ABSOLUTE BATMAN #21: Funeral For a Friend.

Bruce is squaring off against the Robins as his former friends have become enemies, and the mysterious Mr. Grimm pays Bruce a visit he won’t soon forget.

Creative Team: Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin, and Tom Napolitano.

SPOILERS AHEAD

The Story:

I feel like I may be a bit of a broken record at this point, because somehow and some way Snyder digs deeper into his bag, and I feel like this is when fire was first discovered. The first half of the book is Batman fighting for the love of the game. He’s unhinged and letting off steam as we pick up with his battle against the Robins and their mech suits once more. Harley and Alfred are a fun duo because they could not be more different, and yet their characters work so well together. Harley being the one to offer a lesson on Bats and save Bruce is poetic, and I don’t want to see her as a villain again, honestly.

What continues to stand out for me is how every character in this run has their moments of development in these issues. Penguin, Dent, and Edward all succumb to allowing their past selves to die and take on their new villainous roles. Barbara speaks briefly at her father’s funeral as we say goodbye, and we’re inching closer to seeing her become Batgirl (announced at Heroes Con!) However, the final few pages are an absolutely stunning work in storytelling. Grimm and Bruce face to face, and we see how stoic and terrifying Grimm is. There are hints to Joker and Bat-girl’s relationship history, but the conversation as lettered by Tom will send chills throughout your body. And in the final panel, is that Man-Bat?!

The Art:

Dragotta and Martin have some stellar shots in this issue. The scene of Bruce standing overlooking Gotham with a few buildings peeking over the clouds offers a sense of peacefulness. The soft blue sky and the haze of the city are drawn so well. During the fight with the Robins, the massive splash page with the credits was amazing. Bruce is drawn like a god and has the most unhinged smile on his face. I love what the duo did on that page. However, I cannot say enough about how creepy and terrifying they made Grimm’s transition from businessman to creature. It felt slightly Pennywise-inspired in the panel where he shouts at Bruce, causing him to fall before catching him. It was every bit incredible, and the way we leave this issue has me beyond excited.

Final Thoughts:

Again, call me a broken record, but every issue Absolute Batman finds a new gear and throws something new at us. I’m in love with this run, and the final few pages had me out of my seat. IS there a comic hall of fame? This team is first ballot.

Overall Grade: 10/10 Bat Drones.

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