AUTHOR’S NOTE: This issue includes MAJOR SPOILERS for ABSOLUTE BATMAN #25!
Twenty-five issues in, ABSOLUTE BATMAN is still the most audacious and compelling Batman book DC is publishing — and #25 might be the most “Absolute” issue yet.
The setup: Fresh off putting down The Scarecrow, Bruce finally takes the fight straight to Jack Grimm — this universe’s Joker. A trillionaire who’s been pulling Gotham’s strings since issue #1, up to and including killing Jim Gordon and framing The Batman for it.
Bruce storms Grimm’s mansion expecting a fight. What he gets is an “intervention”.
Waiting for him are his best friends (or at least they used to be) — Waylon, Eddie, Harvey, Oz — and every one of them has cut a deal with the Devil, err, Grimm. Not because they’re evil (yet), but because Grimm gave each of them what they needed, and because, bless their hearts, they genuinely believe they’re helping Bruce.
Why a cruel trick by The Joker. He doesn’t come at Batman with a gun, knife, or crowbar. He comes at him with his “people” — and he makes all of Gotham believe Bruce is the madman.
Snyder has said this series is about the village around Batman, not the lone wolf. #25 asks: What happens when the village turns on him?
Quick word on the supporting cast, because even though the village how turned on Batman, three allies have stepped up in total support. Barbara Gordon — “The Bat” — saves Batman’s ass in the Grimcave (or is it The Jokercave?), period. Harley is back and patches up Batman — at the direction of Alfred Pennyworth — after his Joker beatdown as Bruce makes amends for being such an asshole to her previously. The rest of Gotham, and apparently the world apparently, may have turned on The Dark Knight, but a Bat-Family remains. Oh yeah…
Selina is back with a big surprise for Bruce.
Dragotta’s work here is top-notch, as always. The manor sequence is pure dread, and the caves under Grimm’s mansion (yes, this Joker has the mansion *and* the cave, not Bruce/Batman) deliver a full creature-feature horror show as Batman finally sees Grim/The Joker as he really is. And the empty display case Grimm is saving for a certain costume…what’s up with that? A tease by Snyder, I assume.
ABSOLUTE BATMAN #25 sticks the landing and changes everything going forward in Bruce’s world after the long-awaited Batman/Joker confrontation. Time to soak everything in from this issue as well as the past 24 during this title’s 2-month break. Did anyone expect a real resolution? The Batman and The Joker have been dancing this dance since 1940. Batman will get the best of Jack Grimm and I’m looking forward to seeing how it happens. See y’all in 2027.
ABSOLUTE BATMAN #25 is written by Scott Snyder with art by Nick Dragotta and colors by Frank Martin. It’s out now from DC Comics. – Bill “Jett” Ramey