Last week, DC released DC All-In #1, and this week we got Absolute Batman #1. Let me tell you, Batman is absolutely back.
Scott Snyder helming the DC All-In initiative was certainly the right move, and we’re already seeing the payoff with two fantastic stories from him. I picked up Absolute Batman #1 today at my local comic shop, and they were handing out DC Justice League cards with the purchase of DC comics. While it wasn’t quite as cool as the 3 Joker cards from a few years back, free collectibles are always a welcome bonus!
Spoilers Ahead!
As I mentioned in my DC All-In review, this new “Absolute” universe looks insane—and Absolute Batman confirms it. Gotham is a hellhole: the murder rate is up 700%, daycare centers are getting burned down, and City Hall is under attack by gun-wielding mobs. Gotham has never been more brutal. For years, people have asked, “Why would anyone want to live in Gotham?” Well, this issue certainly doesn’t offer any reassuring answers.
This isn’t Snyder’s first time with Batman, and one of my initial questions was how he would differentiate this series from his New 52 run. Well, for starters—Martha Wayne is still alive! That was a huge surprise. I was expecting the usual panel where Bruce’s parents die, but instead, we learn Thomas Wayne died during a school trip to the zoo with Bruce. Nearly every character from the Batman mythos has a new origin, and I’m loving it. The changes challenge the status quo while feeling natural.
And yes, it’s weird that Alfred tried to kill Batman a few times in this issue (did I forget to mention that?), but it’s intriguing! Bruce Wayne being friends with his rogues’ gallery is another wild twist I was not expecting.
Even Batman’s origin is unique in this storyline, which is refreshing. While he still holds firm to his no-kill rule, he’s not afraid to get a little more violent. In one brutal scene, he pulls off his bat ears—which are actually knives—and uses them to stab members of the Party Animals gang. Are you a fan of Batman’s gadgets? Well, he’s got a new one: a bat axe! He even cuts off a thug’s hand and tells him to run to the hospital a few blocks away to see if they can reattach it.
I won’t spoil too much about the epilogue, but I’m mixed on the big reveal. I’m curious to see where Snyder takes it, though.
I can’t talk about this issue without mentioning the beautiful art that truly brings Batman and Gotham to life. This is my first time seeing Nick Dragotta’s work, and I love it!
Absolute Batman is an amazing read, and I hope you get the chance to check it out. As a longtime Batman fan, this feels new and exciting. With a 5-issue arc on the horizon, this series is off to a very strong start!
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