An old friend of Bruce Wayne is mysteriously killed. Matches Malone succumbs to an airborne bio-weapon. This puts BATMAN on the case. All signs point to “ARK M” and a scientist with a cold heart.
Victor Fries Jr. heads up a cryo-tech company named “V-Core”. When Wayne arrives to investigate, he finds more that a frosty welcome.
ABSOLUTE BATMAN #8 by Scott Snyder, Marcos Martín, Muntsa Vicente, and Clayton Cowles (DC COMICS) continues its two-part introduction of the Absolute Mr. Freeze!
Let’s take a closer look at what transpires now.
ABSOLUTE BATMAN #8 by Scott Snyder, Marcos Martín, Muntsa Vicente, and Clayton Cowles (DC COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Snyder dances in the horror aspect of this version of the Batman rogue. Fries is completely unhinged. His twisted view deviates from the normal themes. Readers watch as Batman struggles to find a way out of this trap. Where Bruce finds strength turns out to be an unlikely yet effective source.
The bond between his childhood friends continues to breathe new life into this take. Their remembrance of their fallen friend covers many emotions. It also provides the “tough love” events that Bruce Wayne needs to survive. Snyder weaves these conversations in perfect unison of Batman’s fight. Nothing feels overdone or forced. The result kickstarts a strong finish. Much like the Absolute Universe, the close is anything but cliche. It provides steady ground to pause on while teasing a tragic fate to come. Excellent storytelling per usual.
Martin and Vicente’s opening teases the terror of Fries jr. Coloring brings the mood down to a somber tone as Fries goes to work. As his torture starts, Wayne shows his pain via a striking full page image. This is followed up by a bold two page image. Seeing how his flashbacks intertwine with his dilemma will touch a nerve with readers.
It pairs with the friends remembrance well. The use of shadows constructs the tone until its’ true reveal. Readers watch as it gives way to Batman’s arrival via half page panel. Action picks up quick with the frantic setting driving the moment. Another fantastic full page image starts the closing moments of the book. It leaves readers with a sound understanding of what just transpired. The closing page unveils a surprise move as Batman’s world takes another giant loss. Events are wrapped up nicely with a on the horizon.
OVERALL GRADE: 9.3
A cold day in Gotham wraps up with a true perspective of the Absolute Universe. Snyder’s writing encompasses the true horror of the classic Batman rogue. Martin and the art team exposes the terror lying within a cold heart. Judging by the ending, things are only getting worse for Bruce Wayne’s ever fractured world.
Let me know in the comments below your thoughts on Absolute Batman #8. Thanks for reading.