Absolute Batman has won readers’ hearts with its over-the-top action and extravagant character designs, but what has always stood out to me is how this series depicts Bruce Wayne’s youthfulness. After all, under his heavily trained 6-foot-tall body, he is still a child forever stuck at the scene of a crime. Only 24, Bruce has a lot to learn, a lot to move on from, but he’s often too determined and headstrong. Sometimes to his benefit. Other times, his detriment. Absolute Batman #8 explores this aspect of the character, Bruce’s relations with his friends, and what being Batman means to him.
Picking up right after issue #7’s cliffhanger, Mr. Freeze freezes Bruce beside billionaires obsessed with eternal life. A simple throwaway line from Freeze cements this series’ theme about the abject horror of the affluent. From Joker’s blood ritual to Freeze’s zombie-making cryostasis, the morally bankrupt but monetarily wealthy are turned into genuine monsters that regular Joe Batman has to overcome.
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All the while, we intercut with flashbacks, seeing Bruce’s friends berate him for his rash decisions and borderline suicidal behavior. Once again, Marcos Martin proves to be an inspired choice as guest artist, putting a spin on Nick Dragotta’s designs with verve. Muntsa Vicente is another highlight, combining colors that pop off the page, harking back to ’60s psychedelia.
As with the previous issue, the flashbacks are marked with Bruce and his friends illustrated in full silhouette, their defining features being their body shape. This issue gives a payoff to this creative choice that is guaranteed to give goosebumps. There are other choices, like the pacing of panels with caption boxes and the timing of splash pages, that are superbly effective in evoking heart-stirring emotions.
We get a lot of character development in this issue, along with a new insight into the death of Bruce’s father and the tragedy at the Zoo. We get to see all this and Bruce’s internal conflict through the interplay between elements of fire and ice, both visually and thematically.
Ever since his father’s death, Bruce has been in a state of constant hypothermia. A cold, lifeless husk, zeroing in only on fighting; the only thing keeping him alive, his hot, burning rage. We see this when Bruce is frozen, possessing red eyes and blue skin, as if a fire is erupting beneath the surface, but his skin is cold to the touch. Batman is cold to the touch, with only vengeance being his driving emotion, and his guilt, the eternal fuel.
How his friendship relates to this, and what would happen to him if he lost it, well, I guess we’ll just have to keep reading!
Absolute Batman #8 is an emotionally-charged comic that will melt your heart in all the best ways. It is beautiful looking, with iconic pages by the best artists, and masterfully written, with relatable and relevant character moments. A certified classic in the making.
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