ABSOLUTE BATMAN #22: It’s Only Real If You Believe.

Harley is chasing Bruce through Gotham and its underbelly, begging him to stop whatever his plan is next. She begins opening up to Bruce, revealing the horrors of her past as the two of them clash over ideologies. The truth is only real if you believe it’s real, and what Bruce finds may shatter his entire life and his relationships forever.

Creative Team: Scott Snyder, Werther Dell’edera, Frank Martin, Tom Napolitano, and Nick Dragotta.

SPOILERS AHEAD

The Story:

This issue brings us into the life of Harley Quinn, and we begin to get her backstory. Scott takes us into a whole new territory with an air of familiarity, as her mother was the neurologist and became obsessed with Jack Grimm. It truly feels as though I have caught on to what is going to happen next. Scott manages to throw another curveball, and this rollercoaster reaches new heights. I love this rendition of Harley, and her relationship with Batman across all forms of media has always been one that has intrigued me a lot. She isn’t afraid to stand up to Batman, and in this run she is intelligent and knows the tunnels better than anyone else. She and Batman clash throughout the entire issue, and as the story ramps up, so do her desperate pleas to Bruce. What happens left me speechless as the final pages truly are incredibly shocking. We do get some more time with Mr. Grimm, who drops a nice line we hear from Harley so often. I can honestly say this issue builds and builds and the ending shocked me.

The Art:

If you are familiar with Werther from works such as Something is Killing the Children, then you know that he was chosen to do the art for this issue for a reason. This is not a Batman issue, but from Harley’s pov and, the scratchy and sometimes chaotic style of Werther’s designs fits the narrative excellently. Harley is still young, and the cries of her past ring out loud. The way we see her mother start with a sadness in her eyes and culminate into a shocking panel where she has become a mad scientist was done well. The way we have her wearing the jester-style hat, the blood across her masked face, and yet the fierceness and wild look into her eyes were perfect. Frank’s coloring, such as in this panel and others, aids in the shock value of what this issue brings, while Tom’s lettering grows the desperation and fear in Harley’s voice as the issue builds.

Final Thoughts:

Absolute Batman #22 will leave you speechless. We shift into Harley’s point of view and are offered important backstory, while Scott keeps Batman’s arrogance at the forefront. I cannot wait to see what fans think of the way this issue ends, as I cannot get over how insane it is in all the best ways.

Overall Grade: 10/10

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