Absolute Batman #6 – Scott Snyder, Writer; Nick Dragotta, Artist; Frank Martin, Colorist
Ray – 10/10
Ray: As the second wave of the Absolute line ramps up, the first is as strong as ever, and this climax to the first arc delivers in every possible way. When we last left off, Black Mask had essentially declared Purge Night in Gotham – but with a high-tech twist. He’s not only distributing massive weapons crates into the city, but helmets that create a deranged video game out of killing – offering money values for each crime committed, with high-profile targets like Mayor Gordon being worth up to a million dollars. This leaves Jim and Martha stranded in the city as a gang comes after them. Between her heroism in this issue and the powerful flashbacks to the support she provided for Bruce in the aftermath of Thomas’ death, this is some of the best use we’ve ever gotten out of a long-deceased character in alternate universes besides Gwen Stacy’s turn in the Spider-costume.
There’s a huge twist in this issue, with Bruce’s circle of friends – aka, many of his most iconic rogues in other universes – finding out that he’s Batman after he stumbles in half-dead from his last battle and needing help. Waylon wants to beat him up, while Ozzie has a hilarious freak-out, but they come together when needed and deliver him to the yacht of Black Mask for an absolutely brutal battle that shows that while this Batman won’t kill, he might have distinctly fewer scruples than the one we know. That works. This is a harsher, crueler world than any Batman has had to content with, and the ending shows that the next villain to make his appearance might be even worse than Sionis. Between the many fascinating character beats in this book, the spectacular action, and the way it keeps on growing and evolving its version of Gotham, it’s got a strong case to be DC’s best book.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
