Absolute Batman #5 - DC Comics

ABSOLUTE BATMAN No. 5, April 2025

Apparently the best-selling comic book in February 2025, few Bat-fans were probably expecting Scott Snyder to pen Bruce Wayne’s alter-ego suffering such as painful-looking smackdown as the one he receives in this particular twenty-page publication. Sure, the young, costumed crime-fighter ultimately manages to survive his severe beating at the hands of Black Mask’s most notorious, heavily-armed followers. But in doing so some bibliophiles might argue that this title’s American author was seriously pushing up against any onlooker’s willing suspension of disbelief as to just how many physical injuries the human body can take; “My god. You actually think you achieved something here, don’t you.?”

Minor quibble aside though, this entire adrenalin-fuelled action sequence does make for a truly marvellous read, with Batman actually appearing to have the upper-hand for most of the fight. Indeed, the impressively armoured vigilante initially seems to anticipate every assault before it occurs – with the one-handed, meat-cleaver wielding maniac who unwittingly impales himself upon the super-hero’s shoulder-spikes whilst charging from behind probably being the best moment of the battle.

In addition, the “broken, beaten and ultimately defeated” Caped Crusader’s subsequent flight also allows this comic’s writer to show Officer Gordon is having her doubts as to whether Batman is a public menace, as well as demonstrate just how strong Roman Sionis’ grip upon the population of Gotham City may actually be. These sub-plots are neatly crowbarred into all the much more pulse-pounding proceedings, and resultantly don’t arguably appear to slow down the periodical’s quite frantic pace one iota. In fact, they just provide this comic’s audience with a necessary breather, before the book delivers its somewhat jaw-dropping conclusion concerning Mayor Jim Gordon and Martha Wayne.

Also adding an incredible amount of tension and vigour to Issue Five of “Absolute Batman” is Nick Dragotta. Of particular note has to be the way the artist holds everyone’s attention with a single, splash-page of the Dark Knight stood out against the metropolis’ skyline, before pencilling a ton of small-sized panels showing him subsequently battering every member of the Party Animals he can get his gloves on. However, such is the “highly acclaimed” illustrator’s ability to quickly establish a scene, that you can additionally almost hear the sigh in Barbara’s voice over her police car’s sirens, as she lowers her hand-gun and refrains from shooting a fleeing “avenger of the night”.

The regular cover art of "ABSOLUTE BATMAN" #5 by Nick Dragotta & Frank Martin