This week: Scott Snyder and Nick Dragota reimagine Gotham City in ‘Gotham’ Absolute Batman #1.
NOTE: The following review contains spoilers. If you want a quick, spoiler-free purchase/recommendation of related comics, check the bottom of the article for our final verdict.
Absolute Batman #1
writer: Scott Snyder
artist: Nick Dragota
Colorist: frank martin
Writer: Clayton Cowles
Cover artist: Nick Dragota and Frank Martin
The absolute DC Universe is finally here. The much-leaked, much-hyped DCU parallel universe reboot has been most frequently cited DC is trying to replicate Marvel’s successful early ’00s Ultimate series, which took classic Marvel characters like Spider-Man and the X-Men and updated their origins and settings to reflect a more modern readership. Following last week DC All Inclusive Special OfferHowever, especially after this week’s debut, Scott Snyder & Nick Dragotaof Absolute Batman #1, it’s clear that Absolute DC is far from simply updating old stories and concepts. Absolute Batman #1 is a dramatic reimagining of the Bat-mythology that’s sure to get people talking.
Scott Snyder is of course no stranger to the creation of The Dark Knight, as a key creator in launching Absolute DC, his work on the issue also set the tone for the rest of the series. His writing here is classic Snyderian, with limited narrative from unexpected sources helping to establish this new version of Gotham well, then sidestepping obstacles in favor of more character-centered , dialogue-driven scenes. When the action begins, the narration again provides commentary without overpowering the visuals. Snyder’s dialogue is solid and overall very natural, giving the characters charming personalities in all settings, and the first-person narration is well done. The only point where the narrative gets a little heavy-duty is in the final three-page infodump of the issue, which brings readers up to speed on the history of Bruce Wayne in this universe. Perhaps it was necessary to get out of the way so early in the series, but after a tightly scripted issue, these pages – two of the most critical surrounding the issue – are an unfortunate hiccup that could have benefited from less Benefit telling and more showing in the content.
As far as presentation goes, artist Nick Dragotta brought a visual style to Gotham that the city and its characters had never seen before. Dragorta’s redesign of Batman’s behemoth has been analyzed, paid tribute to, and imitated countless times, but it’s hard to imagine a more fitting introduction to his version of Batman. Simply put, Dragorta’s Batman is a force of nature, a beast who strikes out with speed and determination in a way that few Dark Knights have. The character’s speed is noted in the narration of this issue’s stunning action sequences, but even without the narrative notation, it’s evident in the way Dragorta presents his movements and those of his opponents. Dragorta and colorist in action frank martin Vibrant and accessible while still leaving the reader with a slight sense of disorientation that might come from confronting this version of Batman. Dragorta and Martin’s visual storytelling throughout the issue is excellent, from the absolute version of Alfred’s arrival in Gotham that gives readers a tour of a new version of the familiar city, to a fateful mission that Bruce undertakes as a child. ’s school field trip interspersed with flashbacks to the tense, dialogue-driven town hall scene that preceded the issue’s action sequences. Dragorta’s character design is not only an inspiration to Batman, but also to Alfred and the Black Mask (the terrifying figure wearing a mirrored black skull mask) and his monstrous tentacled cohorts. Here he is as a grizzled secret agent) and his monstrous tentacled accomplices are both believable and immediately compelling.
Of course, Batman’s signature elements can still be found in this book, from the silhouette he creates with his cape and hood when wearing the costume, to his ingenuity and super preparation for this issue’s battle sequences. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the comic, though, is how it differs from another iconic element. It’s been known since the series was announced that Batman isn’t exactly an in-universe billionaire, and that the Bruce Wayne we meet here is definitely more of a working-class character, an engineer living paycheck to paycheck (although somehow Still able to afford a huge paycheck) bat gadgets). But there’s another thing about this Batman that’s even more interesting: He’s not parentless. Through a series of flashbacks, readers learn that Thomas Wayne was a teacher who was killed in a mass shooting while on a field trip with Bruce, and that Martha Wayne was a social worker in this universe , is still alive and well in Gotham. Mass shootings are an epidemic in America, and blaming Wayne’s murder on one of those events is a smart and important update on the origins, connecting Bruce to the crime on a personal and social level. Beyond that, the prospect of Martha Wayne being alive and part of Bruce’s life is exciting from a storytelling perspective and pushes this Batman into completely uncharted territory.
On the contrary, where Absolute Batman What suffers is when it adheres to the Bat-mythology rather than departing from it. Alternate universe stories are often burdened with knowledge of the main universe they duplicate, and this issue is no exception. In a universe where pretty much everything you know about Batman is different, having Bruce grow up with a group of friends who all happen to be supervillains in the main timeline feels like an unnecessary distraction. The dialogue that mentions them all is also clunky, like in the school field trip scene when Thomas Wayne mentions to young Bruce that going to the movies that night. It’s a shoehorned line that just makes the reader think, “Oh, I bet I know which movie they’re talking about” and it doesn’t add anything to the issue or character relationships. The final page of the issue also previews Batman’s future villains – you can definitely guess which one – and it’s chock-full of these references. They are a frustrating distraction from what is a very forward-thinking, interesting book.
But putting aside these shortcomings, Absolute Batman #1 is an impressive debut for the alternate universe Dark Knight. Snyder’s writing is as solid as ever, and Dragota’s artwork offers a fascinating new vision of Gotham and its inhabitants. Hopefully, future installments of the series will continue to expand and break new ground in terms of Bruce Wayne and his world, rather than being held back by what came before. If this could be broken down more cleanly, this series would truly become something special.
Final verdict: purchase.
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