WARNING: Contains potential spoilers for ABSOLUTE BATMAN #1!
TRIGGER WARNING: Discussion of active shooter situation involving children
The debut of Absoluto Batman presents fans with a bold reimagining of Bruce Wayne, complete with a gritty twist on his classic origin story. This time, the tragedy that gave rise to the Dark Knight unfolds during an active shooter incident in Gotham, replacing the familiar Crime Alley scene. This dramatic change also reshapes the inspiration behind Bruce’s iconic “bat” theme, adding new depth to his transformation into Batman.
…connecting Batman’s theme to a moment of deep childhood trauma rather than the chance encounter of a bat flying through a mansion window…
Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin and Clayton Cowles Absolute Batman #1 features one of the freshest and most entertaining stories starring the Dark Knight in years. One of the main reasons this story stands out is the creative freedom that Snyder and Dragotta gained in Absolute Universe, allowing them to reimagine iconic DC characters with bold, fresh origin stories and impactful changes to their lore.
In this world created by Darkseid, even the most enduring parts of Batman’s history have been redefined – like Bruce’s inspiration for his bat theme, which now stems from a traumatic encounter with bats at the zoo, rather than a bat flying through the window of his mansion.
What is the original origin story of Bruce Wayne’s ‘bat’?
Panel comes from Detective comics #33 (1939)
To fully appreciate the changes Snyder made to Bruce’s ‘bat’ origin, it’s important to first understand the original story that has endured for decades, with only minor tweaks over the years. Batman’s iconic origin was first introduced in Detective comics #33 (1939) by Bill Finger, Gardner Fox, Bob Kane and Sheldon Moldoff. In this Golden Age installment, Bruce is deep in thought in his study, searching for a disguise that will instill fear in Gotham’s superstitious criminals, when a large bat suddenly flies through the open windows of the mansion.
Seeing the bat as a sign, Bruce exclaims: “A bat! And that! It’s an omen. I will become a bat!” From this moment on, Bruce’s transformation into Batman unfolds, becoming one of the most iconic stories in comics. For the most part, this origin has remained consistent throughout Batman’s 80+ year history. The main adjustment was the addition of a bat dramatically crashing through the window and landing on a bust of Thomas Wayne with glowing eyes.adding a supernatural twist to the classic 1939 tale.
A Bat Compartment and Trauma: The Absolute Origin Story of Batman’s ‘Bat’
Bruce Wayne’s absolute origin story is revealed in Absolute Batman #1 (2024)
Absolute Batman #1 takes a completely different approach to how this version of Bruce Wayne finds his bat-themed inspiration. In this story, Thomas Wayne is reimagined as an elementary school teacher who takes Bruce and his classmates on a field trip to the zoo when an active shooter situation unfolds. Thomas immediately tries to find shelter for the children, leading them to a bat enclosure. Preparing to distract the shooter, Thomas closes the door and says his last words to Bruce: “Bruce, whatever you hear, don’t open this door.” Surrounded by bats, Bruce hears the shot that takes his father’s life.
Although not directly stated in the narrative, It is heavily implied that being trapped in a bat enclosure during his father’s death profoundly influenced Bruce’s choice of bat motif. This origin is darker and more tragic, connecting Batman’s theme to a moment of deep childhood trauma rather than the chance encounter of a bat flying through a mansion window during a billionaire’s moment of introspection. It will be interesting to see if this Bruce explicitly acknowledges trauma as his inspiration or if Snyder will continue to let the implication speak for itself.
The Sheer Trauma of Batman’s Bat Bay Is More Plausible Than the ‘Manor Window’ Version
Which ‘Bat’ origin story is your favorite?
The sheer inspiration of Bruce’s bat directly tied to his trauma makes his transformation into Batman much more plausible and adds depth to the story as a whole. While the bat flying through the mansion’s window remains a classic origin, the reimagining of the bat enclosure has an undeniable appeal, its emotional intensity making it more narratively engaging and providing a powerful reasoning for how Bruce grew from a young boy. traumatized to a figure dressed as a creature of the night. Ultimately, though, each fan can decide which Batman the origin resonates most with them.
Absolute Batman #1 is now available from DC Comics!