The Comics Pals ABSOLUTE BATMAN Unleashes On Scarecrow! The Bat Debuts! | Pals Pulls 9-23-2026
Absolute Batman delivers a brutal showdown with Scarecrow while Alfred’s mysterious resistance takes shape. Absolute Wonder Woman battles fear itself and points toward Cheetah’s transformation. Reviews also tackle Superman’s troubled Zod crossover, The Flash’s preventative-policing dilemma, Watchmen’s enduring brilliance, a gruesome Hulk-Wolverine clash, and the hilarious Muppets-Marvel mashup.
01:50:30
Remembering Joshua Cassara’s Krakoa Era Work
- Sean and Tyler remembered Joshua Cassara as an exceptional artist whose work on X-Force and Wolverine stood out during the Krakoa era.
- They also emphasized industry accounts describing Cassara as a genuinely good person, making his sudden passing especially painful.
Absolute Batman Sees Through Scarecrow’s Fear
- Absolute Batman defeats Scarecrow by recognizing that fear cannot define him after surviving his own darkest experiences.
- The arc’s surprisingly hopeful ending reframes Batman’s recovery as a return to clarity rather than simple physical victory.
Martha’s Court Of Owls Reveal Feels Too Convenient
- Sean felt Martha’s explanation that the Court of Owls was entirely a Scarecrow-created lie became too meta.
- The fake shooting and instant revelation weakened an otherwise powerful confrontation by relying on a convenient deus ex machina.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app 1 chevron_right 2 chevron_right 3 chevron_right 4 chevron_right 5 chevron_right 6 chevron_right 7 chevron_right 8 chevron_right 9 chevron_right 10 chevron_right 11 chevron_right 12 chevron_right 13 chevron_right 14 chevron_right 15 chevron_right 16 chevron_right 17 chevron_right 18 chevron_right
Intro
00:00 • 3min
Remembering Joshua Cassara
02:43 • 2min
Absolute Batman Defeats Scarecrow
04:23 • 11min
Absolute Batman Builds Resistance
15:20 • 8min
Absolute Wonder Woman Faces the Fear Twins
23:09 • 5min
Barbara Minerva’s Cheetah Transformation
28:33 • 5min
Batman of Two Worlds Feels Like a Free Sample
33:20 • 9min
Superman’s Zod Crossover Falls Flat
42:26 • 9min
Superman’s Uneven Event Era
51:08 • 12min
The Flash’s Preventative Policing Conflict
01:02:56 • 5min
The Flash Needs More Momentum
01:08:17 • 6min
Watchmen Number One Still Works Perfectly
01:14:10 • 11min
The Rorschach Beans Challenge
01:25:00 • 6min
Infernal Hulk Versus Wolverine Gets Brutal
01:30:56 • 9min
Marvel’s Number One Strategy
01:39:35 • 2min
Muppets Take the Marvel Universe
01:41:25 • 7min
Sean’s Stack and Upcoming Plans
01:48:00 • 2min
Outro
01:49:49 • 38sec
#80729
Superman #42
Kingdom of Zod, Part 8
Eddie Barrows
Joshua Williamson
Ibraim Roberson
Ulysses Arreola
Eduardo Pansica
Julio Ferreira
Superman #42 continues the Kingdom of Zod storyline after Zod’s apparent death and return through time-related complications.
Superman, Supergirl, and young Clark confront a version of Zod unfamiliar with Earth and its history, leading to another battle rather than meaningful diplomacy.
Tyler Olson criticized the arc for feeling like a dated, patchworked crossover with too many similar-looking Kryptonian characters and inconsistent art teams.
Sean also found the conflict unconvincing because Superman’s experience and powers make the new Zod feel less threatening.
Both hosts hoped the series would soon return to more focused Metropolis-based stories.
#57511
Infernal Hulk vs. Wolverine #1
Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Jonas Scharf
Alex Guimarães
Cory Petit
Infernal Hulk vs.
Wolverine #1 presents a violent horror confrontation between an infernal, nearly indestructible Hulk and Wolverine.
Both characters sustain horrific injuries and continue fighting because of their extraordinary regenerative abilities.
The hosts praised Jonas Scharf’s grotesque, detailed artwork and Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s convincing voice for Wolverine.
The issue also advances the wider threat posed by the Eldest, whose monstrous transformations are creating an army and spreading destruction.
Sean and Tyler Olson enjoyed the comic as a visceral, entertaining one-shot, though they questioned the decision to structure the connected storyline as repeated number-one issues.
#98652
Absolute Batman #24
Scott Snyder
Frank Martin
Nick Dragotta
Tom Napolitano
This issue concludes the Straw Man arc with Absolute Batman confronting Scarecrow directly after being pushed to the edge by the villain’s fear-based attacks.
Batman regains his focus through a conversation with his mother and proves capable of seeing through Scarecrow’s illusions.
The hosts praised Nick Dragotta’s dynamic artwork and Frank Martin’s unusual purple, red, orange, and yellow palette.
They also discussed the growing importance of Barbara Gordon, Alfred’s mysterious organization, and the possible foundations of the Absolute Bat-family.
Although they found some explanations and transitions overly convenient, both hosts regarded the issue as a strong installment, with Tyler Olson calling it his pick of the week.
#112390
Absolute Wonder Woman #24
Becca Carey
Kelly Thompson
Jordi Bellaire
Hayden Sherman
Absolute Wonder Woman #24 follows Diana as she responds to a supernatural threat looming over the city.
The apparent Eye of Zeus is revealed to involve Phobos and Deimos, while flashbacks and fear sequences deepen Diana’s relationship with Barbara Ann Minerva.
Hayden Sherman’s action-focused layouts and Jordi Bellaire’s colors received substantial praise from the hosts.
They felt the issue moved too quickly, relying heavily on splash pages and introducing antagonists who appeared suddenly.
The issue ultimately functions as a transitional chapter leading to a grotesque, highly anticipated version of Cheetah and the larger confrontation in issue #25.
#68629
Muppets Take the Marvel Universe #1
Chip Zdarsky
Pete Woods
Philip Kennedy Johnson
Kyle Starks
Muppets Take the Marvel Universe #1 begins when Mojo kidnaps Rowlf for his streaming service, prompting the Muppets to investigate a newly discovered multiverse.
Their search brings them into contact with Marvel heroes including Spider-Man, Emma Frost, Black Panther, Wolverine, and Howard the Duck.
Tyler Olson praised Chip Zdarsky’s ability to capture the voices and comedic rhythms of both properties.
The issue also includes several backup stories by additional creators, expanding the crossover through musical, superhero, and absurdist vignettes.
Tyler considered it one of his favorite single issues of the year and said it would have been his pick of the week.
#110480
The Flash #37
Beatriz Maior
Ryan North
Gavin Guidry
Adriano Lucas
The Flash #37 continues an arc in which Wally West receives flashes of future crimes, accidents, and disasters.
He uses the ability to eliminate danger across multiple cities, but his increasingly preventive approach leads the Justice League to confront him.
The hosts praised Ryan North’s ideological conflict and Gavin Guidry’s energetic visual storytelling.
Tyler Olson enjoyed the absence of a conventional villain and saw the story as a playful exploration of preventative policing.
Sean appreciated the artwork but felt the extended arc had become repetitive and wanted the series to introduce new characters or escalate its central mystery.
#94516
Black Tower
Raven Conspiracy
Miriam Lynch
#886
• Mentioned in 54 episodes
Watchmen
John Higgins
Alan Moore
Dave Gibbons
Watchmen is a groundbreaking graphic novel that deconstructs the superhero genre.
Written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, with colours by John Higgins, it explores the human failings of superheroes in an alternate timeline where historical events have unfolded differently.
The story delves into themes of power, morality, and the complexities of human nature, set against the backdrop of the Cold War era.
It is known for its layered storytelling, nuanced dialogue, and its impact on the comic book industry by addressing taboo themes such as abuse of power, conspiracy, and social decay.
#76317
Batman of Two Worlds
Nick Derington
Matt Fraction
Javi Fernandez
Scott Snyder
Batman of Two Worlds is presented as a Batman Day release containing distinct stories from different creative teams.
Matt Fraction and Javier Fernández contribute a story featuring the main-universe Batman.
Scott Snyder and Nick Derington provide a separate story centered on Absolute Batman.
Jace clarified that the two versions do not actually meet in the same narrative.
The collection is designed as a celebration of Batman’s multiple publishing worlds and contemporary creative directions.
#58609
X-Factor
Madrox - Multiple Choice
Peter David
Peter David's X-Factor series is renowned for its unique blend of humor and character-driven storytelling.
The series follows a team of mutants, including Jamie Madrox, Wolfsbane, and Strong Guy, as they navigate complex personal issues and superhero challenges.
It is notable for its noir-inspired detective agency setting and its exploration of diverse themes, including identity and community.
Become a Patron - https://www.patreon.com/thecomicspals?fan_landing=true
Subscribe on YouTube - youtube.com/thecomicspals?sub_confirm...
Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/6RAX3sT
[00:00:00] Pals Pulls Opening
[00:03:09] Remembering artist Joshua Cassara
[00:04:56] Absolute Batman #24 Review
[00:23:39] Absolute Wonder Woman #24 Review
[00:33:51] Batman Day 2026 Special - Batman of Two Worlds #1 Review
[00:42:54] Superman #42 Review
[01:03:26] The Flash #37 Review
[01:14:21] Watchmen #1 Facsimile Review
[01:31:26] Infernal Hulk vs. Wolverine #1 Review
[01:41:46] Quick Hit: Muppets Take the Marvel Universe #1 Review
[01:48:34] Sean's Stack
Watch us LIVE on YouTube every:
Monday at 1PM EST for Pals Previews
Thursday at 8 PM EST for Pals Pulls
Saturday at 10:15 AM EST for The Comics Pals Podcast
Grab some merch here: https://streamlabs.com/thecomicspals/merch
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PodBean: https://thecomicspals.podbean.com/
X: https://twitter.com/thecomicspals
Bluesky: @thecomicspals.bsky.social
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecomicspals
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Pals:
Sean: @SeansSoapbox
Tyler: @TheTylerOlson
Marco: @mrmarcoanimoto