his character. This makes me even more intrigued by Scarecrow’s origin—I want to know how he got those scars (lol) and what inspired his look.
Frank Martin’s coloring, notably in the Jim Gordon scene, continues this sense of unease. The dark tones create a cold world, punctuated by shocking splashes of red that intensify the reader's anxiety and disorientation. Through color alone, the reader feels dread, showcasing a fantastic storytelling method.
Continuing with character design, I can’t end this section without discussing Slade Wilson. I absolutely loved his look—he resembles a deadly Mr. Potato Head, putting on his face, legs, and nearly his entire body. Without directly telling us, Wilson’s design reveals his tough experiences. Dragotta employs a masterful ‘show, don’t tell’ approach here.
Final Verdict
Absolute Batman #19 is another fantastic chapter to the Absolute Universe that fundamentally changes the trajectory of Batman’s mission and worldview. The Death of Jim Gordon continues to sink him deeper into this new, darker worldview and will go down as one of the most iconic moments in Snyder's run, as he removed one of Batman's most essential chess pieces from the board. The introduction of the Scarecrow into the Absolute Batman universe was masterfully done with elements of occult horror and psychological drama. Scott Snyder is having so much fun creating this universe, which comes alive right off the page, which in turn is giving us some of the highest-quality Batman writing in a long time.
While "Project Batman” might be a plot point that might turn me off in the near future, for now, there are a few things to complain about this generational run. If this truly becomes only a 50-issue run, Absolute Batman #19 will be remembered as a key issue that helped get us to what will be an extraordinary ending.