DC Comics: 9 Things You Need To Know About Absolute Batman

Thanks to multiversal shenanigans, DC has given us a ton of different versions of Batman over the years. Sometimes there are minor differences between them; sometimes they’re complete reinventions. In recent years, the publisher has focused on giving fans powerful evil versions of Batman, but this is about to change. Their newest version of Batman, Absolute Batman, is an entirely new take on the heroic Caped Crusader, with a new origin story, outlook on life, and set of skills.

This new take on Gotham’s favorite hero looks set to tackle criticisms some fans have had of Batman for a while now. This new series, which began publication in October 2024, is written and illustrated by Scott Snyder and stars a Bruce who grew up on Gotham’s mean streets, not with a silver spoon in his mouth. There’s quite a lot of hype surrounding Absolute Batman right now, so here’s what we know about him so far for anyone looking to jump into the Absolute Universe.

9 This Batman Is A Force For Societal Change

Inspired By A More idealistic Generation

It’s a common complaint, especially among young fans, that, as a billionaire, Batman would do more good by giving to charity rather than spending his money beating up thugs. Let’s be honest, even the best versions of Gotham City stink, and despite his best efforts, Batman has rarely done much to change this, at best acting as a treatment rather than a cure. Snyder and the other creators of Absolute Batman have apparently taken this to heart. Whereas Batman normally operates by simply enforcing his own vision of justice, this version is trying to do more.

Not just content with battling criminals, Absolute Bruce wants to tackle the corruption that pollutes Gotham. This is a younger, more idealistic Batman who believes Gotham’s society can be changed for the better. Snyder has described this Bruce as an “idealistic, fiery kid” and a force of positive change. Less Dark Knight, and more caped social justice crusader.

8 He Still Plays By The Same Rules

This Batman May Be Different, But His Golden Rule Remains The Same

While it’s always great to get a new take on Batman, there are some things writers change at great risk. Batman is a hero who operates under a strict set of self-imposed rules. When writers start fiddling with or even breaking these rules, the hero can quickly become a lot less compelling and morally complex. Many fans really hate it when Batman breaks his “no kill” rule.

Thankfully, Absolute Batman seems to be operating under the same old rule set as the main universe’s version. Absolute Batman can get pretty brutal, but he doesn’t believe in killing and he doesn’t like guns. If anything, his no-gun rule is likely to be even stricter considering his revamped origin story (which we’ll come to alter). Writers have given us plenty of reasons over the years for why Batman doesn’t kill, even times it would arguably be for the greater good. This is likely to be a theme the writers of Absolute will dive back into more than once.

7 His Origin Story Has Been Completely Revamped

This Bruce Isn’t A Trust Fund Kid; He Grew Up In Crime Alley

Anyone who has so much as glanced at a Batman comic book will be familiar with the hero’s origin story. This origin has been retold countless times, but it almost sticks to the same old story beats. It gets kind of boring after a while. Well, with Absolute Batman Snyder has turned the traditional Batman origin on its head. Whereas Bruce is traditionally the son of a millionaire doctor who grew up in a mansion, this version was raised in Crime Alley.

The Absolute Universe’s Thomas Wayne is a high school teacher who is gunned down in a mass shooting while taking Bruce and his classmates on a school trip to the Zoo. This Bruce Wayne was never rich and never had an Alfred to help him. This is sure to seriously change how Absolute Batman operates as well as some of his priorities. It’s certainly not a less tragic superhero origin, but it is a refreshing change to a story we’ve heard a million times before.

6 He’s A Different Kind Of Genius

More Of An Engineer Than A Master Detective

When people talk about the strongest versions of Batman, they tend to focus on his raw strength and combat abilities. But Batman isn’t just a skilled fighter and peak-human athlete; he’s usually portrayed as being the world’s greatest detective too. Batman stories should emphasize his brains just as much as his brawn. Absolute Batman is no different, except that this Bruce is a different kind of clever.

Absolute Batman is an engineer at heart, not a detective. This means his thinking is based on fixing problems rather than solving them. Most versions of Batman are super-intelligent, but it’s usually down to characters like Lucius Fox to develop his gear. Absolute Batman, however, “built” his take on Batman. This suggests that this time around, Batman is less of a persona Bruce uses instead of paying for therapy and is more like a project the hero has adopted. This emphasis on “fixing” problems also ties into his more idealistic viewpoint and goal of rebuilding a new, better Gotham.

5 He’s Much More Brutal

He Might Not Kill His Enemies, But Maiming Them Is An Option

This isn’t all to say this is a softer, cuddlier take on Batman. He’s the exact opposite. Snyder has made a big deal out of the fact that Absolute Batman is designed to be the opposite of Miller’s Dark Knight, but they have one thing in common. They’re both incredibly brutal. Absolute Batman may not kill, but he’ll happily maim.

He’s right up there with the scariest live-action action version of Batman. He’s already been shown beating and stabbing his foes (his bat ears are concealed knives). Heck, the bat symbol on his chest is actually a giant battleaxe that he’s been shown chopping off a thug’s hand with. The traditional Batman is no stranger to giving his foes a beatdown, but Absolute Batman takes it to the next level.

4 Absolute Batman Has Some Interesting Friends

He’s Not Such A Loner Anymore

Bruce Wayne has always been a bit of a loner. Sure, he’s got the Bat Family and some close friends, but at heart, Bruce has always been a lonely little boy who grew up with his butler in an empty mansion. Growing up on the mean streets of Crime Alley has changed that for Absolute Batman. He grew up surrounded by some very odd friends indeed.

These friends will be immediately familiar to Batman fans as being his usual enemies. Bruce trains in a gym owned by Wayon Jones, aka Killer Croc, and his childhood friends were the likes of Harvey Dent, Selina Kyle, and Ozzie Cobblepot. As far as we’ve seen, none of them are outright villains yet, but Synder has said a theme of these books will be friends finding themselves on different paths. Batman has long been the kind of hero who tries to redeem his rogues; will Absolute Batman be able to save his childhood friends?

3 Alfred Isn’t A Butler Anymore

Meet Alfred, Assassin, Spy, And Total Badass

Usually, there’s no Batman without Alfred. He’s been a constant in Batman tales for decades, and his backstory has slowly evolved, transforming him from an elderly gentleman butler to an ex-spy and badass. Absolute Batman takes this idea and runs with it, giving us the most formidable Alfred yet. Rather than being Bruce’s butler, Alfred is a motorcycle-riding, globe-trotting hitman for MI6.

In the Absolute Universe, Alfred has only just returned to Gotham after hunting down a mysterious target in Singapore. He’s introduced as hunting the same group as Batman, the party animals. Whereas the two men usually have a father-son relationship, it’s much different here, with the two initially being at odds. While they’ll likely become allies eventually, they have very different outlooks on the world. The older, jaded Alfred is closer to traditional portrayals of Batman, while Absolute Bruce still believes a place like Gotham can still change.

2 Absolute Batman Has A Different Skillset

Not Being A Billionaire Playboy Has Some Perks

Being a billionaire playboy comes with plenty of advantages, but it has also held regular Batman back plenty of times. Absolute Batman doesn’t have this problem, and his new origin story has allowed him to develop a whole new skillset. For a start, he’s a beast. Batman has always looked like he hits the gym, but Absolute Batman takes it even further. In this world, Bruce works as a city engineer in construction, meaning he has a job where it makes more sense for him to be built like a muscle-bound tank.

Not being a billionaire also gives this Bruce much more time to focus on his nocturnal activities as well as better access to Gotham’s infrastructure. He’s also not in the public eye anywhere near as much as one of the world’s richest men would be. His humble beginnings come with other perks. Absolute Batman learned about local politics from his friend Dent, the workings of the criminal underworld from Ozzie, and how to fight from Killer Croc.

1 There’s A New Joker

From Clown Prince Of Crime To Shady Industrialist

Of course, you can’t have a new version of Batman without introducing a fresh Joker too. The Absolute Universe’s Joker looks set to be just as different as its Batman. While he hasn’t been fully revealed yet, what we do know is tantalizing. Rather than being an insane clown, this version of the Joker is a wealthy industrialist.

Apparently, he’s one of the 30 richest people on the planet, but nobody knows his name. All we know is he’s gone by both Jack and Arthur in the past (names for the Joker that will be familiar to Batman fans), and he takes himself very seriously. Whereas the Joker is known for his twisted sense of humor and maniacal laughter, this Joker doesn’t do either. Just as the Absolute Universe has turned Batman into a hero of the everyman, it seems to have made Joker into an evil version of the traditional Batman. This could make for an interesting new dynamic for two of the oldest rivals in comic book history.