Absolute Batman: Abomination (Comics) | Review

The Absolute Universe doesn't do half-measures with its re-imagined Dark Knight. Everything familiar gets thrown into a blender with broken glass for texture. After The Zoo arc, Volume 2: Abomination proves this isn't shock value. This is Batman built from rage, desperation and nothing close to resembling traditional heroism.

Volume 2 escalates what made the first collection dangerous. Bruce's working-class rage meets Gotham's institutional corruption and neither side walks away clean. The collision produces something genuinely unsettling in ways mainstream superhero books rarely attempt.

Writer Scott Snyder (Batman: Bloom, Batman: Endgame) continues his deconstruction of Batman mythology with sheer confidence that comes from someone who's written definitive Dark Knight stories before. His Bruce Wayne remains working-class, scarred and dangerously close to turning into the rot he fights up against.

Artist Nick Dragotta (Captain America: Forever Allies, East of West: The Promise) brings an aesthetic where superhero comics got dragged through Gotham's grittiest alleys. His blocky, aggressive linework gives every panel weight matching Snyder's blue-collar Bruce perfectly.

The central conflict explores whether Batman can exist without becoming an authoritarian force himself. This Bruce Wayne doesn't have billions to throw at problems or a moral code refined by years of butler-guided philosophy. He's making it up as he goes and the mistakes pile up fast. The tension comes from watching someone with good intentions but limited perspective try to fix a city that might be fundamentally unfixable.

Supporting cast development elevates the emotional stakes. The relationships Bruce builds feel earned rather than inherited from decades of continuity. When characters get hurt or betrayed, it lands because we've seen these bonds form from scratch. Snyder takes time to show why people would trust this version of Batman when he's objectively terrifying and potentially making things worse.

Action sequences serve the story rather than padding page counts. Each major confrontation reveals something new about Bruce's capabilities or limits. The physicality matters here because this Batman can't just throw money at upgrading his gear. Every tool, every tactic comes with trade-offs and consequences that ripple through subsequent issues.

The mythology-building continues from Volume 1 with expanded looks at how familiar Batman concepts translate into the Absolute Universe framework. The Batcave equivalent, the Alfred role, the partnership dynamics all get filtered through this reality's harsher lens. What emerges feels like a cohesive reinvention rather than random changes for novelty's sake.

Thematic depth separates this from simple reimagining exercises. Snyder uses the Absolute Universe freedom to explore class warfare, institutional corruption and the morality of vigilante justice without the baggage of existing continuity. When Bruce questions whether he's actually helping or just satisfying his own need for control, the story doesn't provide easy answers.

The collection's pacing benefits from being able to read eight issues in sequence rather than monthly installments. Story beats that might have felt stretched across months flow naturally when consumed together. Cliffhangers still sting but the resolution comes quickly enough to maintain momentum without frustration.

Connections to broader Absolute Universe events weave through the narrative without derailing the core Batman story. References to other Absolute titles add texture without requiring homework. Readers sticking exclusively to this series won't feel lost, while those following the full line get rewarding payoffs for their attention.

Character development for Bruce himself remains the anchor. This isn't a static hero learning to be slightly better at heroism. This is someone fundamentally changing based on what he experiences and who he becomes in response to Gotham's darkness. By the collection's end, he's measurably different from where he started and not all those changes point in positive directions.

The villains deserve special mention for how they challenge Bruce ideologically rather than just physically. Antagonists in this collection represent competing visions for Gotham's future. Some want to burn it down, others want to control it but all of them force Bruce to articulate why his approach deserves to prevail. When he can't give satisfying answers, the story doesn't pretend otherwise.

Nick Dragotta's art defines the Absolute Batman aesthetic with brutal efficiency. His character designs trade sleek for functional, giving Bruce a Batman suit that looks like it was welded together in someone's garage because it literally was. The armor plating, exposed mechanics and DIY modifications tell their own story about resource scarcity and improvised heroism.

Page layouts favor clarity over experimentation, which works given the complexity of what's actually happening in each scene. Dragotta knows when to pull back for establishing shots and when to zoom in for visceral impact. Fight choreography reads clearly even during chaotic multi-character brawls. You always know where everyone is spatially, which becomes crucial during the collection's larger action setpieces.

Color work by Frank Martin amplifies the mood without overwhelming Dragotta's linework. Gotham looks perpetually overcast, lit by sodium vapor lights and neon signs that create pools of color in otherwise oppressive darkness. The palette shifts subtly between street-level scenes and more surreal sequences, guiding reader perception without being obvious about it.

Snyder's scripting balances exposition with momentum better than some of his more complex previous works. Dialogue sounds like how actual people talk when stressed, angry, or desperate. Bruce's internal narration provides context without over-explaining every choice. When characters explain their motivations, it feels organic to the conversation rather than author convenience.

Absolute Batman Vol. 2: Abomination justifies the Absolute Universe's existence by proving these aren't just alternate versions of familiar characters but genuinely different stories worth telling. Snyder and Dragotta have built something that stands on its own merits while still being recognizably Batman at its core.

This collection works best for readers willing to accept that not every Batman story needs to end with hope intact or justice served. The grimness serves thematic purposes rather than existing for its own sake. If you want escapist superhero fantasy, look elsewhere. If you want to see Batman stripped down to his essential components and rebuilt from scratch in ways that question what heroism actually means, this delivers.

The value proposition depends on your tolerance for reinvention. Long-time Batman fans might struggle with how radically different this version feels from established characterization. Newer readers or those tired of continuity baggage will find a refreshing entry point that doesn't require decades of context to appreciate. Either way, the craft on display earns respect even when creative choices might not resonate personally.

Absolute Batman Vol. 2: Abomination cements this as the Absolute Universe's flagship title. It's ambitious, occasionally uncomfortable and never boring. Whether it's your Batman is subjective but it's undeniably someone's definitive version of the character. That's more than most reimaginings can claim.

Absolute Batman: Abomination is available in collected hardcover and trade paperback editions from DC Comics. Physical editions can be purchased through comic-book retailers, bookstores and online marketplaces. Digital versions are available through platforms like Amazon Kindle, ComiXology and DC Universe Infinite for readers.