Moving Forward By Looking Back — ‘Absolute Batman’ #4 Reviewed
by Tony Thornley
After an intense opening arc, Absolute Batman #4 takes a step backwards. It’s both a hindrance and a help to the series.
Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Frank Martin, and Clayton Cowles explore the earliest days of the rebooted Batman.
Bruce Wayne was always an incredibly smart child. Yet, in the wake of his father’s murder by Joe Chill, that intelligence becomes drive. Learn how the Batman was born, and how Bruce developed the tools and technology that he uses.
Honestly, I’m a little surprised that the series went into an issue-long flashback after only three issues (and a fairly major cliffhanger). It’s an interesting pacing choice though, giving the potential for mini-arcs followed by one-off stories to create a very specific feel for the story (while giving Dragotta lead time in the background). Still, it’s jarring, especially with the momentum the story had built so far.
Otherwise, frankly this works. The non-linear nature of this flashback, bouncing between heart-to-hearts between Bruce and Thomas, the immediate aftermath of the Gotham Zoo shooting, and the first few clumsy months of Batman’s existence, makes for an engrossing read. Snyder and Dragotta connect the back and forth thematically showing how bruce thinks and solves problems. It does have some awkward dialogue here and there, but overall, I was drawn right in.
And the choice of a fill-in artist is top notch. I don’t remember Walta doing much in the DC Universe, and that’s to the story’s advantage. His rough, sketchy line recalls a little bit of Frank Miller, a little David Mazzucchelli, giving it a stylistic tie to Batman: Year One, while fitting in with Dragotta. His characters are extremely expressive, which especially helps as Thomas and Bruce bond- one of the issue’s biggest themes. He also keeps the layouts simple, helping drive the story through figure work on the page.
Martin also creates a throughline from Dragotta’s lines to Walta’s. He uses the same muted colors, with dark, warm color tones, while using earth tones in the scenes with Bruce and Thomas to comfort us with their bond. Cowles blends his lettering into the art as well, making it all feel cohesive, and really the full package.
Absolute Batman #4 is available now from DC Comics.
Overview
I caught up on the series over the weekend, and it’s still one of the most engaging stories of its type right now. Even in this dark world, it still has an undercurrent of hope, and I’m glad I’m sticking with it.
