ABSOLUTE BATMAN #17: Poison Ivy

Something is brewing in Gotham City as trees and other plant life are growing from a building in the city at the hands of Poison Ivy, leading Batman inside to investigate. Bruce must struggle with not only vines and killer plants, but also with the choices he has made. Batman has become something he could never have dreamed of, so have his friends and the city itself.

Creative Team: Scott Snyder (WRITER), Eric Canete (GUEST ARTIST), Frank Martin (COLORS and COVER), Clayton Cowles (LETTERS), and Nick Dragotta (COVER).

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

The Story:

Every villain that we continue to meet in this outstanding run has had an incredible backstory to them. Scott delivers yet another heartbreaking one to Ivy, who was never out for revenge of any kind. Her mother was sick, and so Ivy set out on a course to cure her and, in doing so, unlocked something much worse. This issue also delivers more inner workings for Bruce as he is doubting himself at times. Batman has become something much more to the city. Ever since he defeated Bane, Batman has become a symbol, and it has caught him off guard. It’s these little elements that Scott throws in that add depth and meaning behind the absolute unit of a man known as Batman. We even get to see Bruce and Alfred work together more, bringing their relationship closer. The writing is so beyond clever and has me glued to every panel with the help of Clayton, who is masterfully lettering every detail without the panels ever feeling too much.

The Art:

For all of the death and nightmares behind every plant in this issue, it is an absolutely gorgeous issue. Eric steps in as a guest artist and delivers intense detailing within every panel. Moments of Bruce with double chainsaws on his arms might honestly be one of my favorite shots of the series. I love how the vines and the plants all feel thick, and the detailing and line work Eric brings allows them to take on a life of their own. Frank’s colors aid in this as the panels and splash pages pop. Frank is using an array of colors, making the details stand out that much more, and really making this a beautiful issue. Nick’s cover needs to be a poster immediately because the imagery sets us up for what’s inside. There is something that is haunting and yet beautiful about this cover.

Final Thoughts:

Absolute Batman #17 is a visually stunning issue that breathes life into every panel. The story itself is one of tragedy as only a Batman story can be, but it has so much depth and layers to it. Scott, Eric, Frank, and Clayton kick off Ivy’s story wonderfully, and there is a MASSIVE surprise on the final page.

Overall Grade: 10/10

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