DC’s Absolute Lineup is Great, But Batman is Way Overhyped

Absolute Batman, Absolute Superman, Absolute Wonder Woman, Absolute Martian Manhunter, Absolute Flash, and Absolute Green Lantern, with Absolute Green Arrow soon to follow. These collections have received high praise from both fans and critics, and they’ve met or exceeded expectations – almost all of them.

Among DC’s Absolute titles, there’s one that garners more attention than it perhaps should – Absolute Batman. It’s no secret that DC tends to overhype Batman, yet this particular title seems excessively hyped. The Absolute DC series offers unique interpretations of the most iconic superheroes, while subtly altering many of their details. However, Absolute Batman, despite being one of the best Batman stories, doesn’t seem notably different in this regard. It’s an excellent title, but it doesn’t live up to the hype surrounding it as much as one might expect.

Absolute Batman Can’t Compare to the Other Absolute Titles

There’s certainly a lot of excitement building up for “Absolute Batman,” and here’s why:

1. The book is penned by Scott Snyder, who is widely recognized as the mastermind behind Batman (Vol. 2) – one of the standout titles from the New 52 series. Snyder is arguably delivering some of his finest Batman work to date.

2. Nick Dragotta, renowned for his artwork on Jonathan Hickman’s “East of West,” joins the team as the artist. His visuals are breathtaking and perfectly depict the intense action scenes in the book, while also bringing the reimagined versions of Batman’s supporting cast to life.

3. Characters like Black Mask, Killer Croc, Mister Freeze, Bane, and the Joker have unique interpretations in this series. While similar, they possess a chilling difference, particularly Mister Freeze who stands out significantly.

4. The Batman of Absolute Earth is one of the most brutal versions of the character, prepared to unleash unprecedented levels of violence to save Gotham City. His life differs starkly from the mainstream Batman – Martha Wayne is still alive, the Waynes aren’t wealthy, and he grew up alongside Two-Face, Penguin, Catwoman, and Killer Croc.

5. Alfred Pennyworth plays a pivotal role in this storyline as well. Instead of being the Waynes’ butler, he works as a black ops operative alongside Batman, which is essentially what mainline Alfred would have been doing if the Waynes hadn’t needed him to manage their affairs.

In summary, “Absolute Batman” promises an intriguing take on the character with engaging storylines and captivating artwork.

To put it simply, while each of the “Absolute” series like Wonder Woman, Superman, Green Lantern, The Flash, and Martian Manhunter offer unique, standout qualities, Absolute Batman remains predominantly a Batman story despite its high-quality writing and artistry. This is in stark contrast to the other titles which have distinct differences from their mainline counterparts. Essentially, Absolute Batman is comparable to any alternate universe or Elseworlds Batman narrative rather than showcasing the significant shifts demonstrated in the other series. Despite this, there’s nothing inherently wrong with it; it just doesn’t shine quite as brightly when compared to the other Absolute books.

Absolute Batman Benefits From the Batman Rub

It’s worth noting that the focus on Batman is quite significant – this isn’t just any character but DC’s most beloved one. Despite DC scaling back on Batman titles compared to the early 2020s, they still frequently feature him prominently. The reason for this is simple: Batman drives comic sales. Stores tend to order more copies of a book when Batman graces its pages. This trend remains consistent.

The “Absolute Batman” book is excellent, but it doesn’t quite match the exceptional quality of other volumes like “Absolute Martian Manhunter,” “Absolute Wonder Woman,” or even “Absolute Superman” and “Absolute Green Lantern.” Unlike these titles that offer a bold reimagining or new take on beloved characters, such as Wally West in “Absolute Flash,” “Absolute Batman” is simply a standard Batman comic. In summary, it’s just a regular Batman book.

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2025-08-25 01:43