Posted in: Batman, Comic Spoilers, Comics, DC Comics | Tagged: absolute, Absolute Batman, nick dragotta, robins, scott snyder

Is Absolute Batman #23 "A Death In The Family" Done Right? (Spoilers)

Is Absolute Batman #23 Is "A Death In The Family" Done Right? Major Bat-Spoilers down the page...

This week sees the publication of Absolute Batman #23 by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta. It is the biggest-selling comic in the direct market of comic book stores by far, even if Rob Liefeld refuses to draw a cover for it. If Absolute Batman were a comic book publisher of its own, it would be the fourth biggest-selling publisher in the direct market. An entire industry of retailer-exclusive variant covers, multiple printings, and first appearances has developed around it, and new comic book stores have opened as a result. As a result, the creative team can pretty much do whatever they want and revisit DC Comics characters and storylines however they want as well.

And tomorrow, Absolute Batman #23 does its own version of A Death In The Family. The classic Batman storyline that saw the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin, after being beaten by The Joker, and then blown up, as voted on by the reading public, was later reversed as Jason Todd returned to life as Red Hood, wielding the same crowbar that was used by the Joker to kill him.

Scott Snyder previously revisited that storyline with Greg Capullo in the New 52 Batman series, in which Alfred Pennyworth lost a hand for a time. I understand that there were originally more serious impacts on the planned Batfamily, but those were later rejected or changed by DC Comics execs and editorial.

But no one is saying no to Scott Snyder now. And so we have the preview of Absolute Batman #23… which follows the death of Jim Gordon, at the hands of The Scarecrow as directed by multi-billionaire Jack Grimm, The Joker, framing Batman for the murder.

And the Joker's Robin programme, used by Deathstroke to try to take down Batman. With Scarecrow and Joker revealing how everything was planned for Bruce Wayne from the beginning, part of their Batman Project. And that Thomas Wayne did not die but was kept prisoner by the Joker all this time, pushing Bruce Wayne further into conspiracy theory.

Absolute Batman #23 by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta

I reckon the Thomas Wayne we saw was a creation of Clayface, who joins the fray this issue against Batman, again at the direction of Scarecrow and Joker. As the Robins rest from their battle, even as they are being voted on by members of the public.

And certain Robins return to the fray. But there's not just one Batman out there now, there's the Clayface take on Absolute Batman as well… and as we go beyond the preview, we need the big Absolute Batman Spoiler signage…

As we get a very new Death In The Family. It's just not a family that Batman was a part of…

Which Robin? Well, we can only spoil so much… Absolute Batman #23 by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta is published by DC Comics tomorrow.

ABSOLUTE BATMAN #23
(W) Scott Snyder (A/CA) Nick Dragotta
BATMAN VS. BATMAN! In a climactic showdown, Batman is forced to battle an unyielding enemy in not just the Robins but in himself. More than one dead character signals a call for help…and a symbol of hopelessness as more friends become enemies. $4.99 8/12/2026

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