Absolute Batman #5 was a monumental issue for the series as it introduced the iconic Bat-Signal. With this it brought yet another classic Batman element to the Absolute Universe. The iconic Bat-Signal does symbolize a lot for Batman’s presence in the Absolute Universe’s Gotham City. More than anything the way that the Bat-Signal was introduced it further showcased the differences between the Absolute Universe and DC Universe versions of Bruce Wayne.
BAT-SIGNAL SYMBOLIZES ABSOLUTE BATMAN’S REBEL NATURE
At the end of Absolute Batman #3 it appeared that Bruce Wayne accepted Black Mask and his Party Animals two hundred-million-dollar deal. As part of the deal Bruce would not appear as Batman for a week and Black Mask’s crew will go “easier” on Old Gotham. Special Agent Alfred Pennyworth interpreted this as a way for Black Mask to disappear, but Bruce did not buy it. Bruce’s suspicions were correct as through Riddler’s AI device, named AL, it was revealed Black Mask was had created a cryptocurrency called Black Coin to make transactions through a private network to hire others around the world for various “job.”
With his hunch correct, Bruce did a fake-out by accepting Black Mask’s money. This made Black Mask believe he got Batman in his pocketbooks as Bruce would use the money to fight crime. That is something we’ve seen as the common running theme as most versions of Batman has used the Wayne Family fortune to fund his war on crime. But this is Absolute Batman we are talking about. Bruce never grew up with wealth from birth. His family where community workers with Bruce growing up with first-hand experience what the victimized people of Gotham City experienced.
This is what made Bruce taking the two hundred-million-dollars to create the Bat-Signal representative to what Absolute Batman is. By doing so Bruce showed that Batman will not be using what the rich and powerful used to gain and maintain their power. This is a Batman who will be a symbol that fights for the people against those in power. And he will do his way, not how Black Mask and others in power do it.
ABSOLUTE BATMAN IS THE ULTIMATE DIY SUPERHERO
The creation of the Bat-Signal once again highlights how this Absolute Batman is going to be a hero who relies on money to fund his superhero life. Going all the way back to the first issue of the series, we learned that this isn’t a Bruce Wayne that used money to train all over the world to master all sorts of disciplines.
Initially, after the death of his father, a Absolute Bruce Wayne spent time as a lost youth who got in trouble, including getting arrested by the GCPD as a teenager. Eventually, Bruce turned his life around by getting a football scholarship to one of the best universities, worked at various utility services, interned at city hall, and worked as an engineer for a construction company. All these things were to build Bruce’s intrinsic knowledge of everything to do with Gotham City infrastructure and society.
This spoke to how while his parents were part of the community it did not mean Bruce grew up knowing everything about Gotham City. He had to build up his knowledge of the city as much as he had to train himself physically to become Batman. Having to go down this route gave Bruce an appreciation of having to build everything he uses as Batman himself, without relying on a fortune.
By building everything he uses to fight crime there is an even greater purpose behind everything that is Absolute Batman. It is not just about the theatrics that is behind being Batman. Every part of his costume plays a part in how he fights from his cape that can turn into spikes and Bat-symbol on his chest that can be turned into a large hammer. That is how Bruce prefers to fight as proven by showing he won’t rely on millions gifted to him to make his work easier.
The origin of the Bat-Signal symbolized who Absolute Batman is. Batman are the opposite to everything the defines the Absolute Universe where the elite like Black Mask, Lazarus Corp, and Krypton’s Science League have been shown to have a tight grip over society. It all further shows how different the Absolute Universe is from the main DC Universe.
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