Absolute Batman #20 Has Come Full Circle
In Absolute Batman #20, Bruce and the rest of Gotham City are reeling. They are dealing with the fallout of the death of former Mayor Jim Gordon. Batman has his bat-plate full. He must handle the loss of a mentor and the legitimacy of “Project Batman.” He is also being chased by Project Robin. Absolute Scarecrow makes his presence felt in this issue. In a gripping back-and-forth with Batman in Joe Chill’s jail cell, Scarecrow seems involved from the beginning. Nothing Scarecrow says should be taken at face value. Still, the details mentioned—like Bruce’s mother in the Court of Owls—show Bruce’s worst possible scenario is coming true.
Chapter 20 of the Absolute Batman saga has brought issue one back into the forefront. In a way, it brings Bruce and his “creation” full circle. This was a compelling story that questions Batman's creation and gives Jack Grimm (Absolute Joker) a sense of omnipotence. Every installment adds a complex layer to Bruce Wayne's story, but it never feels like too much or rushed. The pacing of Absolute Batman #20, and the entire Absolute Batman run, is spectacular. It builds tension yet remains a breeze to read.
The art perfectly complements Snyder’s vision. It adds detail to characters we have yet to explore. Absolute Batman #20, in microcosm, is a perfect example of why this entire Absolute Experiment is working.
What Happens Next?
I feel like there could be a monthly, hell, even weekly, podcast that tries to break down, digest, and predict what the next phase will be in what has Project become of the most intriguing and unpredictable comic books of the last century. There are three specific questions that popped up for me — even though I know there are way more than just three — that I am uniquely interested in seeing how Scott Snyder navigates them to continue the story.
First, will the Robins team up with Batman? I’m not sure why, but I find it hard to believe these Robins would pass up the chance to unite with Bruce. After all, they are his children, and such a moment would recapture some of the familiar universe we know and love—an easy emotional moment.
Secondly, “Project Batman.” I will discuss this further in the next section, but Scarecrow all but confirmed Project Batman's validity. Martha Wayne and the Court of Owls were mentioned as major reasons for the creation of Batman. Is that true? Also, he eventually will, but it will
Who is Jack Grimm, really? I know he's the version of the Absolute Joker, and is this demonic figure who has ruled over Gotham-- and the world, really-- for centuries. However, I think it goes deeper than that. It must. In the first couple of pages of Absolute Batman #20, we witness the Grimm sitting in his Joker Cave (?) looking over Gotham City, which makes me think there are still layers that we don't know about. This version of the Joker is so riveting and a much-needed breath of fresh air for the character.
Those are some of the things I'll keep an eye on as we continue to move along Absolute Batman.
The Joker is in the Details
Every issue in Absolute Batman continues to add new elements, but it never feels overwhelming to try to keep up. It all feels very fluid, and Snyder does a fantastic job of molding it into a cohesive whole. For example, sure, there are massive changes in the Bruce/Batman lore in Absolute Batman. But, where I think this really thrives is in the smaller changes from the original lore.
One that stuck out to me in Absolute Batman #20 was that after getting in trouble with Falcone and the law for trying to fix the Waylon Jones fight, he was trained by Falcone to pay his debt. Working for Falcone taught him to think like a criminal and learn every crack of Blackgate Prison. Batman wasn't trained by the League of Assassins or by Ra’s al Ghul; he was trained by the same criminals he fights on the streets. Fascinating.
Also, the symbolism of being “the bat” for the Mafia is not lost on me. It also gives him an edge that “regular” Batman doesn't have. These are the little subtle changes that I'm going to keep an eye on as we keep chugging along.
Continuing with unique character takes, the aforementioned Joker is distinct. Even more so than the Batman who Laughs, this Joker seems to be more in sync with what we think of Batman than the Batman from the Dark Multiverse. He has a cave, he's a philanthropist in disguise, and is a staple in Gotham City. All characteristics we associate with Batman. This version of the Joker, and not the Batman Who Laughs, is the true Wario to Batman’s Mario.
Shifting to villains, the Scarecrow remains an amazing addition to this story. He moves like Freddy Krueger within the shadows, like a nightmare, but in its physical form. We still have so much to dig up on the Scracrow story, but his rollout has been spectacular. Half of the reason the Joker has been resonating is his mystery. Aura, as the kids like to call it.
One final note, the moniker 'Cowled Prince of Crime' effectively encapsulates this Batman's fugitive status.
The Many (Ph)faces of Absolute Joker
Artist Nick Dragotta and colorist Frank Martin continue to add layers, perfectly complementing and bringing to life Scott Snyder’s vision — namely, the Joker. The design of Absolute Joker has been different almost every time we have seen him thus far. Dragotta’s inspiration for the Joker has to be Pennywise the clown from It. There have yet to be two of the same designs for the Jack Grimm, and each one is horrifying in its own way. If he’s in a suit, we, as readers, know the evil lying underneath. When he's in his demonic form, he's physically grotesque. He was only shown, really, for a page, and it left a lasting impact on me.
However, there was so much more that caught my eye than just the Joker. The shadow work from Martin complements the Absolute Scarecrow so very much, which, as mentioned earlier, makes him move through the shadows. We get a much closer look at his face, and if I had to bet money on it right now, it's not a mask. Dragotta has a penchant for drawing some pretty grotesque (compliment) character designs, and I find it hard to believe he will veer off from the Scarecrow.
One specific piece that hit me in the feels is the view of Jim Gordon’s raincoat physically and symbolically, looming large over Bruce. I loved that visual. Gordon’s death is going to weigh heavily on Batman, and that visual was the perfect representation of that. Dragotta's placement was perfect, and Martin's muted, dark colors were just incredible.
The Robins, stylistically, was quite literally the highlight of the issue. In a book famous for its muted, dark colors, the Robins shine brightly across the night sky. Also, I didn't realize that Mecha-Robin was going to be so big! A really cool addition to this new Robin lore.
Concerns Were Quelled… For Now
Some of my concerns from the last issue were addressed, enough that I now trust Scott Snyder and his creative freedom to work around what I see as a common crutch in comics. This trust is evident in Snyder's portrayal of Bruce, who is incredibly self-aware of how a staged shooting that shaped Batman’s worldview would affect him. How would you feel if you were created for a nefarious reason? I would collapse. Now, when you add a layer of Hero Complex and a “bit” of an anger issue, that is a recipe for a major crashout, which leads directly into my broader reaction to the issue as a whole.
According to the Scarecrow, Batman was not just a hero who arose in response to crime, but was specifically created to fight the Court of Owls. This creation, Scarecrow claims, was orchestrated by Batman’s mother, Jack Grimm, and Scarecrow himself. Color me intrigued. There is room there to create fantastic stories.
The self-awareness and subsequent crash-out of Bruce remind me that the ending for this run is still far off, so it's best to take the story one issue at a time rather than race toward conclusions. While I'm still wary of this preordained narrative trend in comics, I trust Snyder to deliver a unique and satisfying twist. Past experiences colored my expectations, but with Snyder at the helm, I'm committed to enjoying the ride, wherever it leads.
Final Verdict
Absolute Batman #20 continues to push Bruce Wayne to his absolute (pun intended) limits as Batman tries to navigate around a collapsing world around him. The pace of the story is neck-breaking; however, it never feels overwhelming or excessive. While the headlines and podcast topics will surely talk about the big, grandiose ideas from Absolute Batman, for me, the devil (or Joker) is in the details. They change the fundamental story of Bruce's rise to Batman, making him a fascinating character, and Snyder and company give both Batman and Bruce an edge they haven't seen before.
The Scarecrow is proving to be Batman’s most complex villain to date, shaking him to his very core. Every issue continues to build on the last, and we don't know where it's going next, even if we know the story of Batman like the back of our hands. That, I believe, is what truly makes Absolute Batman a unique tale. It keeps us on our heels, thinking we know what is going to happen next, and yet they zig when we think it's going to zag--and yet it's never, at least to me, disappointing.