Absolute Batman (2024-) #7

Absolute Batman (2024)

by Scott Snyder, Marcos Martín (Artist)

It’s about to get icy cold in Gotham City…as we reveal the connectionsbetween a young, up-and-coming scientist named Victor Fries, his historywith the Ark M experiment, and what it all has to do with the mysteriousJoker. A bombastic two-parter with a guest artist, the one and only super-star Marcos Martín, starts here!

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Batman, Superheroes, Comic Book, Crime, Science Fiction

Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2025

About the author

Scott Snyder is the Eisner and Harvey Award winning writer on DC Comics Batman, Swamp Thing, and his original series for Vertigo, American Vampire. He is also the author of the short story collection, Voodoo Heart, published by the Dial Press in 2006. The paperback version was published in the summer of 2007.

Reviews

[Zoey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art of this arc is not my favorite, but this version of Mr. Freeze being the son while Victor and Nora Fries are locked in some strange ice suspension technology certainly achieved the creepy effect it was going for.

This Mr. Freeze is less a man and more a monster, and I’m curious to see how Batman will deal with him. Especially considering that he might be grievously injured already.

“Hell, Bruce. Look at you. You’re already dead.” -Waylon

[MrGlassWontBreak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Bruce’s relationship with his childhood friends from the start, but apparently he also built Batman using his friend help, knowledge, and resources, without them even knowing.

Due to the whole fiasco with Black Mask, Gotham is now under martial law, and Bruce is still investigating the Ark-M black site, which leads him to a freakishly mutated version of Doctor Freeze. Loved the art change in this chapter, the guest artist is doing some good work.

[Cooper Hillier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god, this is incredible and just what I’ve been wanting from this series. The first arc with Black Mask and the Party Animals was fine, but not something that really interested me. This, however, is perfect. Fantastic panel work and the tension was amazing. I’m so excited to see where this goes

[Colin Post · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marcos Martín and Munsta Vicente on Absolute Batman…oh boy! This is a perfect match for the story arc introducing Ark M as Marcos and Munsta bring some unreal body horror. The peak level art across the entire Absolute line, including the fill-in artists, is the secret sauce for why the entire Absolute universe is must-read stuff.

[Anna Quilter · Rating 3 out of 5]

ABSOLUTE ZERO

Second arc sees a mysterious building Ark M rise in Gotham...a son taking over from where his father left of and a death close to home

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

This version of Mr. Freeze using an ancient bacterium from ancient icebergs is more interesting than any other Mr. Freeze antics that I’ve seen (which isn’t much, admittedly). Still boils down to “science gone wrong and turns into monster”, but I’m looking forward to the next issue.

[Corban Maynard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monstrosity at the end

[Michael Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m digging Scott Snyder’s radically different take on Mr. Freeze, not to mention one panel in particular that would make Junji Ito proud.

[dusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to dive into this issue after how strong the first arc with Black Mask was, and so far, it has not disappointed me.

Gotham is placed under a citywide curfew, officially to “keep people safe,” but really to make it easier to hunt down the Bat. We’re also introduced to Victor Fries—except this isn’t the Victor we know. This is Victor Jr., his son, and his version of Mr. Freeze is genuinely chilling. He’s frozen both his mother and father, along with countless other victims, keeping them trapped in a suspended state of torture for as long as he wants. It’s a wildly unique and disturbing take on the character.

His origin, growing up with a rare terminal disorder, is incredibly compelling. Watching him essentially get cured himself, only to become a literal monster in the process is both fascinating and horrifying. The eerie tone surrounding everything about him works perfectly.

The ending was an excellent cliffhanger, with Bruce being sent to the land of ice, literally frozen. And the ongoing arguments between Bruce and his friends about him being Batman, and the danger it brings into all of their lives, remain one of the most compelling emotional threads of this entire run for me.

[Christian M. T · Rating 4 out of 5]

The city of Gotham is now under martial law following the black mask incident, and Bruce and his 'friends' come to morn a loss whilst they also come to terms with who Bruce really is... but crime never stops, so Batman continues to investigate and stumbles into a new foe that is as cold as ice!!!

An interesting start to a new arc that shows how Batman's work is interferring with Bruce's life or is that how Bruce wants it... he is now Batman, and that may be all he wants to be!

Guest artist Marcos Martín provides a disticnt switch up in style and feels more classic comic art and with a more colour saturated scenes by Muntsa Vincente provide a unique light to the panels where the firat arc was muted and dark... just how I like it, but I can appreciate the artists' work here and am happy to see this style continue throughout the 'Absolute Zero' arc, which is written by series mainstay Snyder!

[Saket · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t get me wrong, I’m effing with ts very hard. But Snyder’s “interweaving two scenes at once because thematic parallelism” stunt is starting to get a little repetitive.

The new art by Marcos Martin is good, I love the use of colour with his style much more than Dragotta’s. But Dragotta’s exaggerations of human anatomy sort of made Absolute Batman Absolute Batman to me. The art is a bit better and a bit worse, but overall as good to me.

[Ramya · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this issue, Batman digs into the mysterious death of Matches Malone and uncovers a creepy conspiracy involving mutant bacteria, and a reimagined Mr. Freeze. The vibe is dark and detective-heavy, with eerie art that amps up the horror. It’s slower than earlier issues but builds toward something big, with a disturbing yet gripping new take on Freeze’s origin.

[zee · Rating 5 out of 5]

omfg these biblically accurate demons Bruce is fighting 😭😭😭😭😭

broo the way his friends want to be by his siddside but is lone bat self doesn't want them too, broke my heart
I get why he is pushing them away but dude they're apart of who Batman is now, I love that

[Carrietta · Rating 4 out of 5]

9/10 (Percebi que não dá pra dar nota quebrada aqui)

começo muito interessante de novo arco, A nova origem do senhor frio é interessante, porém a nova arte é TERRÍVEL.

[Myles Gerber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that’s terrifying

[Nikhil Math]

I just want to tell Batman to stop. I get it, but like dude watch out.

[Murphy C · Rating 4 out of 5]

9/26/25

Structured so beautifully and written so brilliantly, the quality (😬 yikes!) of the artwork matters less than it otherwise might have.

[Antonio Escobar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute Batman vs absolute Mr freeze ..?? HERE WE GO

[Raymond Paquette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The framing sequence with the alley was quite cool, and Victor was cold as ice. Did Bruce survive or is he going the wat of Matches?

[The Wintermute System · Rating 5 out of 5]

I take it all back, I love this mr freeze, yes please. More.

[katie. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I think Mr Freeze is my fave villain redesign so far!

[Brett Shupe · Rating 5 out of 5]

very cool idea of reimagining Mr freeze

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

and this issue we meet Victor fries and matches Malone.

[Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Freeze … horrifying

[Liel · Rating 4 out of 5]

freeze was cool as fuck but isley mention is all i need for a 5 stars truthfully. bro wasnt even there it was just an offhand but the anticipation is enough

[Athenae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure if one issue counts as me reading a whole book but whatever!!!! I love this series. This small 2 issue arc was the weakest point so far but it’s still great

[Cybernex007 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this series continues to exemplify peak fiction. And naturally with the introduction of Mr Freeze, a cold front is blowing in. This issue actually starts with a prologue, with a very young Victor traveling to see glaciers with his researcher parents, but it appears Victor is quite sick…bleeding out of the eyes sick. We then Juno to the present day where we see the shadows of Edward, Ozzie, Waylon, and Harvey visiting a memorial in a Gotham city alley. This immediately gets me quite worried about who this could be, but then Harvey begins to speak. He reveals to us that this is a memorial for Mitchell “Matches” Malone, I guess secret identities have also formed a real and memorable place in crime alley. After Harvey gives a touching story, they wonder what actually happened and who saw him last…that’s when Bruce steps out, still in a cast on his arm, and reveals he saw him last.

His story starts a week ago, it’s revealed that all of this takes place a month after the black mask incident and the city has been under martial law, especially to ensure safety for people from threats like the Batman. It’s revealed that “Mayor Hill,” issued these orders and a curfew. And at this time we find Batman on the Elliot (hush connection?!) bridge at 5 in the morning to meet Matches Malone. The weather is acting sporadically, Pennyworth told him to lay low; and even his boss, Lucius, said there would be no construction projects…but there is still one big one…Ark M, the black site being built by the company “JK” odd the coast of Gotham. He needs to get in there, and that’s where Matches comes in. He is an expert in making high end fake ID’s and should be able to get him the papers necessary to get in there…but after Bruce asked him about it for the first time, he didn’t hear back for two weeks…until now. Matches is scared, he went inside the place and found himself on the crew instead of Bruce. It’s interesting to see the effect Bruce has on people in the scenario that he grew up in crime alley with them, matches Malone sneaking into a secret facility to help Bruce. Who would have thought? But it’s much worse the anything we could think of, and it’s already up and running. There are people locked away in there. But before matches can tell Bruce more, he begins to lock up…then all of the pores on his body suddenly open up and blood shoots out everywhere as he goes down hard. Bruce’s cast, even against Pennyworth’s suggestion, is outfitted with a mini batarang launcher that he immediately points at the nearest civilian to stop. But there is no one around that could have done this. Bruce took Matches phone and ran off. As Bruce finishes telling his friends this, they aren’t satisfied…they thought he was dead, they need to talk about Batman.

There wasn’t much on Matches phone, but in a small video he got from the facility, other than the crying and screaming in the background, there was a list of names…Langstrom, Isley, Strange, Fries. Names of researches and doctors from around the world, and the only one with a connection to Gotham is Dr. Victor Fries. Who also happens to have an office in the middle of town pulling enough power for 10 city blocks, he needs to know why. But of course moving at night isn’t the best right now, and while evading some drone strikes from cops, Pennyworth has the impeccable timing to call him. Bruce asked him to look into the biological weapon that killed Matches, but it’s not a virus or weapon…it’s a bacterium, with 0 record of it anywhere. As Batman hangs up, failing to prevent Pennyworth from hearing the action in the background, I want to make note of how much I love the continued use of hooks on his suit. Legit looks like a bat, using his long wings to climb up things.

Bruce wants to stop talking about this part of his life with his friends which leads to this phenomenal moment:

Bruce: “…There’s nothing left to say about it. I should have kept you apart from this. All of you.”

Harvey: “Let me ask you something. Was it for Batman, when you clerked with me?”

Waylon: “And trained with me.”

Ozzie: “And slummed it with me.”

Edward: “And studied with me? Funny, Bruce. It looks like you did keep us all ‘A Part” when it comes to Batman.”

But Bruce isn’t hearing any of it, especially because of what happened to Matches, and just wants them to drop it and let him get back to it. As we explore Bruce’s tome investigating Victor’s company “V-core,” we see that he drops Batman to investigate as a city engineer coming for a check. After all, why is there so much power needed? As soon as he gets in the lobby is towered by blocks of ice containing real frozen specimens…that Victor is quick to walk out and confirm are real. He assumes that Bruce is here for a power check, although Bruce provides credentials showing himself as Pennyworth. Bruce sees an opportunity to get Victor talking, it seems that Victor is very open to the company, but that’s when it is revealed that Victor’s parents were the one to start this place and they still overlook it…while remaining frozen in ice themselves. It turns out that this is Victor Jr, Victor and Nora are preserved in ice. A symbol to the faith of their mission, to develop a way for the dying to preserve themselves into cures existed…and he was the first to be revived. He was diagnosed with a rare terminal disorder and was frozen to be saved one day. As the scene intercuts with the future, we see that Waylon promises if Bruce walks away…they are done and he will die. I really don’t want him to walk away. Nevertheless, in the past as Victor continues to talk be reveals that they told him it wouldn’t hurt and when he woke up the world would be a better place…but the ice was different. Without Bruce seeing it, Victor begins to transform, all as Bruce is looking at the nearby desk and seeing preserved ancient micro organisms…the bacteria that killed Matches! And as soon as Bruce turns around, he is faced with the monster the ice let go…Victor Jr has completely transformed into a lanky monster with black frostbit hands and blue veins…seemingly with the ability to freeze others as his death freezing touch grasps Bruce’s head. I could be wrong, but this still takes place prior to talking to his friends, right?! So he will be fine, right?!

[Logan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ummm … definitely an odd start to this new story arc.

Gotham has been under heavy police presence for a month after martial law was declared to protect people from the Batman or another incident like Black Mask created. Bruce has been lying low in the meantime and doing research on the upcoming facility named ‘Ark M.’ Before he enters, his learns his pal Matches already entered the facility. Within a quick and unexpected turn of events, Matches head explodes.

I did not see that coming. The Ark M story arc will be an interesting one. Definitely can’t wait to see what they’ll do with it. But when they show Mr. Fries at the end of the issue and he’s a large snake looking man I go…huh?!?! I like seeing different iterations of characters but what does this have to do with anything?!?! I guess we’ll see.

Another issue I have is we only knew this Batman for 6 issues. Yet now he feels normalized and close as a reader. Before, he was badass and mysterious as hell. Bring that Batman back.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolute Batman continues to impress, diving even deeper into Bruce's complex relationships with his friends, who, in this version, are essentially his rogues gallery from the regular universe. What I really appreciate is how we’re seeing these bonds unravel in real time, with the tension building up in a way that feels raw and inevitable. The exploration of Freeze’s origin was particularly striking; it’s a fresh take on the character, with a chilling, almost horror-like atmosphere that adds a whole new layer to his backstory. And, as always, the art is absolutely stunning, perfectly complementing the dark, intense tone of the story. Overall, it’s another great issue that keeps up the goodwill of issue 5 and 6.

[Arch Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE ORIGIN STORY OF MR. FREEZE?!?!?!

WTF. Absolute Batman is truly a piece of art that needs to go down in comic history. This issue was amazing. At first, I truly didn’t understand the start, but it all came together so well.

With the “end” of Black Masks in Gotham. Bruce’s focus goes back to Ark M and the strange death of his childhood friend, Matches. This leads Bruce into a journey that will surely be bone chilling!!!

See what I did there?!?!

Honestly, it ain’t a perfect issue cause it’s a preface to a new journey, but it is completely up there. Easily 4.6/5 stars.

WHY ARE YOU READING REVIEWS AND NOT READING THIS YET?!?!?!