Batman and Robin #18

Review: This issue pretty much fully revolves around the woman from last issue with the big gapping hole in her head. The cover calls her Absence, which is what I'll call her, even though she never actually calls herself that in the comic. Anywho, Absence and her goons have captured Batman(Dick Grayson)and Robin, and like any new super-villain worth their salt, she decides to reveal her origin story. Basically she's a spurned girlfriend of Bruce Wayne, was shot in the head(which is why she has that big hole in her head), and survived the trauma due to some wacky medical condition. Needless to say, having a huge hole blown in her head left Absence a bit deranged, and she began to obsess over Bruce, with the tipping point coming when she attended her own funeral and saw that Bruce didn't even bother to show(although in fairness to Bruce, he was trapped stuck in time while the funeral was occurring). After Bruce came out to announce Batman Incorporated, Absence decided that she'd leave hints that she was alive in the hopes of capturing and killing Batman, figuring Bruce would pay attention to her then. With her origin now out of the way, Absence sets the warehouse she had captured Bats and Robin in ablaze and leaves, while her suicidal minions try to keep the Dynamic Duo trapped inside. Needless to say, Bats and Robin escape, and call Bruce up to fill him in on what was going on. After putting their heads together, they realize that Absence was going to continue her personal attack on Bruce by going after people he was close with. This issue ends with Absence(and a comically large pair of scissors)breaking into Vicki Vale's office to take a piece of her to add to the bag she was carrying labeled, “Girlfriend Body Parts”.

Thoughts: You know, this wasn't THAT bad... I mean, the majority of this issue was Absence's origin, but it was so cockamamie that I couldn't help but enjoy it! And the ending, with the huge pair of scissors just made it even better. I'll say this about Paul Cornell, he sure knows how to add some crazy humor to a story... I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually looking forward to the next issue to see how this storyline wraps up.

Score: 7 out of 10.What can I possibly say here?