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/21.webp "Absolute Batman #21")
What part was woke? Not asking aggressively, I legit don’t remember a woke part in this issue.
Absolute Batman #21
| Writer | Scott Snyder |
| Artist | Nick Dragotta |
| Cover Price | $4.99 |
Friends become enemies. Enemies become friends. Final forms are revealed, and Scarecrow’s reign of terror threatens to upend everything.
CRITIC REVIEWS Back to Top
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10
Get Your Comic On - Neil Vagg
Jun 17, 2026Absolute Batman #21 is another huge triumph for Scott Snyder and the team. It navigates a number of different setups between huge action set pieces, a rather grand funeral and a slightly twisted finale to setup a number of huge storylines for year three of the Absolute initiative. Read Full Review
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10
Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield
Jun 17, 2026Ever since the original Batman run, Scott Snyder’s Joker has always been among the scariest I’ve ever read, but this is on a whole other level. The level of disturbing visuals by Nick Dragotta work absolutely perfectly to end the issue with literal shivers down your spine. Read Full Review
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10
Comic Watch - Kevin Rossi
Jun 17, 2026Absolute Batman #21 delivers another outstanding chapter of the series. Snyder's pacing and focus, combined with incredible work from Dragotta, Martin, and Napolitano, create an issue that is both visually spectacular and thematically on point, that continues to explore the line between humanity and monstrosity. Read Full Review
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10
Nerd Initiative - Matthew Roth
Jun 17, 2026Again, call me a broken record, but every issue Absolute Batman finds a new gear and throws something new at us. I’m in love with this run, and the final few pages had me out of my seat. IS there a comic hall of fame? This team is first ballot. Read Full Review
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10
But Why Tho? - William Tucker
Jun 17, 2026Absolute Batman Issue 21 carries forward a city full of stories. Whilst Batman may be a charging figurehead and the tip of the spear, the rest of the city and the characters expand around him. Read Full Review
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10
Lyles Movie Files - Jeffrey Lyles
Jun 20, 2026Absolute Batman 21 doesn’t lack for big moments and excitement as the creative team behind DC’s top selling title aren’t content to rest on the acclaim and accolades as they continue delivering a considerately great read. Read Full Review
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9.6
The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally
Jun 17, 2026Dragotta crafts some beautifully detailed and visually thrilling art throughout the issue. From the beginning fight to the dark reveal towards the end, I was mesmerized by the imagery in this issue. Read Full Review
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9.5
Fanlight Zone - Ken M.
Jun 17, 2026Gotham becomes a war zone as the Robins look to finish Batman once and for all. Snyder leans into the action portions with fearless direction. Dragotta and Martin bring out the uneasiness of Wayne’s crumbling world. The iconic run continues for comics’ most talked about series! Read Full Review
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9.5
Comic Book Revolution - Kevin Lainez
Jun 18, 2026We’ve gotten to a point in the pacing for Absolute Batman that Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta are trying to top what they did before. That is the genuine feeling created by everything that happens in Absolute Batman #21. Read Full Review
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9.3
SciFiPulse - Ian Cullen
Jun 28, 2026This was a really enjoyable issue that not only sets up a number of future storylines but also gives us a little more backstory for this version of Bruce Wayne. I particularly enjoyed the moment at Commissioner Gordon’s funeral where Oswald Cobblepot effectively announces himself as the Penguin. It’ll be interesting to see how these reimagined versions of Batman’s iconic rogues’ gallery differ from their Prime Universe counterparts as the series continues. Read Full Review
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9.0
AIPT - David Brooke
Jun 17, 2026Absolute Batman #21 fires on all cylinders, delivering a fantastic opening fight, meaningful fallout from Jim Gordon's death, and strong character work across Gotham's growing cast. Nick Dragotta's art remains among the best in comics, while Scott Snyder continues to expand this universe in compelling ways. The structure may feel a bit segmented, but every scene serves a purpose and builds toward a jaw-dropping final act. A knockout issue with a killer ending. Read Full Review
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9.0
The Batman Universe - Kris Burke
Jun 17, 2026This issue had it all: a long, hard fought battle, a deep dive into Bruce’s psyche, and a cliffhanger that had me almost yell out “FINALLY!” when it happened. Read Full Review
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9.0
Dark Knight News - Eric Lee
Jun 29, 2026Absolute Batman #21 is just filled with so many good story beats that it feels so full and satisfying without becoming overstuffed. This title continues to be the best Batman comic on the market today. Read Full Review
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8.0
ComicBook.com - Marcus Helminiak
Jun 17, 2026Overall, this issue is very good, but it does have a few hallmarks of small nitpicks that could become problems if they go unaddressed. The story is charging forward so quickly that it will start to affect characterization soon if it doesn’t slow down. Still, there’s no denying that this issue is a whole lot of awesome fun in a way that only Absolute Batman can be. It’s big, loud, and in your face, and I love it. I hope that it slows down just a bit for its own sake, but everything we have in this issue is definitely worth the price of admission. It continues to give us way more than the average issue, at the very least. Read Full Review
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8.0
Henchman-4-Hire - Sean Ian Mills
Jun 20, 2026A lot happens in this issue and all of it is pretty great, though I think some of the moments could have used more room to breathe and be fleshed out. Read Full Review
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7.0
Comical Opinions - Gabriel Hernandez
Jun 17, 2026Absolute Batman #21 concludes the hero’s fist fight against the Robins, holds a funeral for a friend, and brings Bruce face-to-face with the Joker. Nick Dragotta’s monstrous art is on point, and Scott Snyder gives you plenty of dramatic moments, but the script lacks cohesion or a building sense of momentum toward some greater goal. The pieces are there, but they need more mixing and baking. Read Full Review
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4.0
You Don't Read Comics - Russ Bickerstaff
Jun 18, 2026There is something to be said for turning a lithe sinewy and clever detective into a big haphazard chunk of raw meat that get slammed around the panels for 20 pages or more, but that sort of thing has been done better elsewhere. There's clearly our love of Frank Miller’s style that is painstakingly slammed into the page. It’s been a long time since Dark Knight, though. Snyder and company are going to need a lot more inventiveness if they're going to be able to build this title into something more memorable. Honestly, though, it doesn't really matter. It's selling really well. I guess that's the most important thing. It's too bad it’s not a more cleverly-rendered story. Read Full Review
USER REVIEWS Back to Top
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10
Proof that miserable conservatives are not the demographic for this comic.
+ Like • Comment• Likes (2) -
10
One of the few books I think is worth the $5 price tag.
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9.5
Snyder and Dragotta just keep cooking with this.
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8.5
Really good. I feel like a lot of this book is on the cusp of greatness, but just falling slightly short of achieving that. Abomination was the main realization of said level, really. There's a lot that I really enjoy here. I especially liked Jim's funeral and Barbara's interaction with the Robins there, as well as the first meeting between Bruce Wayne and Jack Grimm. The latter of those was rather short, but I also don't think it necessarily needed to be some long, drawn-out thing. As a matter of fact, it's probably better that it wasn't, as they're likely to have longer interactions in the future. In any case, those were both strong highlights of the issue. That said, the opening fight between Batman and the Robins was cool and enjoyable, more
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8.0
we barely see the two face character and his anime esque design is awesome. most of this book is dope as hell. but its still just upper mid in the end. mostly because its not cohesive at all. a down issue for me from how good this series usually is and thats still an 8/10.
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8.0
Asides there being no straw man in this issue, it was pretty solid.
By the end however, maybe the strawman isn’t who we think it is..? -
7.0
I just don’t get it. It might just not be for me.
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4.0
Proof that bad and woke comics can be successful.
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7.5
2025 In Review:
