Absolute Batman #18: Origins of Horror

Absolute Batman #18, written by Scott Snyder, colored by Frank Martin, lettered by Clayton Cowles, and joined again by guest artist Eric Canete, keeps the pedal firmly to the floor, delivering a tense, fast-paced issue that expertly juggles all of the moving pieces introduced in the previous issue. Issue #17 introduced the Absolute versions of Poison Ivy and the Court of Owls, and Snyder follows up in true Absolute fashion. The issue is packed with urgency, cutting between Batman confronting Poison Ivy, Bruce talking with Gordon, and Martha Wayne making contact with the Court of Owls. Much like the previous issue, readers are left with more questions than answers, though this story does reveal some details. For one, Gordon tells Bruce that his secret isn’t very strong.

Little is still known about both Ivy, but Snyder and company hint that Ivy’s origin may be tied to Mr. Freeze, adding another layer of tragedy and science-based horror to her character. Eric Canete knocks it out of the park once again with his pencils. The botanical horror mixed with biblically accurate angel aesthetics is such a fascinating choice, and seeing Batman tangled up in the mix brings some of the best visuals to this series to date. Frank Martin’s coloring also does an incredible job of fusing all these vastly different styles into a cohesive whole. Between the art and colors, Clayton Cowles does a masterful job with the lettering. The action in this issue is pure chaos, but Cowles wrangles it all together so readers don’t get lost in the action.