DC Comics reviews 1/8/25 – Absolute Batman #4, Aquaman #1
Absolute Batman #4
After a raucous first three issues, Absolute Batman #4 is a bit of a cool down issue. Writer Scott Snyder doesn’t advance much of the story with Batman battling the Party Animals. Instead, Absolute Batman #4 is more about the relationship with Bruce Wayne and his father and how in the Absolute universe that was very different yet still playing up the theme of the established lore.
Bruce is reminiscing on his childhood fascination with bats and how that was the theme of his school project, which ultimately led to his father’s death. Snyder also uses Absolute Batman #4 to spend more time on this version of Thomas Wayne. How his life changed after the death of Bruce’s grandfather and the career path that led him to become a teacher. It’s valuable insight into the head of the Absolute Bruce Wayne and a nice early look into their dynamic. With the biggest Absolute twist that Martha Wayne is still alive, these past moments with Bruce and Thomas are very helpful.
Absolute Batman #4 also puts some spotlight on Bruce’s Batman 1.0 where he really did lean into the bat aspect of being Batman complete with face paint, cheap silicone fangs to place in his mouth and communicating in grunts and howls instead of intimidating words. In a sense, this is Snyder providing the Year One Batman story here with Absolute Batman #4.
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Regular artist Nick Dragotta contributes to Absolute Batman #4 in terms of plotting, but Gabriel Hernandez Walta steps in to handle the art. It feels a bit earlier in a new series to already have a fill-in artist as Dragotta is still creating the aesthetic and visual template of Absolute Batman. Walta does fine with the art as the story here focuses on Bruce out of costume.
Frank Martin’s colors were more muted than usual this issue — perhaps in an effort to play into the flashback nature of the story? Letterer Clayton Cowles provided his usual, consistent work with the text while having some clear fun with dialogue exchanges particularly when proto-Batman is in action.
Absolute Batman #4 effectively told some crucial backstory for Bruce and his father while playing out like a mini-break from the main, ongoing story in a way that didn’t ruin the momentum.
Rating: 9 out of 10