Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta shake the Batman mythos to its core with Absolute Batman. Here, Bruce Wayne is neither a billionaire nor a playboy—he’s a working-class engineer fighting to liberate Gotham City from corrupt oligarchs. In this universe, the Joker is the billionaire, controlling justice alongside his allies, who call themselves the Justice League.
Catwoman and Broken Rules
In issue #13 of the series, a new Selina Kyle/Catwoman emerges. Unlike classic tales, Selina is Bruce’s childhood friend and a comrade in their shared struggle. She aids Batman in stealing from mob boss Carmine Falcone, and her alignment with Bruce’s fight adds a new layer of equality to her character. Selina’s philosophy is straightforward: “If the rules aren’t fair, stop following them.” Her metal orb mask and a tail that doubles as a utility belt infuse her costume with a gritty, working-class aesthetic.
Punk Queen Harley Quinn
The series’ biggest surprise is the debut of Absolute Harley Quinn. Once the Joker’s psychiatrist and a pop culture antihero, Harley is reimagined as the anarchist leader of the Red Hoods gang. Freed from the Joker and portrayed as a more heroic figure, her shaved head and punk aesthetic—replacing her signature blonde pigtails—highlight her radical transformation. Batman forms a “loose alliance” with this anarchist collective to dismantle the corruption within the Joker’s warped, high-tech metropolis, “Ark M.”
Final Showdown with Bane
Snyder’s love for Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns peaks in issue #13. The villain “Abomination,” Bane, has harmed Bruce’s mutated friends, prompting Bruce to challenge him to a rematch. Batman’s consideration of using Venom—the steroid that once crippled Bane—creates the series’ most critical moral dilemma. However, Selina’s voice of conscience and Bruce’s bond with his friend Waylon “Killer Croc” Jones convince him to defeat Bane on his own terms. Alfred’s warning encapsulates the story: “The devil knocks three times, and [Bane] is your second chance, lad.”
Absolute Batman reintroduces familiar characters in a bold new light, proving how flexible and critical the DC Universe can be. This is not just a superhero story—it’s a modern tragedy questioning social class and justice.
Comic Details:
Creators: Scott Snyder (writer), Nick Dragotta (artist)
Title: Absolute Batman
Themes: Social Class, Justice, Antiheroes
Note: Issue #13 highlights key developments in the series’ narrative.
