Absolute Batman #2 Review: The Batmobile, Alfred’s Mission & Gotham’s Anger

You wanted the Batmobile? Be careful what you wish for. Absolute Batman #2 picks up right where the Absolute Batman #1 left off, only now, the Batmobile roars into view like Gotham’s new urban legend on wheels. Snyder and Dragotta aren’t easing up; they’re pushing this reboot harder, louder, and meaner. Alfred’s still our eyes on the street, the Party Animals are still tearing the city apart, and Batman? He’s a bigger problem than all of them combined. If Issue #1 was a knife in the dark, this one’s a blunt instrument, and it’s not afraid to leave dents.

The same creative team sticks around, Snyder scripting, Dragotta drawing, Frank Martin painting every panel with psychological decay, and Clayton Cowles lettering like a man possessed.

But this time, they’re louder. Less noir, more nightmare.

Gotham feels even more like a crater waiting to collapse in on itself. You get the sense that Snyder isn’t just writing a Batman story, he’s writing a myth that wants to punch you in the throat.

Not sure if this is still Year One, or Year End.

Alfred vs. Batman: The Field Agent’s POV

The issue opens with Alfred. Again.

But this isn’t “Master Bruce” Alfred. It’s field agent Alfred. Suit, tie, scoped rifle in hand. He’s out on surveillance, tracking the Party Animals, Gotham’s new gang of chaos freaks.

But instead of finding Black Mask or some rooftop brawl, he runs into Batman.

And Batman is… not subtle.

He crashes through a burning building like a goddamn urban legend. Doesn’t say a word. Just wrecks everything.

Alfred’s mission? Observe and report.

Bruce’s Gotham: Upgraded Firepower, Primal Fear

Here’s where Snyder leans in hard. Batman’s new methods are neither clean nor elegant. He doesn’t toss batarangs. He dumps vinegar into salt water to create corrosive acid traps.

He rigs entire buildings to burn down, timed to his movements.

He stages an ambush inside a structure shaped like his own cowl, because subtlety is dead and buried in this version of Gotham.

And then comes the big one…

Behold: The Absolute Batmobile

It’s not sleek. It’s not silent. It’s a goddamn dump truck from hell.

Steel-plated. Exhaust-belching. Covered in jagged armor. When Bruce drives it, it’s less a vehicle and more an announcement: “I’m here. You’re already too late.”

The Batmobile doesn’t purr anymore. It roars.

Snyder and Dragotta aren’t trying to impress you. They’re trying to intimidate you. And it works, mostly. Some will find this new Batmobile comically oversized, like Batman joined Mad Max. But you can’t say it’s forgettable.

Zoo Trauma Echoes

Bruce’s trauma, the zoo shooting that killed his father, continues to echo through every panel.

The enclosure. The sound. The way the bats moved.

That moment broke a child and built a monster. We see more flashbacks here, kids crying, teachers bleeding, doors slamming. These motifs thread through Bruce’s thoughts like a sickness that never leaves.

His origin isn’t a moment. It’s a system failure with a body count.

And that memory of the zoo? Still the most haunting thing Snyder’s written in years.

Action & Artistry: Panels, Pacing, and Pitch-Dark Style

Nick Dragotta is doing some of his best work. The layouts are claustrophobic one second, explosive the next. Panels stack like bricks before they crash into full-page splash violence.

Frank Martin’s color work is once again stellar, especially during the Batmobile’s debut. Glowing reds, hellish yellows.

The entire issue is built like a panic attack. No rest. No breath. Just forward momentum and fear.

This isn’t just storytelling. It’s pressure, pure, visual pressure.

Absolute Batman #2 Strengths, Weaknesses & Geek Notes

Let’s break it down:

Strengths

• The pacing is brutal (in a good way).
• Visual storytelling is top-tier.
• The Batmobile debut will stir collectors.

Weaknesses

• Exposition overload in places.
• Some readers might find the tone too “try hard”, especially the Batmobile reveal, which is bold… but maybe a little ridiculous?

Personally? I respect the swing. Even if it’s messy.

Collector’s Watch: Is Absolute Batman #2 Worth It?

Absolute Batman #2 builds on all the right things:

• Continued origin myth
• First full appearance of the Absolute Batmobile
• Deeper Alfred arc
• Tension between Bruce and Alfred begins to shift

Spec buzz? It’ll depend on how big this vehicle becomes in future issues. But for now, if you’re already in on #1, this is a must-pull.

Don’t slab it yet. But don’t miss it either.

Pull List Verdict: Keep Going?

If you’re new? Still very accessible, if you’re okay with violence and chaos.

If you’re a veteran Bat-reader? You’ll either love the ambition or roll your eyes at the scale. Either way, you’ll have an opinion, and that means it’s working.

This issue doubles down on its promise. But can it sustain?

For now? I say: Keep it on your list.

Final Thoughts: Chaos, Cars, and a City Watching

You give Batman the Batmobile, and Gotham gives back the apocalypse. Snyder and Dragotta are building a legend here. It’s messy. Loud. Terrifying. A little indulgent. But damn if it isn’t compelling.

Absolute Batman #2 isn’t safe. It’s scarring. And I couldn’t turn away.

In Absolute Batman #1 we got the Joker who never smiles; in Absolute Batman #2, the curtain lifts on Selina Kyle. She’s not the slick thief or playful foil of old, but a street-hardened survivor sizing Bruce up like a mark. Dragotta frames it like a mob standoff, Martin drenches it in sick greens and bruised yellows, and Snyder quietly sets another first-appearance hook for the Absolute continuity, the kind collectors remember to bag.

If you’re new to this whole DC Absolute Universe business, start with my beginner’s guide to see how this rebooted Gotham fits into the bigger picture. And if you’re already thinking like a collector, my Absolute Universe collecting guide breaks down what to watch, bag, and maybe slab.