Written by: Scott Snyder
Art by: Marcos Martín (guest artist)
Colors by: Muntsa Vincente
Letters by: Clayton Cowles
Cover art by: Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin (cover A)
Cover price: $4.99
Release date: May 14, 2025
Absolute Batman #8, by DC Comics on 5/14/25, finds Bruce Wayne learning that the cold sting of death is nothing compared to the icy touch of Mr. Freeze.
Is Absolute Batman #8 Good?
Recap
When we last left the Caped Crusader from the Darkseid Universe in Absolute Batman #7, Bruce Wayne sought the help of Matches Malone to get fake credentials. Why? So Bruce could infiltrate the sinister Ark-M prison facility. Matches agreed, but the low-level fraudster died after he was exposed to a deadly infection. Bruce's investigation led him to a research business specializing in cryogenic solutions. When Bruce observed the presence of the same infectious material that killed Matches, he was attacked by the son of Victor and Nora Fries and an early benefactor of the life-saving cryo-freezing process - Victor Fries Jr.
Plot Synopsis
In Absolute Batman #8, Bruce wakes up to find himself strapped inside a cryo-stasis chamber by Victor Fries Jr. The villain explains that Bruce's icy prison will torture him with endless pain as every cell in his body screams for the cold to end. Fries activates the chamber and leaves while the chamber slowly fills with the skin-searing freezing solution. Bruce's only chance of escape is to use the mini-Batarang launcher hidden inside his arm cast.
As the tank fills and the freezing pain increases, Bruce recalls the informal memorial he and his friends held for Matches Malone. We learn Thomas Wayne died in a mass shooting because he stayed outside to save Matches, who fell behind. Matches carried the burden of guilt all his life, motivating his daring behavior. Waylon sees that self-destructive daring in Bruce when he becomes Batman, so he challenges him to live instead of taking risks that will lead to his death.
While Bruce struggles to escape, Fries contacts his benefactor from his lab. Fries created the unseasonable snowfall blanketing the city because the snow contains a type of marker that infects everyone in the city whose skin makes contact with the snow. Why? Unknown, but Fries's benefactor considers the effort a job well done.
Suddenly, Batman breaks down the door to confront Fries. In response, Fries activates a small army of previously frozen individuals to emerge from their cryo-chambers and attack Batman as a zombified mob. Remembering Waylon's challenge, Batman chooses to flee and live rather than fight to the death. The issue ends when Waylon receives an unexpected visitor (not Batman).
First Impressions
Writer Scott Snyder takes a break from the bombastic, over-the-top theatrics to deliver an issue that's smart, emotionally gripping, and meaningful, with a twist of horror for good measure. I'm not sold on the guest artist, but the writing is excellent.
How’s the Art?
Marcos Martín's movements and anatomy for Fries and his frozen zombies add a creep factor to the issue, which elevates Fries well beyond a weird guy with a medical condition and an ice gun. Fries is spindly, deceptively strong, and monstrous-looking enough to put anyone on edge. To be fair, Martin's style is flat and squiggly in too many places, especially during the fights, to maintain the hard-hitting edge Dragotta brings to the title, but Fries looks great, so the art is a mixed bag of positives and negatives.
What’s great about Absolute Batman #8?
Scott Snyder succeeds on multiple levels by creating a Class-A villain introduction, filling in a hidden piece of Bruce's backstory that enriches his motivations, and setting the hero back in such a way that moves him forward in his mission. Absolute Batman #8 is a surprisingly dramatic and emotional issue that far exceeds the typical Batman stories we've received over the last few years.
What’s not great about Absolute Batman #8?
Putting aside the misgivings about the art, Scott Snyder may have started too many open mysteries to keep track of what's happening, and it's starting to get cumbersome. Where did Alfred go? Who or what is in control of Ark-M? What's up with that gross, tentacled guy at the end of issue #6? Who hired Fries to infect the citizens of Gotham City and why? Who does Alfred work for, and what is their secret agenda? What's the Joker up to?
The list goes on and on. A handful of mysteries is perfectly fine. Here, the list is becoming unwieldy.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Final Thoughts
Absolute Batman #8 is a dramatic, emotional comic embedded in a harrowing tale of horror and escape. Scott Snyder's script well exceeds the level of depth you'd expect to see in a Batman comic as Bruce fights to live rather than fight to the death. I'm not sold on Marcos Martín's flat, squiggly art style, but he reimagines Mr. Freeze as a creepy, formidable threat.
8.5/10
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