Absolute Batman #22: A Crooked House on Absolute Earth

Batman and Harley are on the run from the Robins, and things are not getting any easier. As the unlikely pair evade the police throughout Gotham, Harley tells Bruce her sad tale.

Melancholy is the name of the game when it comes to Absolute Batman, but there has been an extra layer added ever since Scarecrow came to town. Things keep going from bad to worse and Bruce is stuck in a neverending spiral of rage and self-loathing. His friends, to his knowledge, hate him, his mother has disappeared, one of his closest allies is dead, and the entire city blames him for his death. While Bruce continues to run from his pain, Harley tries to share hers but neither are at a place to understand.

Scott Snyder’s grasp on horror is just as strong as his skills in action. Both are used in equal measure here as Bruce and Harley’s fight to evade Gotham’s finest is interspersed with Harley’s very twisted origin story. That story proves to be the most interesting part of the issue, as its final twist leaves you stunned when you find the connection between this universe’s Harley and Joker. There is also the continued unraveling of Bruce’s psyche and just how far Scarecrow’s claws have sunk into his mind. He is proving to be his deadliest foe yet, and that’s definitely saying something after dealing with the likes of Bane.

Werther Dell’Edera of “Something Is Killing The Children” fame takes over art duties for this issue, and I could think of no one better to tackle Harley’s backstory. His scratchy somewhat messy linework fits perfectly with the horrific tale that Harley weaves as well as the strong panels of action that are shown in the present. Frank Martin’s dry color palette also continues to help set the mood.