10/9 Comics Reviews: A New Era for the Dark Knight

Absolute Batman #1 written by Scott Snyder with art by Nick Dragotta

After reading the DC All-In Special last week, I was suddenly counting down the days until the first book of DC’s brand new Absolute Universe. Thankfully, it was only a week and then I had Absolute Batman #1 in my hand and, wow, this book floored me. Reading this book made me feel like Batman was going to burst out of the pages and chop my hand off with a bat-shaped axe. Right off the bat (hah), we’re hit with one of the most striking splash pages I’ve ever seen. The tale of Batman begins in one way and what we see is a take that is both modern and iconic in its framing. But having that starting point doesn’t mean that we’re simply getting “Batman origin story but modern”. This is a fundamentally different version of the character, born without the same advantages but burning with the same idealism and desire for justice. The book is told primarily through the perspective of one Alfred Pennyworth, a man returning to Gotham after many years for a mission. OG Alfred has ties to MI6, but this version is still very much embedded in the system running the world. It isn’t clear at the moment if he’s working for MI6 or some other shadowy organization, but he’s certainly not in Gotham to save lives. His main objective is to observe a group of killers known as the “Party Animals” though he is given explicit instructions not to intervene or stop their killing spree. On the other hand, his operator tells him that there’s another mysterious player with whom Alfred has full permission to engage. Speaking of the Party Animals, these guys are absolutely terrifying. They engage in wanton murder and cruelty with seemingly no greater motive than chaos. In an America where random acts of violence and hate have become a greater threat than war or organized crime, this group embodies the fear many people now share. In fact, it’s clear that organized crime doesn’t hold a candle to this new breed of evil. 

Hope still burns even in this heartless world. Even in this strange, new Gotham, the shadow of the Bat still falls over the wicked. However, this Bruce Wayne is hardly the first son of Gotham. Born to a teacher and a social worker, this is a working-class man through and through. There is no unlimited stream of wealth funding every tool he needs for his war on crime, this Bruce has to rely on his body, resourcefulness, and anything he can get his hands on. Throughout the issue, we’re given glimpses into the moment that defined him as a child. The context is changed ever so slightly and feels all the more chilling because of that. Back alleys aren’t the only places bad things happen. Even a public space in the light of day isn’t safe from violence. A gunshot fires, panic and chaos break out, children scramble to hide, and, all the while, the sound of gunshots grows closer. There is a lot of conversation about Bruce Wayne and his relationship with privilege. There have been stories that redefined that relationship by focusing on his philanthropy and showing how much good could be done if someone with his resources funneled that wealth into social welfare and affordable housing. There have been other stories where his wealth has been stripped from him and explored how resourceful he is without his resources, but that doesn’t change the fact that he was born into privilege. When his parents died, he was given the sanctuary of his manor without having to worry about not having a roof over his head or food in his belly. When he began to travel and develop his skills for his war on crime, his wealth enabled him to pursue his mission without any concerns. That isn’t to say Bruce Wayne is spoiled. Eighty-five years of Batman stories have shown time and time again that he is a hero to his core, fortune or no fortune. That said, he is privileged and it’s fascinating to see a version of him that’s so similar but completely lacking in that privilege. This is a Bruce Wayne who has had to work for everything he’s had. He’s strengthened his body and mind, learned countless skills, and crafted the tools of his crusade entirely through his own effort. Because he doesn’t have that backing, every action he performs as Batman needs to be perfect. Nothing can be wasted and he needs to get the most results from everything he does. He’s brutal, far more violent than what we’ve seen before. But he’s also controlled, all that power and fury is perfectly directed to ensure that no one dies by his hand. As Alfred watches from a distance, he can’t help but admire Batman’s skill even while condemning his idealism. 

Among all the differences this Batman has, there are a few that really stood out to me. He trains at a gym belonging to his childhood friend Waylon Jones, a man readers may know as Killer Croc. Waylon mentions several other friends whose names you might recognize among the most famous of the Bat-rogues. I’m looking forward to seeing them introduced and their relationships explored as time goes on. There is also another incredibly significant difference in this Batman’s status quo. Something Alfred is quick to label a weakness and changes the context of Bruce and his mission in a way we’ve never seen before. 

Nick Dragotta’s art is the core of what makes this new Batman feel distinct and original. He’s built in an entirely different way than what we’ve seen before. Bruce Wayne is a hulking tank of a man and Batman feels more like the Juggernaut when he’s in action. That said, there’s a litheness to him that I hadn’t expected. He’s quick on top of being strong and that makes the fights way more dynamic than a simple slug fest. The action is this book is downright visceral. The villains engage in some gruesome acts of violence unlike anything we’ve seen. Batman, too, is far more ruthless than versions we’ve seen in the past. He may still be committing to non-lethal action, but that doesn’t mean his opponents are walking away without broken bones, or both hands for that matter. The suit itself appears simple and almost primitive at a glance, but is full of a surprising number of tricks and tools proving that this Batman’s giant body is also hiding a giant brain

There are so many details seeding plot threads for the future. It’s a genuine delight to be getting nods to well-known Bat-characters without any idea of what role they’ll play in this brave new world. It’s clear that the creative team has a vision for what they want this book to become, and I’ve got to say that they’re off to a great start. One of the things Scott Snyder did throughout his previous run on Batman was explore Gotham’s history and how the city had it’s own unique identity. He gives us that here too as Alfred reflects on how the city has changed since the last time he’s been there. Small stores have been replaced by massive skyscrapers completely empty at the top because foreign companies have just bought them as investments with no intent to actually use the space. It’s adding a haunting emptiness to the city and made it feel bigger and more frightening than ever before. I can’t wait to see how this new city continues to be explored. And of course, there’s the final scene of the book. The origin of a classic Batman villain is redefined in a fascinating way that is going to make him the perfect foil for this universe’s Caped Crusader.

As the first book of the new Absolute Universe, there was a lot of pressure on this book to hit its stride right out of the gate but the creative team has gone above and beyond in delivering a fantastic book. This is a bold new take on Batman where the differences play a meaningful role in who he is and how he does things. That said, the core of the character is still there, unchanged despite being stripped of his advantages. It’s a perfect entry point for readers new and old, and I’d heartily recommend that everyone check it out. This book is an Absolute win!

Batman and Robin #14 written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson with art by Javi Fernandez

As part of DC All-In, a number of books are kicking off new story arcs and gaining new creative teams. One such book is Batman and Robin, the book focused on the relationship between Bruce and his son Damian both as crimefighters and as a family. The book leaps right into the action with the Dynamic Duo in the middle of a car chase. One thing that caught my eye is how the dark and dour Damian is grinning like a fool as he hops on top of a speeding car. Having begun his tenure as Robin at a time when Dick Grayson, the original Robin, was serving as Batman, clearly had an effect on him. The two have shared a special bond and as Damian continues to grow, it’s heartwarming to see him emulating his eldest brother. The car chase is broken up, and father and son return home. Even years after his passing, it’s striking just how much the shadow of Alfred’s death continues to hang over the Wayne family, as Bruce is shown cooking up a dinner composed of little more than nutritious supplements for them to share rather than the feasts Alfred used to prepare for when they returned from patrol. It’s just the two of them living together at the moment and that’s also affected their dynamic. On one hand, they’re spending more time together and are clearly more comfortable with each other than they used to be, but on the other hand, Damian is a young teen beginning to chafe at the life he’s been living. Over the course of his story, we’ve seen him teeter on the edge of darkness for a time, but as he’s grown, his kind heart has come to the forefront and he’s committed himself to heroism. That said, he can still be a brat with his father and remains the unruliest of the Bat-children.

Bruce, for his part, is clearly making an effort to be there for Damian as his father and part of that means trying to impart the legacy of his family onto him. No stranger to legacy, Damian has struggled to reconcile the warring legacies of his parents. While he had formed an uneasy peace with Ra’s al’Ghul, the Demon’s Head, Ra’s is dead, seemingly for good. He and his mother share a rocky relationship as well, though she seems content for the moment to let him find his own path in life. Unfortunately, Damian’s struggle with legacy seems to have taken a resentful turn in this run as his dismissive attitude towards Ra’s’ death and an ill-timed remark about Thomas Wayne show a frustration with both sides of the family trying to shape his destiny. It’ll be interesting to see how much of that is explored throughout the run. So far, we’ve had Bruce taking a grudging Damian along to a gala celebrating the opening of a major new hospital instead of swinging across rooftops. Bruce’s legacy is more than just Batman. He’s inherited a legacy of philanthropy and a determination to improve the lives of everyone living in his city. His desire to share his wealth has earned him the ire of some protestors labeling him a “socialist” as he walks into the gala, but what draws his ear are the cryptic words some of them begin to shout about him sitting on top of a “wheel”. It appears to remind him of something, though he puts it to the side for the moment. Unfortunately, he has little time to enjoy the gala as Oracle passes along chatter of an attempted bombing in the basement of the new hospital. Bruce is there without his suit or equipment, but he still has the shadows and his family legacy. The Wayne’s built Gotham and his company’s tech is embedded in its infrastructure. With a word, a whole sector of the power grid goes down and, suit or no suit, as long as there are shadows, Bruce Wayne is Batman. He makes quick work of the attackers only to stumble upon a new antagonist who appears to have a very old connection to Bruce. A connection that may go even further back than Batman, if the panic on Bruce’s face is anything to judge by. The book ends on a bang, making it clear that for all their skills and resources, the Dynamic Duo has a big fight ahead of them. 

Javi Fernandez is joining the book alongside Philip Kennedy Johnson with some amazing work that perfectly captures all the frenetic action you’d want from the book about two Caped Crusaders. Each page is crackling with energy whether it’s the middle of a car chase or a tense conversation between father and son. His work on the facial expressions also helps capture the dual identities of the characters. When he’s swinging around as Robin, Damian has a grin as wide as his face, but when he’s in a tuxedo sitting at the kids table at a charity gala, his face is frozen into a scowl. Batman looks great, but the best “Batman” moment doesn’t even have him in a suit. Instead we’re shown how the darkness is all the mask Bruce needs as he’s wrapped in shadows and cuts the same silhouette he would if he were in his costume. We’re given precious little of our new villain, but the brief glimpse we get is spooky and spine-chilling. There’s certainly a ghostly element to this new foe, but it remains to be seen how much of that will be explored.

Philip Kennedy Johnson and Javi Fernandez are off to a great start with their run on the Dynamic Duo. Nothing’s being reinvented, but instead we’re getting to see a preexisting relationship continue to grow and offer new material to be explored. If you’re looking for a modern-era Batman story that has that quintessential “classic” feel, this is definitely a book I’d recommend picking up.