Absolute Batman #14: Blood, Guts, and Venom

Absolute Batman #14 – written by Scott Snyder with art by Nick Dragotta, coloring by Frank Martin, and lettering by Clayton Cowles – is a climax for the ages as Batman and company take on Bane in spectacular fashion. The issues leading up this showdown were packed with suspenseful build up while still finding a place for quieter, tender moments. There was never quite a calm before the storm, but there aren’t many storms like these. Nick Dragotta’s art has pushed the horror elements front and center, especially in this issue, but Scott Snyder delivers some of his creepiest writing yet. In a medium primarily based around visuals, it takes a lot for printed words alone to send shivers down one’s spine. Praise is also much deserved to Clayton Cowles, whose lettering is a major presence in the issue while letting the art shine.

The art in Absolute Batman #14 is visceral, disturbing, and brutal, giving new meaning to the term “monstrous,” thanks to Nick Dragotta and Frank Martin. The overarching plot follows Batman and his allies as they take on Bane, interwoven with scenes from Waylon Jones’s big fight that have been alluded to throughout this arc. Snyder’s pacing is absolutely masterful, creating a real sense of impending doom. Alongside the incredible momentum, Dragotta achieves a sense of urgency and scale that feels almost too big for a comic, yet it just works. While avoiding spoilers, because this is a book that needs to be experienced firsthand, the climax of the issue once again supersedes expectations with twists that feel completely earned.