As a character, Batman has always been defined by loss. This is true even in the new Absolute Universe, where Bruce Wayne lost only his father to violence. However, the preview of Absolute Batman #5 reveals that this version of the Dark Knight is no less tormented by the incident that tore apart his family.
Written by Scott Snyder, with art by Nick Dragotta, Absolute Batman #5 continues the bilateral plotting of earlier issues. A flashback storyline details Bruce Wayne’s youth, and the incidents that shaped him into the Dark Knight. Meanwhile, the story set in the present shows his current trials and tribulations. In this case, he is en route to meet with the crime-boss Black Mask, who has offered him a fortune to ignore his activities in Gotham City.
The first three pages of Absolute Batman #5 may be viewed below.
The chief idea behind the Absolute Universe is that every DC Comics hero has an incorruptible core. A writer may can change some details, even rewrite history, but the essence of the hero remains untouched across the multiverse. For Absolute Batman, this means a Bruce Wayne with a mother at home, a background in civil engineering, and no fortune to finance his vigilantism.
The previous issues have teased the idea of a more traditional Dark Knight. With the billions offered by Black Mask, Bruce Wayne could up his game considerably. However, given what we know of this Batman, he seems unlikely to compromise for the great good. This is because the core of Batman is to fight crime, without tolerating the existence of even one criminal.
Absolute Batman #5 arrives in comic shops everywhere on February 12, 2025.