Can something be both dumb and cool at the same time? Can its "dumbness" make it cooler? It's a question that Scott Snyder has been toying with for the past decade with Batman, and has become a reoccurring theme throughout his work on the character. Batman is arguably a brand just as much as a character, and that even reflects in-universe with the at times ridiculous degree he takes every aspect of his crusade. Snyder's definitely nothing if not self-aware, even going back so far as his original run on the title with little absurdities like a bat branded bathroom sink. Absolute Batman serves as a vehicle for him to push the boundary of how far into the extreme he can take that idea.

Nothing highlights this dichotomy more than Alfred's perspective in the book. His exasperation at this Batman's outrageous tactics borders on breaking the fourth wall the way it mirrors the audience's reaction at any given time. You're telling me that Batman drives a monster truck sized Batmobile made from a customized dump truck? It's over the top, nonsensical, juvenile, and still a blast. The hope, then, is that the audience joins him in making the leap from "I may actually hate Batman" to "I may actually  love Batman".

Alfred is more than just a stand-in for the reader; he's also a way to deliver exposition. It's an inescapable part of almost every story, and often the dullest. The secret is trying to keep the reader's interest while you explain things to them. Snyder's, and more specifically artist Nick Dragotta's, solution is to fill those expositional pages with a big Mad Max-esque chase sequence. For the most part, I'd say they succeeded. Dragotta gets to show off why he was hired on for this project, as each page whips your attention from one focus to the next, never giving you a chance to get settled. If the reader is always on edge they can't be bored, right? The high-octane action and violence acts as the spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down, and boy is it sweet.

If I had one point of criticism for this issue, it'd be that there's maybe too much exposition. Beyond Alfred, we also get flashbacks to when Bruce was a child with Selina, an extended talk with Eddie as the man in the chair explaining how Black Mask's tech works, and a scene with Black Mask himself as he explains elements of his plan to Commissioner Bullock. None of these are bad scenes, but having them all hit one after another starts to make you really notice the extent of the explaining.

What keeps a lot of this from becoming too much of a problem is the fact that the world they're describing is intrinsically interesting. This series can come across as very superficial, but I really think Snyder has put the work in to make the setting captivating. I'm never particularly bothered about the extended sequences describing how Batman exists in this world or how Black Mask's plan is supposed to work because I want to know more. He knows how to create a compelling plot that draws you in, and I think so far Absolute Batman is a demonstration of those abilities.

Recommended If

• You want to know more about how Black Mask's plan is supposed to work
• Nick Dragotta's action sequences are still a lot of fun
• Sometimes ridiculous things can be all the cooler for it

Overall

Absolute Batman #3 continues to fully embrace the absurdity in how over the top its action is. It even manages to have its cake and eat it too by making its characters point out how ridiculous things like a giant dump truck Batmobile really are, while still savoring every minute. The issue is more exposition heavy than previous ones, but a combination of exciting action and interesting world building keeps it from ever getting boring.

Score: 8/10

DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of this review.