Absolute Batman #1 Review
Scott Snyder returns to Gotham in Absolute Batman!
Before I jump into the review of this comic, let me briefly explain the “Absolute" universe.
The Absolute Universe is a new shared DC universe for which Snyder serves as a sort of showrunner. It is a different continuity than the regular DC universe. Following the events of the Absolute Power crossover series, this new continuity kicked off with the DC All In Special, written by Snyder and Joshua Williamson on October 2nd. What is actually entailed with this crossover even I can't tell you because I didn't read it. I'm sure if you look it up online you can find a synopsis.
In addition to Batman, titles included in this new initiative will include Absolute Superman by Jason Aaron, Absolute Wonder Woman by Kelly Thompson, Absolute Flash by Jeff Lemire, and Absolute Green Lantern by Al Ewing.
At first, I was not planning on picking any of these titles up. To be honest, I’m getting a little tired of DC (and Marvel for that matter) always rebooting things. I was a big fan of the Earth One series but it seems like every time we turn around, DC is switching things around with some sort of universe ending event. Point being, I was very skeptical not only of Absolute Batman but of this Absolute Universe in general.
In any case, I did go ahead and pick up this Absolute Batman because I am a fan of Batman and figured I’d go ahead and check it out and see if it’s worth a read. And my verdict? It is absolutely worth a read! I am so glad that I decided to try this out. It is some of the best Batman writing that Snyder has done since Court of Owls. What a way to debut the Absolute Universe!
Rebooting Batman is a roll of the dice for DC in my opinion. This is one of the publisher's flagship characters and probably its highest selling characters. So to not only reboot him into a new universe but also to reboot him in such a way as they did here, by trying out new things with him, is a risky move. But if I am basing this series off of the first issue alone, I think that this bold risk is going to pay off.
I do have to admit that I’m not crazy about the new costume. Particularly the bat symbol itself. It does seem to take a slight nod from the costume in Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns. I’m just not a fan of it.
I have to warn readers that if they are going into this thinking that they are getting the same old Bruce Wayne, they will be disappointed. This is a different Bruce Wayne. His parents were not rich. He is not rich. His father was a school teacher and his mother was a social worker. In essence, we are talking about a more blue collar/working class minded Bruce Wayne. In some ways I feel like this was the best direction they could have taken a new type of Bruce/Batman. This version of the character is more relatable to us regular folks.
The supporting characters are cast in quite a different light as well. Alfred Pennyworth, for instance, is most certainly not his butler. In fact, they don’t even know each other. In fact, in this first issue they are at odds with each other….physically even. It almost feels like the Absolute Universe is setting up these two as rivals. Much different than anything we’ve ever seen.
Other characters are also given a different spin. James Gordon is the mayor. Even the classic antagonists like Penguin, Killer Croc, the Riddler, Catwoman, and the Joker are given one heck of a different spin.
But don’t worry. Batman is still a vigilante. He is still a hell of a fighter. He is still a very intelligent human being. There is still a tragic origin to the character. Bruce Wayne is still traumatized by the event. However, even that tragic origin story is much different than the one we have known for decades.
So some specifics. Scott Snyder’s retooling of the character is great. As I mentioned before, this is his best Batman writing since Court of Owls. To be honest, I really can’t think of any other writer that could have pulled this off. The artwork done by Nick Dragotta was very solid. His pencil work definitely fits the narrative provided by Snyder (despite the aforementioned costume that I don’t really care for).
If you are a fan of Batman, I would say give this a try. If you have never read Batman previously because there is too much history and you wouldn’t know where to begin, start right here.
To put it simply and frankly, Absolute Batman is one of the best things to come out of DC’s closet in years!