SPOILERS AHEAD!
Batman finally wins in Absolute Batman #24 as he confronts the Scarecrow and gains a second ally in Barbara Gordon. This issue feels like the most consequential one yet: Batman finally cuts off the Scarecrow, stumbles upon the Joker’s hideout, and seems to be back on track with a renewed sense of energy, and has never felt more like he is on the right path. That path has been littered with so much chaos, and it feels like it's not worth it, especially when you don't know the truth. However, thanks to his mom and his new allies, he also seems to have come to terms with his past, whatever that might be.
Every issue of Absolute Batman seems to be the best one yet, and if you miss just one issue, you might get lost. That is the sign of a good series, though: you're going to get your money’s worth. The encounter between Batman and the Scarecrow is one of the more satisfying plot points — so far— and sets us up for something even bigger. Absolute Batman #24 puts us at a crossroads as Batman tries to come to terms with the war that was his arc with the Scarecrow, while also turning his efforts toward ending the Joker’s reign in Gotham City.
The Absolute Scarecrow, in my opinion, served as the last hurdle before reaching the Joker. And boy, what a hurdle. The Scarecrow broke him down, humiliated him, and made Bruce doubt himself to the point that he didn’t know if he wanted to keep being Batman. But with the help of his mom, Martha Wayne, Bruce has been reinvigorated and has never felt MORE like Batman. Fortunately, this comes just in time, as Batman is now going to face off against the single biggest threat Gotham has ever seen: The Joker. But it won't be as easy as it seems.
The Robins are still reeling from the loss of Absolute Tim Drake and are hell-bent on getting revenge on Batman, whom they believe is responsible for the death of their comrade. On the flip side, Bruce has gained an ally in Barbara Gordon, who knows deep down inside that Batman was not involved in the murders of her father and of Tim Drake. That sort of blind faith is exactly what Batman needs right now. It is also the kind of faith Alfred gives Bruce, as he seemingly turns his back on MI6. If someone ever does a retrospective on this run and this issue, I think the phrase I would use is team-building. I think that will be the legacy of Absolute Batman #24.
“All right mom, I'll be a Bat…”
Batman’s “Bat” moment was finally revealed, and, regardless of the universe, it was always about the bats. It’s no coincidence that this paralleled Scarecrow's capture and crucifixion. Bruce hasn’t felt like Batman in quite a few issues, and getting his revenge on the Scarecrow reinvigorates him, giving him a second wind. Seeing Batman spike the Scarecrow through his ankle was incredibly satisfying. As macabre as that sounds, the Scarecrow has put Bruce through quite a bit of psychological drama. Even though Batman knows that physically hurting him won’t reverse any of his trauma or even change what Gotham City thinks of him, hurting him will make him feel a little better.
Ultimately, and poetically, the Scarecrow is the one who ends up terrified, crawling on his hands and knees and asking for leniency from Batman’s fists. Bruce won’t give it to him, because he knows it won’t change anything, but it will feel good. Maybe he can build momentum moving forward, as Snyder has set up Batman and Batgirl on the doorstep of Joker's hideout. Will they pull the trigger in issue #25, or is this another precursor to the final battle? Regardless of what happens in next month’s issue, this was a monumental issue that gave Batman’s groove back. Scarecrow forced Batman to grow up, leveling up for a battle against the Joker.
There wasn't much dynamic movement from the characters in this issue, but that didn’t mean that Nick Dragotta didn’t come to play. Batman is at his best in this Absolute Universe when he looks like the most imposing character on the page. The way Dragotta scales Batman and makes him look like the giant he is is impressive. I think that's a very underrated aspect of Dragotta’s art in this run: his use of scale with his characters. Lately, we haven't seen that as Bruce has been battling some true giants, but his best look is when he is the biggest guy in the room.
Frank Martin finally, probably since the Poison Ivy arc, got the chance to work with different colors and a brighter palette. The fight scene with the Scarecrow was full of color and action, with the booming fire of the reds and the lush, deep greens of the tall grass and corn stalks. Even when the earth isn't on fire, the blue is a beautiful baby blue color. Martin has been consistently great throughout the series; Absolute Batman is, by nature, a very bleak and dark story, but when given the opportunity, Martin steps up to the plate.
Absolute Batman #24 was a satisfying issue that gives Batman a much-needed win after going through the gauntlet of a lifetime. The Scarecrow proved that you don't have to be the most physically imposing protagonist to make an everlasting impact in this very colossal universe. Batman’s family is slowly but surely growing, and in this issue, Snyder made sure to give Batman a little light, even if it might be right back to rock bottom next month. For me, the main takeaway is whether Bruce learns anything from his adventure so far and lets those around him help him on this Mt. Everest of missions.