Absolute Batman #23 Review – The Downward Spiral Of Bruce Wayne

Absolute Batman #23 (DC Comics, 8/12/26): Writer Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta find Bruce Wayne spiraling into conspiracy paranoia (maybe) when his friends stage an intervention. Fans of unhinged Batman will be at peace knowing that the hinges are on the verge of falling off. Verdict: Still lacking in focus but improving.

• Writer: Scott Snyder
• Artist: Nick Dragotta
• Colorist: Frank Martin
• Letterer: Tom Napolitano
• Cover Artist: Nick Dragotta (cover A)
• Publisher: DC Comics
• Release Date: August 12, 2026
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 28
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of Absolute Batman #23:

First Impressions:

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve soured on the last few issues of Absolute Batman because Scott Snyder’s hit series has become fractured with too many subplots. This issue is better. Not by a lot, but enough to notice.

Recap:

In Absolute Batman #22, we learned about Absolute Harley Quinn’s dysfunctional home life, forging her into the woman who would eventually lead the Red Hood Gang.

Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):

In Absolute Batman #23, we learn a lot of things. Alfred tells his daughter, Julia, that he’s taking a leave of absence to stay in Gotham and aid Bruce. Julia, who was estranged from her father for most of her life, doesn’t take the news well.

Meanwhile, Batman performs his best “Searching for Pepe Silvia” impersonation, believing nearly his entire life was orchestrated by Grimm and Scarecrow. His Rogues Gallery of friends, his mother, and Alfred arrive to stage an intervention, but it doesn’t go well. Batman storms off in a huff.

In flashbacks, we see how a younger Bruce, still indentured to Falcone, was ordered to take a (baseball) bat to Matches Malone. The assault leads to an existential crisis, which doesn’t end well.

Finally, Jason Todd breaks from the Robins to capture Batman on his own. When he crosses paths with Batman, he succeeds in the capture, just as Tim Drake arrives to help. Sadly, Clayface attacks in Batman form, under the control of Scarecrow, and kills Tim. When Clayface vanishes and Jason sees Tim dead, he blames Batman. Batman tries to explain, but it doesn’t go well.

How is the story in Absolute Batman #23?

Assuming you read the synopsis above, “it doesn’t go well” sums up the themes in Scott Snyder’s latest entry in the series. In this case, that’s a good thing, because we at least get a sense that Snyder is pushing things forward. The subplots are moving forward in baby steps, but at least they’re steps.

But let’s be clear. Does anyone really care about Julia’s dysfunctional relationship with Alfred? Probably not. Is Bruce’s sordid history with Falcone relevant to the present in a meaningful way? Also, probably not, especially because we already know the eventual fates of Bruce and Matches. Is the social media polling popularity of each individual Robin worth your time and attention? Maybe as a device to get to know the personalities of the Robins, but the same character development could have been accomplished with more excitement and action. Is Tim’s death at the hands of Clayface a wow moment? Without a doubt, yes.

Therein lies the complication. Scott gives you the good stuff buried under piles of okay, so-so stuff. In fairness, different readers like different things, so what’s attention-worthy to me may be humdrum to you. However, it’s safe to say the relentless energy of the first couple of arcs has cooled considerably.

How is the art in Absolute Batman #23?

Nick Dragotta continues doing the Lord’s work with a gonzo, over-the-top sense of bombast for Batman and his amazing friends. Dragotta leans into the body horror not seen since the Poison Ivy two-parter, when Clayface does his goopy worst against two of the Robins and Batman. Regardless of the quibbles over the script, the art alone will be enough for most collectors.

Characters

Consistent with the scattered plot, the character focus is likewise scattered. Julia’s chat with Alfred is grounded and believably dysfunctional. The contentious rivalry among the Robins is a perfect vehicle to show off their personality differences. And Bruce’s spiral into conspiracy territory (which may not be a conspiracy) imbues him with a sense of reckless danger that makes him the most interesting version of Batman in years. Each piece is good to great, but again, the focus is scattered.

Originality & Concept Execution

One of the disappointing aspects of the series is the development of Bruce’s friends into almost-too-familiar versions of the Earth-Prime counterparts, but so far, the Rogues have remained allies, which is a big positive. Of all the developments presented to date, that inversion of the classic Rogues remains the most original concept. We’ll see how long it holds.

Pros and Cons

What We Loved

• Consistently engaging art from Dragotta
• A shocking death
• Bruce’s downward spiral is intriguing

Room for Improvement

• Scattered plot
• Too many so-so subplots
• The big bads are still too far in the background

Art Samples:

The Scorecard:

Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 3/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 3/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 1/2

Final Thoughts:

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Absolute Batman #23 sends Bruce spiraling out of control when he believes his entire life was orchestrated by Grimm and Scarecrow. Scott Snyder gives nearly every character a moment to develop, but showcasing everyone leads to a focus on no one. Still, Nick Dragotta’s bombastic artwork is almost worth the price of admission.

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