Absolute Batman (2024-) #17

Ivy!

“Welcome, Batman… to your wish.”

If I had one wish after reading Absolute Batman #17, it would be that Scott Snyder never leaves this series.

Issue #17 brings Poison Ivy into the Absolute Universe—and somehow she’s even more unhinged and imaginative than I expected. The story opens with a massive plant-based biological attack in the heart of Gotham City, and Batman basically has to go full Chainsaw Man just to cut his way through the chaos. It’s visceral, fast-paced, and immediately raises the stakes.

We’re introduced to a young Pamela Isley, and Snyder gives us just enough of her backstory to understand the obsession and drive that push her toward becoming Ivy. That said, I wanted more—and that’s a compliment. This version of Ivy isn’t just connected to plant life. She feels like a walking ecosystem: plants, animals, fungi—everything tangled together into something grotesque and awe-inspiring. When we see her fully unleashed, it’s wild in the best way. Snyder continues to reinvent Batman’s rogues by turning each of them up to eleven, and somehow it keeps working.

The artwork by Eric Canete fits seamlessly with the tone of the series. The way he renders Ivy’s powers is especially striking—organic, chaotic, and almost cosmic in scale. And Batman? He looks absolutely brutal here. Every panel carries weight and motion, making the action feel relentless.

Then there’s that ending. The Court is in session! The return of a certain member of the Court opens up some fascinating possibilities for where this story is headed. At the same time, Bruce is left questioning whether Batman is truly making Gotham better. After how he handled Bane, the city is fully aware of him—some even celebrate him. But that visibility comes at a cost. Bruce is still struggling to reconnect with his friends and continues to fall short. Meanwhile, a certain EMT begins to wonder if Batman’s presence is escalating the madness rather than curing it.

My only real complaint? I wish the issue were longer. With Ivy now in play—and teases of Scarecrow and Robin on the horizon—I can’t wait to see where this Absolute Batman series goes next.

5 out of 5 stars.