When writer Scott Snyder initially conceived of Absolute Batman, he tried to pitch it to DC Comics as Batman AF. And in fact, his initial conception of the Absolute Universe line was diving into that whole “AF” ethos. While the line ultimately got another name, Absolute Batman #2 continues to dig into that idea. This is, indeed, Batman as f**k. And it f**king rules.
Picking up a number of the threads from the first issue, Batman is fighting his war on the Party Animals, a group of erratic criminals led by the enigmatic Black Mask. He’s being observed — and occasionally aided — by Alfred Pennyworth, a soldier working for a mysterious organization who has come to Gotham City for equally mysterious reasons. In the midst of this, the issue continues to flesh out the supporting cast, including Mayor Jim Gordon, a very jacked Harvey Bullock, and perhaps most importantly, Martha Wayne, who was not killed by Joe Chill like her husband, Thomas.
The wildest change made, though, is that this working-class Bruce Wayne grew up with — and is friends with — his usual Rogues Gallery. The Riddler, Penguin, Two-Face, and Killer Croc all make appearances at a central card game in the issue. And this is where Absolute Batman #2 arguably elevates itself over the also excellent first issue. Every single line during this poker game holds double, or triple meanings, expertly crafted by Snyder to tell us about these new visions of villains and their relationship with Bruce, as well as allowing him to get info from them without revealing his secret identity.
It’s a classic Batman scene — Bruce, playing two or three games at once — but taken to the next level. But it isn’t just Snyder’s words that do this. It’s the stunning art and layouts by Dragotta that have to be seen to be believed. Some pages include upwards of 18 panels, including insets and character shots, yet none of the pages feel cluttered. They’re instantly engrossing, and move us through the action in a way that only comic books can. The temptation is to use the word cinematic here, but that’s not accurate. What Dragotta is doing could only exist on the pages of a comic book, and it feels almost as revolutionary as the strict nine-panel grid did in Watchmen, decades ago.
I’ll also give a shout-out here to Frank Martin’s colors, and Clayton Cowles’s lettering. Particularly, Martin gives a hazy sheen to sequences taking place in the past, where most of the emotion lies. And particularly as Dragotta’s layouts (and Snyder’s script) allow the past and present to sit together simultaneously, it’s a neat visual device to delineate the two time periods.
I know that’s lofty praise, and makes this issue seem cerebral. But it’s emotional, too, thanks to the slow roll-out of Bruce’s revamped origin story. And the action is out of this world, as well. The fight scenes are dynamic and fun. The way Batman systematically stays multiple steps ahead of his enemies (and everyone in Gotham) is thrilling. If you love Batman, and all he stands for, you will love this book from front page to back. It’s Batman, AF.
Absolute Batman #2 Rating:
Absolute Batman #2 Official Synopsis:
Batman was born out of violence – a horrible tragedy that shaped the trajectory of his future. But when a vigilant MI6 agent starts tracking the lonely life of Bruce Wayne, he discovers the interconnectivity between a hero’s shell life and the many layers of the Black Mask Gang. It’s Batman versus Alfred Pennyworth!
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