DC’s Absolute Batman Pays Homage to an Anime Classic

DC's Absolute Batman Pays Homage to an Anime Classic

As a seasoned gamer and comic book enthusiast who’s witnessed the evolution of Batman from the 80’s all the way to the present day, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and curiosity about this new reimagining called “Absolute Batman“. The idea of giving the Dark Knight a fresh coat of paint while staying true to his essence is both intriguing and daunting.


The “Absolute Batman” offers Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta an opportunity to create a unique, modern interpretation of the iconic character, Batman. This forthcoming reinvention not only promises a revamped origin story for Bruce Wayne, but also depicts a bulkier version of the Dark Knight compared to the usual lean physique we associate with Gotham’s protector. The “Absolute Batman” exudes such an imposing presence that he can transform the bat-symbol on his chest into an axe. DC Comics anticipates that this new comic series will help establish the new Dark Knight as being just as popular. Before the first issue hits shelves, a cover featuring the reimagined Batman pays tribute to one of the most cherished anime series of all time.

In a recent conversation with creators Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta from egmr.ru, they discussed their approach to reimagining the Batman character. They explained that their goal was to create a modern version of Batman while still preserving his iconic essence. Snyder stated, “We wanted to give readers a new take on Batman for today, but we didn’t want to stray too far from what has been established over the past 80 years. We wanted it to feel like Batman, so we kept the silhouette and core elements intact.” Dragotta added that he was inspired by Bob Kane’s original drawings of Batman, which were influenced by Da Vinci’s flying man with bat-like wings.

The Akira Batman

In various popular media, such as movies, TV shows, and comics, the iconic motorcycle scene from Akira is often imitated or referenced. This includes Jordan Peele’s Nope, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, Batman The Animated Series, Steven Universe, and many more. Now, Absolute Batman is joining this trend with a special comic book cover designed by artist Javier Fernandez, featuring the muscular Dark Knight replicating one of Akira’s famous posters.

Absolute Batman variant by the great @javierfdezart – Akira homage.

— Scott Snyder (@Ssnyder1835) September 28, 2024

The Sad State of Akira

There have been numerous efforts made towards producing a Western, real-life version of Katsuhiro Otomo’s classic anime, Akira. The project with the most traction so far has been the feature film, which Taika Waititi (known for Thor: Ragnarok and What We Do In The Shadows) was slated to direct. Last year, even Waititi himself announced updates on this project. However, since then, there hasn’t been any new news about the advancement of the live-action adaptation of Akira. Given the recent successes of live-action adaptations like One Piece and Avatar: The Last Airbender, it’s understandable that Hollywood is keen on hopping aboard the live-action anime bandwagon.

2019 saw Katsuhiro Otomo, the creator of “Akira,” announcing plans for a fresh anime installment in the franchise. Similar to the live-action film produced by Warner Bros., details about this project’s progress have been sparse. Despite the original anime movie being a timeless masterpiece, there is an abundance of story from the manga that hasn’t been depicted on screen yet, suggesting that a potential TV series could delve into a lot of uncharted territory.

Interested in keeping up with the ongoing blend between anime and North American comics? Excited to learn about potential revivals like Akira? Keep an eye on Team Anime at egmr.ru, and feel free to reach out to me personally @EVComedy for all your comic book and anime discussions.

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2024-09-29 00:09