Batman. The Caped Crusader, The World’s Greatest Detective, you know and love him. His triumphs and struggles are something that I feel everyone knows, even if you’re not a comic fan, but what if there was a change? What is an object, if not a sum of its parts? How much can we strip from an existing product, or put back into place, before it no longer resembles the original concept?
That, dear viewers, was exactly what came to mind when I went through one of DC’s newest comic syndications, which just ended its first arc, The Zoo. What do you get when Bruce Wayne has nothing – when he’s left without his mansion, money, or butler? You get Absolute Batman.
The series was released in 2024 as part of the All-In line. It takes place in the Absolute Universe, an alternative world where the heroes we so adore have been effectively turned into the underdogs against oppressive forces. In this instance, Gotham City is a hotbed of crime (more so than usual), the mysterious Black Mask and his Party Animal gang wreaking havoc, forcing 24-year-old, blue-collar Bruce Wayne into a life of vigilantism. Instead of tactically taking down the villains threatening his home with precision, his two fists and a thirst for justice act as his arsenal.
This was a phenomenal series to jump into. Marvel Comics has been a bit of a slogfest lately with Spider-Man’s various writers repeatedly placing him in rather depressing situations over and over again (if you know about Paul Rabin, you’ll know what I mean). On the other hand, DC did something amazing by reimagining characters in their entirety. Alfred Pennyworth is now an agent deployed into Gotham, which puts him in conflict with The Dark Knight. Members of Batman’s rogue gallery are shown before their conga line of horrible accidents leaves them crazed sociopaths – they’re his allies now, assisting a guy who needs it now more than ever.
As for the man of the hour himself, Batman isn’t less capable than his mainstream counterpart. Apart from being built like a truck (Artist Nick Dragotta says he’s 6 ‘6’), he’s quick-witted and thinks on his feet, combining classic martial arts with more creative approaches to his classic gadgetry (making chemical mixes for smoke bombs, having his helmet ears be literal knives, etc).
His journey still involves his father being killed, but being stripped of the Wayne fortune makes him a much more interesting character when his motivations have him grounded as opposed to a guy who can finance anything and everything.
The art’s a standout as well – Nick Dragotta places the comic in a grim and gritty setting, relying mostly on flat colors and simple shadows and highlights to their greatest effectiveness. The action scenes are absolutely insane, bursting off the pages as they shift from expectations of your typical ninja-like Batman to a tactical berserker of a hero.
If you’re interested in checking out this series, or the other series in the Absolute Universe, the issues are available in digital format, as well as physical copies sold at your local comic book shop – The Portal is one, located a few blocks from campus at 321 Woodlawn Ave, so stop by and support a small business! You can also contact them at [email protected] to reserve an issue! This comic is a definite standout, and I’d recommend it to anyone interested in a welcome change of pace.
