In this review of Absolute Batman #8, Bruce finds himself at the mercy of Victor Fries, Jr., in the Ark-M facility. Can he find a way to escape?
Absolute Batman #8 main cover by Nick Dragotta (DC Comics)
Absolute Batman # 8
Writer: Scott Synder
Artist: Marcos Martin
Colorist: Muntsa Vicente
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Absolute Batman # 8 picks up with Absolute Freeze holding Bruce captive and preparing to put him in the icey slumber along with other wealthy people of Gotham’s past who are looking to prolong their life. But as Freeze says, this ice chamber makes the victim wish for death.
We see intercut scenes of Bruce with his friends and he and Waylon are having it out. Waylon is calling Bruce and Batman a coward. We find out that Thomas Wayne ran out to get Matches during that fateful day at the zoo and that is why Thomas was killed and Matches blamed himself.
Bruce is able to free himself and suits up as Batman. He is still feeling the effects of this cold tub that Freeze put him in but he is able to use a blow torch right in Freeze’s face to slow him down. Freeze unleashes a room full of these cold zombies onto Batman. Batman is taking out these zombies. They are so weak and fragile so Batman easily takes them but there are so many of them.
Batman is able to get free from the zombies and calls Waylon for help. Waylon does not answer because as he gets back to his gym, he is kidnapped by some men in suits who comment that he is the perfect specimen. And to take him to Ark M.
Next up: Absolute Bane.
Analysis: There is not a lot of meat on the bone in this issue. Just Batman getting out of a death trap with really no effects. While Bruce was in that chamber, he was turning blue and then he busted out (somehow I really don’t know) and he was fine. He took out these zombies and escaped so does that mean Freeze is defeated? I assume the Freeze story will pick up in the next issue. Two issue story arcs are a thing of the past. Freeze was talking to someone before Batman showed up. Maybe he is working for Bane? And Waylon getting kidnapped and going to Ark M- is that connected?
The strength of these issues for me is still the relationship between Bruce and the gang. The interactions have been the best part. Sometimes only your friends can really tell the truth that you do not want to hear. And that is what Waylon does to Bruce in this issue. Waylon tells Bruce that he will die if he does not accept help. And Bruce listens and calls for help before Waylon was kidnapped.
I know at some point that the friends will turn and end up closer to their main universe counterparts but I really hope they don’t. Once again, I like how this Bruce/Batman has friends. It makes such a nice difference from the main universe. They’ve known Bruce forever, they know the secret, and now they can help. I’m sure it’ll hurt when the turn happens but I’m rooting for it not to happen.
