Warning! Spoilers ahead for Absolute Batman #1!As the Absolute Universe begins in earnest, DC Comics reveals its newestBatman’sshocking origins. While most stories about the Dark Knight often begin in tragedy, a change is madeto the Absolute Universethat is certain to have fans talking for months.
The Absolut Universe is anew world created by Darkseidwho, after attempting to steal the power of the Spectre, lost his physical body. But his energy transferred to a young universe and altered it, creating a variant DC Universe where turmoil reigned supreme. This new world gives way to a huge changeto Batman’s iconic originthat doesn’t just make it more timely, but puts the Absolute Dark Knight on a completely different path.
Absolute Batman Origin Begins with a Mass Shooting at a Zoo
Bruce Wayne Lives With Massive Survivor’s Guilt
InAbsolute Batman #1by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin, and Clayton Cowles, the story literally starts with a bang as it shows a young Bruce Wayne on a class trip to the zoo, led by his father and teacher, Thomas. Unfortunately, the idyllic day is interrupted by a mysterious figure who has brought a gun to the public place. The flashback ends, and the present is shown,and this Bruce has grown up colder and harder than his Prime Universe counterpart.
Don’t forget to see how the Absolute Universe is born inDC All In Special #1!
Bruce spends much of his days training, while memories of his last moments with his father continue to haunt him. Night comes and Bruce gets ready for another night out as Gotham’s newest vigilante. However, while Batman takes down a criminal gang known as the Party Animals, he’s observed by MI-6 agent Alfred Pennyworth, who takes an interest in the young man.Alfred quickly figures out that Batman is Bruce and discovers that his journey began with the zoo tripBruce won as a prize in a student engineering competition.
…he spent the next several years after the mass shooting lashing out at the world…
Another flashback shows the shooter’s spree and though Thomas gets the children to safety by leading them to the bat enclosure, he’s killed by the gunman’s bullets. Alfred continues piecing together Bruce’s life, noting that he spent the next several years after the mass shooting lashing out at the world and getting into trouble with the law before getting his act together. Alfred follows Bruce throughout the day,even as Batman returns to the zoo and honors his father by placing a flower on the spot where he died.
Batman’s New Origin Puts Gun Violence in the Spotlight
Bruce Wayne Carries Incredibly Relatable Trauma
Batman’s origin has always been one rooted in gun violence and that tragic tale has been retold numerous times over the years. Part ofwhat’s made Batman’s story such a timeless one (at least as far as American readers are concerned), is that gun violence has never gone away, it’s only gotten worse as the years have gone by. Another sad truth about gun violence is that as much as someone may fear a one-on-one encounter, mass shootings have ballooned in America in the last several decades, occurring in places like parks, malls, stores, and most tragically, schools.
Absolute Batmandoesn’t shy away from the danger guns pose in a modern society…
Altering Batman’s origin is a no-no for many fans, but this is an alternate continuity and, honestly, it’s a bold swing. Mass shootings are an uncomfortable subject as they tie into a number of hot-button issues such as access to mental health and gun rights and many prefer to skirt the issue rather than address it. ButAbsolute Batmandoesn’t shy away from the danger guns pose in a modern society and uses the iconic hero’s origin to showcase that. And it isn’t just a glib change, sincethis event has a very real effect on the Absolute Batman’s life.
As Alfred reveals, this Bruce was incredibly affected by the mass shooting he survived. He’s angry at his helplessness at the situation and is still working through everything over a decade later. Sure, the Prime Universe Dark Knight has also discussed the impact of losing his parents and his distaste for firearms. ButAbsolute Batmandoesn’t shy away from the trauma that Bruce carries, and it’s honestly pretty refreshing to see.Making Batman a mass shooting survivor isn’t done just to be a surface-level change, it’s used to explore how gun violence can truly impact someone.
What the Future Holds for Absolute Batman and His Trauma
Can Batman Move Past His Most Harrowing Moment?
No matter the universe, Batman is someone who is driven by his past. Whether he saw this family die in Crime Alley or the Gotham Zoo, that moment defined Bruce Wayne’s life. While the Prime Universe Batman has more or less come to terms with what happened, the Absolute Batman is still struggling. Granted, he is younger and in a much worse spot than the Prime Bruce. But with the right support system, the AbsoluteBatmancould wind up finally working through this awful moment in his history.
Absolute Batman #1is available now from DC Comics.
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
