How do you keep raising the stakes when you’re already the biggest title in comics? Writer Scott Snyder and artist Nick Dragotta seamlessly pull this off by reinventing Batman’s iconic rogues’ gallery and introducing some surprise twists. Scarecrow makes his debut in Absolute Batman #19, but the creative team doesn’t stop there, as they grow Batman’s universe even larger.
- Title: Absolute Batman #19
- Creatives: Scott Snyder (Writer), Nick Dragotta (Artist), Frank Martin (Colorist), Tom Napolitano (Letterer)
- Characters: Batman, Waylon Jones, Alfred Pennyworth, Jim Gordon, Dick Grayson
- Villain: Scarecrow, Slade Wilson, Jack Grimm
- Format: Ongoing Series
- Our Rating: 9/10 Stars
How Is Bruce’s Psyche?
Bruce Wayne desperately needs a therapist and a long vacation. Instead, he’s more dedicated to being Batman than ever. Alfred Pennyworth notices that he’s even given up on his friends to fully embrace the cowl. Being a lone wolf is a common status quo for the Caped Crusader, but Snyder gifted Bruce lifelong friends and a support network. His current isolation is contrasted against earlier memories when he and his Crime Alley gang swore to always be loyal to each other. In a series full of tragedy, losing that bond may be the worst casualty.
The Arrival Of Scarecrow
Scarecrow’s intro is ripped straight from a horror movie. Dragotta leans into his creepiness, portraying his eyes using sewn-on buttons while stretching thin, fleshy strands that resemble exposed veins across his wicked grin. Letterer Tom Napolitano warps his speech bubbles and words with a slight distortion, further emphasizing how unsettling the villain is. We soon see Scarecrow manipulating two farmers, twisting them against each other and watching with glee as they turn violent before manipulating a plane to crash into the scene. It seems this Scarecrow may have abilities even beyond his Earth-0 counterpart.
It’s not long before Scarecrow makes his way to Gotham, resulting in the book’s biggest twist. A panicked Jim Gordon approaches Batman, ranting about some files he dug up. Colorist Frank Martin plasters the background a blood red, using the color to foreshadow something deadly. The info in the files is kept mysterious but rattles Bruce, who reacts too late as Gordon steps off the roof and plummets to his death. Is he dead for sure? That’s debatable. We see Scarecrow nearby, and hallucinations are the man’s calling card, but Snyder’s not afraid to subvert expectations. That philosophy continues to keep this book fresh.
Snyder Introduces the Robin Program
Meanwhile, Jack Grimm, this universe’s Joker, is hard at work around Gotham. He installs Slade Wilson as the head of the brand-new Robin Program. Snyder saves one last big surprise as we learn that not only is Dick Grayson the head of this new initiative, but he was raised by Jack Grimm himself. We’ve seen what an effective hero Dick becomes on Earth-0 with Batman as a father figure. It makes you wonder if he will become an equally dangerous villain under the Joker’s tutelage.
The biggest weakness of this title is how much they try to squeeze onto a page. Panels get small, with little art to focus on, while multiple speech bubbles dominate the rest of the space. The first three pages have a staggering thirty-seven panels alone. Comics are a visual medium, and Dragotta is one of the best artists in the industry. The book would benefit from giving his art more room to breathe and tell the story on its own.
Verdict: Should you buy Absolute Batman #19?
Snyder and Dragotta saddle Bruce with something even scarier than a new villain. Losing his friends. They haunt him like a vengeful ghost, while Scarecrow lurks in the shadows. Normally untouchable characters have been marked for death, while others threaten to become Bruce’s biggest adversaries. In Absolute Batman, no one is safe and nothing is sacred. Just ask Bruce Wayne.
‘Absolute Batman’ #19 Scarecrow’s Debut Reveals No One Is Safe
Snyder and Dragotta saddle Bruce with something even scarier than a new villain. Losing his friends. They haunt him like a vengeful ghost, while Scarecrow lurks in the shadows. Normally untouchable characters have been marked for death, while others threaten to become Bruce’s biggest adversaries. In Absolute Batman, no one is safe and nothing is sacred. Just ask Bruce Wayne.
