This is a big week for comics! It’s the launch of DC’s new Absolute Universe line of books! Do they live up to the hype? You’ll have to read on and see!

Comic Book of the Week is Absolute Batman #1, because yeah, it totally lives up to the hype, for the most part.

Meanwhile, a bunch of good comics came out this week, but a lot of them were mid storyline or I haven’t been reviewing them regularly, so I didn’t add them to this already sparse list. Ah well. Beyond that, I’m still very much enjoying The Penguin and Agatha All Along, and have finally started watching the second season of The Rings of Power. So I’d say I’m in a good place. May finally try to beat Star Wars: Outlaws this weekend.

Comic Reviews: Absolute Batman #1 and Exceptional X-Men #2.

Absolute Batman #1
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Nick Dragotta
Colorist: Frank Martin
Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Welp, as the kick-off to this new Absolute Universe thing, this first issue is a damn good start.

I don’t want to spoil much of anything in this first issue. But basically, popular Batman writer Scott Snyder is given free reign to create his own, original Batman reboot. The basic premise is the same in that Batman is a costumed vigilante who fights bad guys in Gotham City, and a lot of familiar characters are used, but Snyder puts almost everybody into new places and uses them in different ways. For example, Jim Gordon is the mayor. And Bruce Wayne is a working class guy instead of a billionaire. In this first issue, we get a deep introduction to Gotham City, the bad guys troubling it, and then we get to see Batman do this thing. All of it pretty great.

Comic Rating: 9/10 – Great.

So yeah, the biggest thing to know about Absolute Batman is that it’s really just a regular Batman story, but some of the pieces are rearranged. Like, Bruce Wayne is working class and not a billionaire, where else can we put Alfred? Gordon is the mayor, so maybe Bullock is Commissioner. What do we do with Joker? Penguin? Catwoman? That sort of thing. And I dig it. Snyder clearly had some fun designing this world and it shows on the page. This is a very well-written comic, that touches on everything it needs to touch upon, while delivering exciting action and immersive character/world introductions. He sets up what’s going on, lays out the various stakes, and we’re off and running pretty much right away.

This is not a gripe, just an explanation: This issue does not reinvent the wheel. This isn’t some “Bold New Direction” or any of that PR speak. It’s a classic Batman comic. We’ve got wild costumed bad guys, and then Batman shows up and uses his fighting skills and gadgetry to kick their butts and save the day. And that’s fine by me! I’m not looking for Grant Morrison reinventing the X-Men here. Who doesn’t love a good Batman comic? And this is a good Batman comic. I like pretty much all the new takes on the familiar characters, and they all work well in this introductory issue.

I’m also super into the artwork. It’s good, solid Batman artwork. I like the new design, including the cool hook weapons on his cape. The symbol ax is fine by me. This all works for me.

But I suppose I’ll hold my absolute judgement when we see what Snyder does with Absolute Robin…

TL;DR: Not a grand reinvention so much as just a good, solid, entertaining Batman comic, with some of the major players shuffled around into new roles. Should be a fun read.

Exceptional X-Men #2
Writer: Eve L. Ewing
Artist: Carmen Carnero
Colorist: Nolan Woodard
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham

I’m very glad that all these different X-books all have their own premise, even if too many of them involve recruiting random new mutants.

Kitty reschedules her date with Nina and they choose Nina’s cousin’s high school soccer game, because it’s quirky and fun. But the game is interrupted when some bigots go after a mutant in the bleachers, and then another mutant from the team interrupts to save him, and then Kitty has to save both of them. She decides to solve all her problems by bringing together the two new mutants with Trista from last issue (who won’t stop texting her), but the three of them decide to go to Kitty for mentorship. No worries, though, because Emma Frost shows up to take over.

Comic Rating: 8/10 – Very Good.

I am very much enjoying all of the new X-Men-titled comics. Each has its own flavor of storytelling, and each is well written with good art. Exceptional X-Men is excelling at the down-to-Earth, personal approach, with its focus on Kitty Pryde living her life and having adventure intercede. Kitty is written well, and the artwork is really good at slice-of-life. I like the story of how Kitty keeps running into mutant teens in trouble and is compelled to help. It’s worked well for two issues so far, and bringing all the teens together to get them out of her hair is a fun touch, especially when it backfires. Adding Emma Frost and eventually Iceman to this mix should be fun. And like I said, I enjoy how each of the three X-books has its own unique voice and story in how their X-Team is developed. It really works for this new relaunch.

Also, on a personal note, I think Ewing and her art team have done a very good job at establishing these new mutants. I get their personalities and their powers pretty much immediately, whereas I couldn’t really tell you much of what the other new mutants in the other comics can do.

TL;DR: The personal, character-focus of this series is a real standout amidst the other X-books, making Exceptional X-Team truly exceptional.

The comics I review in my Hench-Sized reviews are just the usual comics I grab from Comixology any given week, along with a few impulse buys I might try on a whim. So if there are any comics or series you’d like me to review each week, let me know in the comments.

———————