The DC All In Era began last week with the special one-shot establishing both the Justice League Unlimited and Absolute Universe. To kick off the new universe we are getting Absolute Batman. There is no other character to have start of the ongoing adventures in the Absolute Universe than with Batman. Unlike other new starts, the Absolute Universe is getting the chance to be a fresh take on classic DC Universe characters like we see with Marvel’s Ultimate Universe. Let’s see how Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta kick things off with Absolute Batman #1.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Nick Dragotta
Colorist: Frank Martin
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
ABSOLUTE BATMAN #1 SOLICITATION
“BATMAN LEGEND SCOTT SNYDER AND ICONIC ARTIST NICK DRAGOTTA TRANSFORM THE DARK KNIGHT’S TALE FOR THE MODERN AGE! Without the mansion… without the money… without the butler… what’s left is the Absolute Dark Knight!” – DC Comics
REVIEW
Absolute Batman #1 delivers on the hype for what the promise of this series and the Absolute Universe has the potential to be. Everything about this version of Gotham City and its residents has a refreshing presentation. This presentation creates a reading experience where you just continue to get more and more excited with each new page you turn to read.
In all the best ways Absolute Batman #1 reminds me of the current Ultimate Spider-Man. Throughout this first issue Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta show their complete understanding what makes Batman’s universe be so iconic. Even with all the changes that are made, like Ultimate Spider-Man, the core aspects of the main character and their world is ever present. Getting across that the core Batman experience is still there be even more open to what is new with the Absolute Universe.
Throughout this first issue we see Gotham City have a completely new life of its own that still has all the classic elements. There is a vibe that this Gotham City is not necessarily going be reflective of Batman but rather the entire Absolute Universe. The types of characters are reflective of the type of chaos that exist in a city that all residents not part of gangs fear walking on the streets. This is best represented by the Black Mask-led Party Animals gang who tell you everything you need to know about how the Gotham City operates.
With that experience quickly established it made the big changes to Bruce Wayne’s Batman origin story so much more intriguing. As with the classic origin the death of a parent is what triggers Bruce to spend his youth to study and train to become Batman. Though the singular nature of this trigger changes so much. Snyder and Dragotta inject a lot of emotion into putting over the close connection between Bruce and his father. That made the obvious reveal that his father was killed hit as intended even if we all expected it.
That said, the huge change that Bruce’s mother is alive and seemingly raised him as a single mother creates even more intrigue. This status quo puts even more of an emphasis on how in the Absolute Universe the Wayne are a middle class family. Even though we only see it for one page Bruce and Martha’s interaction speaks loudly on how these characters are different from who we know. This is accomplished both in their dialogue and emote with each other. Martha clearly did her best to raise Bruce with love and it was all shown in one page. It provides more of a desire to see the mother-son dynamic of Bruce and Martha to be a consistent part of Absolute Batman.
This fact also makes us look at the path Bruce takes to become Batman to be something to be viewed in a different light. Unlike his main universe counterpart, Bruce couldn’t use his family’s wealth to fund his global training. The Absolute Universe version of Bruce had be crafty about how he got all the studying and training needed to become Batman. That including Bruce using a football scholarship to get educated in all the fields we know his main counterpart is trained in and using that knowledge to work in different fields to learn the ins and outs of Gotham City. All of this was handled quickly in a convincing way that gets you behind Bruce’s mission as Batman.
While we also learn that Bruce did get all sorts of training it was a cool choice to have this version of Batman be much more of a tank, like his Dark Knight Returns counterpart. Batman’s fighting style when he battles the Party Animals gang Bruce utilizes more of a boxing fighting style while mixing other fighting styles for his own martial art. Bruce’s combat style blends well with how even his Batman suit shows he had to be even more resourceful with his knowledge and skills since he doesn’t have the wealth. This leads to cool theatrics and weapons that Absolute Batman uses in his fight so he doesn’t go over the edge of killing no matter how brutal he is.
Adding to how Absolute Batman gets over is the third person perspective from Alfred Pennyworth. Bruce and Alfred having no connection until this issue was a nice touch to make their dynamic something that will be new. The choice of Alfred being a British spy is just something that fits the character. This goes back to the presentation of super spy Alfred by Dragotta showing us how he operates. It all works to create a lot of questions for how exactly Bruce and Alfred’s dynamic will develop as they interact more in the future.
Snyder also utilizing Bruce’s new background to having his friend group be the Absolute Universe version of Waylon Jones, Selina Kyle, Harvey Dent, Edward Nygma, and Ozwald Cobblepot was a cool change. This change does leave the reader wondering what is exactly planned with the characters we know are normally part of Batman’s rogues gallery. The Absolute Universe is an opportunity to do something completely different and unexpected with these characters.
The different and unexpected is certainly put over with the hook ending of the Joker being a globetrotting billionaire was the big surprise. This change to the Joker was a nice flip with the middle-class version of Absolute Batman. The fact the character is known as the Joker because he does not laugh makes him have a different terrifying aura. Dragotta way of framing Joker in the final panel added so much to this presentation.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Absolute Batman #1 is an outstanding beginning to a brand new beginning. Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta do an excellent job with the presentation of the Absolute Universe version of Gotham City. Everything is so picture perfect that you can’t help but want to read the next issue right away. This is everything both new and long-time fans could want.
Story Rating: 10 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 9.5 Night Girls out of 10
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