SPOILERS AHEAD
Initial Thoughts
Absolute Batman #22 is the latest chapter in the Absolute Universe, ending with an “Absolute” shocking revelation. Actually, two of them—2 for the price of 1! Batman and Harley are on the run from all of the Robins, while Harley tries to tell Batman her “story.” Just when you think Scott Snyder couldn't possibly push the envelope any further, he and new artist Wertger Dell’edera continue to raise the stakes of this version of Batman. This might be the most depressing and brutal issue of Absolute Batman yet, and it made me feel something. I had physical reactions to the ending. I couldn't believe my eyes, and I loved every second of it.
Absolute Scarecrow returns in chapter four of “The Strawman: The Crooked House,” and he is just as menacing as ever. He is there to remind us that when we start to think that maybe not everything is as it seems—specifically, Project Batman—it is. He is also there to let us, me specifically, know that if you think you've hit rock bottom, you don't know what the bottom is really like. Absolute Batman #22 was one of the more shocking issues of the Absolute Universe and throws everything we thought we knew about this story out of the window.
A Shocking Turn of Events
I mentioned this ahead of time, but I'll mention it again. SPOILERS AHEAD. In Absolute Batman #22, there are two truths that have emerged from the chaos, and to be honest with you, it might only be one truth. The first being that Harley is Jack Grimm's daughter. The second is that Thomas Wayne might still be alive. How sure are we that Thomas Wayne is really alive? Is this the Scarecrow messing with Bruce’s psyche? The Fear Toxin has not been revealed in this universe, so nobody, especially not the characters in this world, knows it. These two new “realities” will affect how the rest of the series moves forward, as they will be
I think an underrated part of this issue is how Harley’s story will finally address Batman’s stubbornness and inability to work with others. The “regular” Batman, while having these tendencies, is not as prevalent as with Absolute Bruce. He knows when to rely on his Robins and the Justice League when need be. Absolute Batman is hellbent on doing everything alone, even if it might get him killed. To me, this issue will be a turning point in Batman’s journey of inner healing. He can't do this by himself, and not listening to Harley showcased that and was at the center of this issue. That will be a central theme moving forward. This is how he gets his Robins.
The third act of Absolute Batman #22 was brutal, heartbreaking, devastating, and shocking. I know sometimes in comic books there are twists for the sake of shock and awe, which can genuinely take a reader out of the story. Some readers might disagree with me, but when you, as a writer, make the readers earn it, it works, and it pays off, no matter how ridiculous the turn might be. That is what I think happened with this issue. The two new plot points did come out of left field; however, I think if you have been tracking this series from the start, they totally fall within the prism of the story.
One minor complaint that I have about this issue is that there was no real bridge between Absolute Batman #21 and this issue. The last issue ended on such a cliffhanger that a soft opening would have been needed. I don't necessarily need a Marvel-esque recap from the last issue; however, we don't exactly know how much time has passed between issues or why Batman and Harley teamed up. However, that is just a minor critique; it has been a consistent series for 22 issues and its spin-off one-shots. The good always outdoes any “inconsistencies.”
New Artist, Same Great Quality
Next month's issue will have regular artist Nick Dragotta back on pencils, so Absolute Batman #22 artist Italian Wertger Dell’edera is stepping in on a pinch-hit basis. I think that was a great decision. Not that Dragotta couldn't have done a fantastic job on this issue, but there is something about Dell’edera’s art that fits Harley’s story so well. There is an element of a sketch look to Dell’edera’s art stylings that fits Harley’s narrative fantastically. Not only because of the fast-paced, chase feeling of the story, but also anytime Ark-M is involved, the depravity of what goes on in there needs to be drawn with a sense of surrealism. Dell’edera does that perfectly.
This isn't the first time they have done this. Artist Eric Canete was brought in for the Absolute Poison Ivy arc. I love that the creative team — editors, Snyder, etc. — knows that different art styles work better with different angles of this evolving story. So, as we move forward, don't be surprised if every time we get a different origin story in the Absolute universe, different artists come in. The Absolute universe is such a massive undertaking that anything less than a cooperative effort would make it impossible.
Final Verdict
Absolute Batman #22 was one of the more shocking issues of Scott Snyder’s run, which is saying something because that is a pretty high bar to clear. The pace of the issue felt as though we were running along with Batman and Harley, all while we were trying to catch our breath. The shocking ending was a payoff for readers who were emotionally invested and also the start of the next chapter of this Absolute Batman series. Artist Wertger Dell’edera was brought in for a single issue and knocked it out of the park with his very specific styling that fit perfectly with this Harley-centric issue. Overall, Absolute Batman #22 will go down as one of the most shocking and important issues in Snyder’s run.