WARNING: Contains potential spoilers for ABSOLUTE BATMAN #2!Absolute Batman pays final tribute to fan favorite Batman: The Animated Seriesputting an unexpected twist on one of the series’ most iconic episodes. This bold reimagining not only transforms Bruce’s relationship with his bad guys – but also teases possible narrative developments in future issues that are as intriguing as they are nerve-wracking.
….although Rogues aren’t supervillains at this point, they could already be on their way to becoming Batman’s enemies.
Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin and Clayton Cowles Absolute Batman #1 dropped the bombshell that Bruce Wayne was childhood friends with some of his most iconic bad guys – a revelation that perfectly illustrates just how radically different the Absolute Universe is from Earth-Prime.
Among these enemies-turned-friends are Waylon “Killer Crocodile” Jones, Harvey “Two Faces” Dent, Oswald “The Penguin” Cobblepot, Edward “The Riddler” Nygma and Selina “Catwoman” Kyle. Absolute Batman #2 builds on this unexpected dynamic by featuring the group – minus Selina – gathered for a game of pokera scene that works as a clear homage to the iconic “I almost made it” episode of Batman: The Animated Series.
Absolute Batman #2 pays tribute to Batman the Animated Series”Villain Poker Scene’
“I almost made it”: Batman: The Animated Series Season 1, Episode 35
To remind you, “I almost made it” is the 35th episode of Batman: The Animated Series and remains one of the most beloved episodes among fans. It stands out for portraying iconic Batman villains in a new and unexpected light. The episode mainly features Joker, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, The Riddler, Killer Croc, and The Penguin gathered around a poker table, casually chatting about life and, of course, Batman. What made the episode so groundbreaking was the depiction of these often eccentric and larger-than-life characters as just a group of friends relaxing after a day of villainy..
Absolute Batman mirrors this scene by having Harvey, Bruce, Oswald, Edward, and Waylon sit down to play poker together – albeit with some key differences. First, Bruce isn’t just a topic of conversation; he is an active participant in the game. Secondly, these Gotham thugs are not supervillains, but rather reimagined as Bruce’s childhood friends, now living more like civilians than criminal masterminds. The third significant change is the absence of Poison Ivy – who has not yet appeared in the series – and the Joker, who appeared briefly in Absolute Batman #1 and was named as the main antagonist.
Absolute Batman Transforms Bruce Wayne’s relationship with his villains
Bruce Wayne is friends with Waylon Jones, Harvey Dent, Oswald Cobblepot, Edward Nygma and Selina Kyle
While Absolute Batman #1 revealed that Bruce was childhood friends with those who are his rogues in the Earth-Prime canoninstantly transforming your relationship with them, the revelations in Absolute Batman #2 take it a step further by showing Bruce interacting with his friends. These interactions highlight how familiar the five men are with each other. However, the meeting carries a bittersweet tone, as it becomes clear to the reader that Bruce is merely spending time with his friends – who he has been avoiding – to gather information about Black Mask’s movements. His friends, especially Oswald, have several connections around town that could be useful.
Although this was hinted at in issue #1, Absolute Batman Number 2 pretty much confirms that Oswald is involved in not-so-legal activities. This created tension within the group, especially between Oswald and Harvey, who works for Gotham’s district attorney. This question strongly suggests that, Although the Rogues aren’t supervillains at this point, they could already be on their way to becoming Batman’s enemies. If this development happens, it would be fascinating, as it would mean that most of Batman’s rogues were once his friends, adding a layer of complexity to the dynamic, much like that seen between Batman and Two-Face on Earth. -Main canon.
Absolute Batman’s poker scene pays clever homage to the Joker
Joker appeared in the original ‘poker scene’ in BtAS
As mentioned previously, one of the biggest differences between the poker scene in Absolute Batman and the one in Batman: The Animated Series is the absence of the Joker in the game. However, Snyder and Dragotta still deliver a clever homage to the clown when Bruce asks if they’re playing with wildcards, to which Harvey responds: “Jokers are never welcome here, Bruce…” This line is accompanied by the image of a Joker card, making the nod to the villain unmistakable. Although Joker is not physically present at the poker game, it appears that Absolute Batman is teasing his imminent appearance, possibly in the next issue.
ABSOLUTE BATMAN #2 is now available from DC Comics!