Batman operates in an interesting place in DC Comics‘s currently running Absolute Power event. First of all, thanks to his creation of the robotic Failsafe, the attack on the DCU is partially his fault. Second, he doesn’t have powers so unlike his compatriots, he hasn’t really lost anything as of yet. But this week’s Batman #151 doesn’t deal with any of that. Instead, it sends him on a side mission with Catwoman and provides a lighter alternative to the dire circumstances of the main title.
Don’t get me wrong, the stakes are still there… Batman plainly explains to Catwoman that they need to steal a Mother Box from Amanda Waller, or that’s it for the entire world. Big stakes! But really, Zdarsky uses this as an excuse to get Bruce and Selina in close quarters, tease out their relationship, and make them dress in silly costumes.
And the costumes are deeply silly. There’s always a suspension of disbelief when it comes to superhero comics and secret identities. But Bruce Wayne going blonde and giving himself a mustache while posing as an extremely rich man is perhaps not the under-the-radar disguise he thinks it is. Neither is wearing his full Batman suit, cape and all, under a fitted suit. But hey, that’s how comics work, and it is fun.
Also fun is the playful nature of Bruce and Selina’s relationship, which Zdarsky hasn’t really gotten to dig into in his run yet. Here, we get the classic. There’s no mention of their failed attempt at marriage, or the Gotham War they got sucked into. Selina flirts, Bruce stays stoic while caring for her deeply… Again, it’s been done a million times before, but it works.
What elevates this is that like a lot of the Absolute Power tie-in issues, it continues to tease out larger mysteries about how Amanda Waller grabbed power so quickly in the DCU… Even if it’s been bubbling in the background for years. I won’t spoil what we discover here, but it’s a wrinkle that ties into the larger DC Universe with some fascinating ramifications.
All that, plus an appearance by the Suicide Squad — including a Bizarro sequence that did not make me want to claw my eyes out — and you have some damn good superhero comics here.
That said, the stand-out is the backup story by Tini Howard and Marianna Ignazzi, which shows what Harley Quinn is up to while this madness is going on. It’s goofy, it’s silly, it turns out to be a fantastic Riddler story as well… And Ignazzi’s art perfectly captures Harley’s humor and heart with clean lines and a tone reminiscent of a less grim Francesco Francavilla.
Overall, whether you’re reading Absolute Power or not, this is a great package for fans of Batman, Catwoman, and/or Harley Quinn. And hey, that’s everybody!
Batman #151 is in stores now from DC Comics.
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