So far just about everything in this series could be summed up with the word “extreme”, but this new arc injects a healthy dose of “weird” to go with it. This issue and the next are another guest artist intermission, and Marcos Martín along with colorist Muntsa Vicente help create an eerie sense of unease that permeates a story that mixes mystery with body horror. All of this builds on the events of the first arc while laying the groundwork for what will be coming down the road.
Unlike how some other comics handle “will never be the same” storylines, Black Mask’s chaotic takeover of Gotham seems to be having lasting impacts. After such a massive terrorist attack, the city has been put under martial law, with Batman himself being near the top of their most wanted. In addition, the new “Ark M” black site prison is being built just off the coast. It’s Bruce’s need to investigate the facility that drives the story’s plot.
After such an explosive, action-filled opening story, it’s good to have a bit more focus on detective work this time around. It’s not exactly Philip Marlowe, but it’s classic, boots on the ground investigation tactics like acquiring a fake ID to snoop around and ask the right questions to the right people. In addition to Bruce’s actual detective work, there’s also just a constant sense that something is horribly wrong, keeping you wanting to know more.
One of the oldest ways to keep an audience guessing is with an in medias res opening, where the characters talk of some shocking event that only gets revealed through flashback. Snyder pulls off this trick well, revealing that Matches Malone was not only another one of Bruce’s childhood friends, but was killed under some unknown circumstances. In fact, when we get to see his startling death first hand, it only raises more questions, all tying back to the Ark M project.
image hidden behind spoilers for anyone with trypophobia or an aversion to gore:
Spoiler
The nature of how he was killed, with blood suddenly seeping out of his pores, echoes the boy from the prologue and hints at some larger conspiracy tying them together. This is also where Martín’s art becomes its most disturbing and really leans into the grotesque nature of Batman’s latest villain. The way he’ll draw the victims with buggy, shallow eyes and constricted pupils gives off an almost alien appearance. The ever-present cold coloring add to this effect, where the whole world starts to feel distant and hostile.
That’s not to say that the art doesn’t know how to do action as well. After all, this is still Absolute Batman. While almost all of the panels are colored with cool, blue tones, that only makes the occasional splash of hot pinks and purples stand out that much more. It draws the reader’s focus into what’s important, either for excitement or apprehension. One big instance is during Batman’s assault on Ark M, where the sudden pages of highly saturated and vibrant colors gives the whole sequence a disorienting yet exhilarating sensation.
The use of unsettling imagery and contrasting colors really come to a head when dealing with Victor Fries. Even his skin tones are constantly alternating between being depicted in cool and hot colors, representing the conflict within him. There is an unfeeling distance he keeps between himself and everyone else, yet at the same time there’s an enraged “monster” born of trauma. The parallels between this and Batman’s relationship to those around him become abundantly clear, especially with the opening scene where he pushes his friends away. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until next issue to truly learn what secrets Fries is hiding and get a better understanding of his character, but this does a great job setting up a cliffhanger.
Recommended If
- You’re a fan of bizarre body horror in addition to action
- Real detective work is welcome in Absolute Batman
- You like disturbing mysteries
Overall
This new arc takes a slower approach to Batman, as he investigates the conspiracies surrounding a Gotham now under martial law. The mystery slowly turns to horror when the gruesome realities of what’s happening to the victims of the new “Ark M” project come to light. Guest artist Marcos Martín and colorist Muntsa Vicente’s vibrant yet disturbing visual style bring this unsettling atmosphere to life.
Score: 8/10
DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of this review.
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