Absolute Batman #25 (DC Comics, 10/28/26): Writer Scott Snyder and artist Nick Dragotta begin the first fight between Absolute Batman and Absolute Joker, but Bruce will have to get through his friends first. Scott Snyder continues to put Batman in impossible situations for a tense, dramatic thriller with more than one surprise. Verdict: A focused and entertaining issue.
Credits:
- Writer: Scott Snyder
- Artist: Nick Dragotta
- Colorist: Frank Martin
- Letterer: Tom Napolitano
- Cover Artist: Nick Dragotta (cover A)
- Publisher: DC Comics
- Release Date: October 28, 2026
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $5.99
- Page Count: 36
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of Absolute Batman #25:
First Impressions:
I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t sold on the big Batman/Joker fight as the something that needed to be clamored for. Up to now, Grimm’s presence in the title has largely been presented through the lens of a criminal mastermind. NOt as a physical threat. After reading Absolute Batman #25, Scott snyder may have changed my mind… just a little bit.
Recap:
In Absolute Batman #24, Scarecrow bids Jack Grim (the Joker) farewell before leaving Gotham, only for Batman to intercept and crucify him in a cornfield after learning his movements from his mother, a former member of the Court of Owls. Elsewhere, Alfred tells off his bosses after his leave of absence is denied, Jason Todd and Dick Grayson clash over Tim Drake’s death, and Bruce’s friends and enemies debate whether to take drastic measures against Batman, while Barbara Gordon discovers a secret lair that allows her to assume the mantle of Absolute Batgirl. Interwoven throughout are flashbacks of Bruce regretting his time as Falcone’s enforcer, culminating in his fateful decision to become a bat, before the issue ends with Batman setting his sights on Grimm Mansion.
Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):
The issue begins with Absolute Batman (let’s just say Batman for the rest of the review) crashing through the skylight in Grimm’s mansion. Instead of ambushing the demon, Batman is surprised to find his group of friends waiting for him, ready to stage an intervention. Batman’s friends individually and collectively urge Bruce to turn himself in for psychiatric treatment because they all believe Grimm is innocent and Bruce is hounding the man under mistaken pretenses. If Batman refuses the offer, his friends state that they’ll have to wash their hands of him. Batman refuses the offer and flees as the police arrive to capture him.
Batman runs into the nearby woods and falls into a hole in the ground. He lands inside a cave that’s been retrofitted with technology and contains all sorts of odd artifacts, like a giant penny and a T-Rex skeleton. There, Grimm welcomes Batman to his lair.
And then they fight.
Despite his best efforts (even though he beat a much larger and stronger Bane not too long ago), Joker seriously wounds Batman. Before Joker can bite Batman’s face off, The Bat, aka Absolute Batgirl, arrives with guns ablazin’. She drags Batman to a nearby ledge and leaps into the river down below. The issue ends with Harley tending Bruce’s wounds, The Bat heading out to avenge her father, and Selina arriving with a bun in the oven.
How is the story in Absolute Batman #25?
Scott Snyder’s much-hyped confrontation between Absolute Batman and Absolute Joker makes good on the promise of the premise. The fight doesn’t come until the very last act through, admittedly, a series of contrivances, but when the fight happens, it’s ferocious and establishes Joker as a credible, physical threat.
That said, the contrivances are the minor sticking points. Batman’s friends happened to know the exact time he was headed for Grimm’s mansion. All his friends just happened to believe Grimm’s story of innocence, including Croc. Batman just happened to run over and fall down a shaft in the middle of the woods that would lead to the Joker Cave. Yes, sure, these are minor points that you could easily look past in favor of the point, but they still stick.
The second sticking point is the power scaling problem. Batman was able to defeat Bane, who was much bigger and stronger than Joker’s demon form. Batman was able to defeat Poison Ivy, whose power is farther-reaching and difficult to confront. So yes, this issue has a good fight, but either Batman was off his game, or Snyder lost track of the proportional strength of his villains.
How is the art in Absolute Batman #25?
Nick Dragotta’s work is outstanding, most notably for Joker’s character design. He’s an evil, large, intimidating demon, so it’s up to Dragotta to sell the threat level through sheer presence, and Dragotta succeeds. Dragotta’s signature style is on full display. The dramatic framing during the “intervention” scene helps to escalate Batman’s frustrated desperation, and Frank Martin’s colors go a long way toward establishing mood and atmosphere.
Characters
Batman is the focal point of this issue, and Snyder opts for a vigilante who gives in to raw emotion instead of acting as the cold, calculating detective. Contrary to the critique about power scaling above, you could argue that Batman lost the fight because he’s fighting with rage instead of using his head, but we’ll see if he learns his lesson.
Originality & Concept Execution
A Batman/Joke fight is as commonplace as it gets in comics with ‘Batman’ in the title, but Joker’s demonic form is certainly a new twist. Furthermore, the widening gap between Bruce and his friends holds a unique form of dramatic tension that’s continually interesting. His friends are no angels, but they’re also not Gotham’s gangsters… yet. So it’s interesting to see how long that tension lasts.
Pros and Cons
Art Samples:
The Scorecard:
Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 3/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 4/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 1.5/2
Final Thoughts:
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Absolute Batman #25 delivers the long-awaited first fight between Absolute Batman and Absolute Joker, and it delivers. Scott Snyder’s script pulses with dramatic tension from start to finish, and Nick Dragotta’s artwork sells Joker’s intimidation factor as a monster. It’s not a perfect issue, but one of the best in a while.
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