24
In this review of Absolute Batman #24, as Batman hunts Scarecrow in a burning cornfield for brutal revenge, a new hero emerges with a personal mission of his own.
Absolute Batman #24 main cover by Nick Dragotta (DC Comics)
Absolute Batman #24
Written by: Scott Snyder
Art and main cover: Nick Dragotta
Variant covers: Kare Andrews, Clay Mann, Sozomaika, Philip Andrade
Number of pages: 32 pages
Release date: September 23, 2026
This review contains spoilers.
It’s safe to say that Scott Snyder and I have a contentious writer-reader relationship. To be fair, he probably doesn’t know or care. Since the Absolute Universe began, I have been seriously following the journey of the Batman of this world, and of all of them, Absolute Batman #24 takes the cake and largely functions as a bridging theme that brilliantly ties together the current conflicts while also setting the stage for what comes next. From the first page, the tension is palpable as the media declares Tim Drake dead at age 16, while painting our hero as the “enemy of Gotham.” It’s a remarkably dark time for the city, and Scott Snyder does a masterful job of leaning into that psychological weight from the beginning.
A narrative beat in Absolute Batman #24 What I really enjoyed happens early on, when Bruce meets his mother at the old Gotham Zoo in the bat enclosure. Thomas Wayne hid Bruce and the other students years ago. It is here that we learn that the Court of Owls also encountered Scarecrow in the past when he turned the town against him. He also manipulated them into turning against each other. Seeing Martha hand Bruce a map detailing Scarecrow’s main routes while also giving him a new, untraceable identity really highlights the desperate desire she had for him to live a normal life. But true to form, Bruce rejects the easy way out. He refuses to hide and instead chooses to face the terror head-on to ensure that Scarecrow faces dire consequences for his actions. And it won’t end there…
Little does she know… (DC Comics)
Meanwhile, Alfred’s story in London offers a first-rate parallel to Bruce’s internal struggle. After reuniting with Julia last issue, Alfred finds himself facing his bosses. His superiors deny his request for permission to return to Gotham, officially considering the vigilante to be a violent perpetrator. However, Pennyworth’s subsequent monologue defending Batman is exquisite. It highlights how Bruce, despite suffering the most terrifying trauma a child can suffer, has channeled that pain into bravery instead of succumbing to it. It’s a powerful assessment of what makes this version of the character so enduring.
Of course, the climax of Absolute Batman #24 happens when Batman finally confronts Scarecrow in a cornfield filled with fear toxin. Knowing he is walking into a trap, Batman sets the field on fire, turning the villain’s game against him. Scarecrow manages to stab Batman several times with a multitude of knives, boasting about how he bled Bruce’s father to death in this exact field. But Batman quickly overpowers him. From there, Batman beats up Scarecrow, in my grandmother’s words, like he’d stolen something, before nailing Scarecrow to a stake, leaving him on the field as his namesake. However, the truly hilarious part is not the image of the Scarecrow hanging in the cornfield. It was a little earlier when Batman used Scarecrow’s own rope to seal his mouth. That final image of the Scarecrow propped up was a perfect ending.
Before Absolute Batman #24 At the end, we are treated to a brief but tantalizing reveal of Barbara Gordon in full swing in The Bat. While there’s not much of her in this issue as she arrives at the tunnel junction where she thought she’d meet Bruce, seeing her masked in a trench coat and hood is a huge moment. While it’s just that page (and the cover), Snyder and Dragotta place it perfectly near the end to set the stage for her to take on a larger role in the future as the first member of the Bat-Family. Frankly, I could be in love.
Scott Snyder really got away with this script, but Nick Dragotta’s artwork still shines. Dragotta’s art offers a beautiful depiction of Batman, especially during that chaotic hallucination sequence where Scarecrow is completely overwhelmed by a multi-eyed bat creature. Additionally, Frank Martin’s colors enhance the entire sequence. His ability to balance the bright, violent oranges of the burning cornfield with the heavy, oppressive shadows creates a cool contrast that is exquisitely realized. Those two pages, first with the Hulk-like Batman walking away from the Scarecrow, followed by Barbara with the entire Bat team, were perfectly done.
Normally, I could say something about the covers. However, considering there are over 15 of them across the spectrum of open orders, incentives and retail exclusives. I think I should leave that alone, especially considering I’m ordering three of them…
Final thoughts
Absolute Batman #24 It’s the first comic written by Scott Snyder that I give five stars to. And it is well deserved. It’s an intense, psychological journey that perfectly illustrates why Batman is a true badass. It concludes the Scarecrow confrontation in stunning visual style and builds massive anticipation as Bruce turns his sights on the Joker. But as much as I’m excited for that showdown, I’m also ready to see The Bat kick some ass.
Final thoughts
Absolute Batman #24 is the first comic written by Scott Snyder that I have given five stars to. And it is well deserved. It’s an intense, psychological journey that perfectly illustrates why Batman is a true badass. It concludes the Scarecrow confrontation in stunning visual style and builds massive anticipation as Bruce turns his sights on the Joker. But as much as I’m excited for that showdown, I’m also ready to see The Bat kick some ass.
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