Warning! Spoilers ahead for Absolute Batman #1!As the Absolute Universe begins in earnest, DC Comics reveals its newest Batman Shocking origins. Although most stories about the Dark Knight often begin in tragedy, a change has been made in the Absolute Universe that is sure to have fans talking for months.
The Absolute Universe is a new world created by Darkseid who, after attempting to steal the power of the Spectre, lost his physical body. But his energy is transferred to a young universe and changes it, creating a variant DC Universe where chaos reigns supreme. This new world gives way to a huge change to Batman’s iconic origin that not only makes it more timely, but puts the absolute Dark Knight on a completely different path.
Absolute Batman Origin begins with a mass shooting at a zoo
Bruce Wayne lives with massive survivor’s guilt
in Absolute Batman #1 By Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin and Clayton Cowles, the story literally starts with a bang as it shows a young Bruce Wayne on a class trip to the zoo, led by his father and teacher, Thomas. Unfortunately, the idyllic day was interrupted by a mysterious figure who brought a gun to the public place. The flashback ends, and the present is shown, And this Bruce has grown colder and harder than his Prime Universe counterpart.
Do not forget to see how the Absolute Universe was born in DC All In Special #1!
Bruce spends much of his days training, while memories of his last moments with his father continue to haunt him. Night falls and Bruce is ready for another night out as Gotham’s newest vigilante. However, while Batman is taking down a criminal gang known as the Party Animals, he is noticed by MI-6 agent Alfred Pennyworth, who is interested in the young man. Alfred quickly figures out that Batman is Bruce and discovers that his journey began with the zoo trip Bruce won as a prize in a student engineering competition.
He spent the next few years after the mass shootings with the world…
Another flashback shows the shooter’s spree and although Thomas gets the children to safety by leading them to the bat enclosure, he is killed by the gunman’s bullets. Alfred continues to piece together Bruce’s life, noting that he spent the next several years after the mass shooting lashing out at the world and getting into trouble with the law before he got his act together. Alfred walks Bruce through the day, Even as Batman returns to the zoo and honors his father by placing a flower on the spot where he died.
Batman’s New Origin Puts Gun Violence In The Spotlight
Bruce Wayne bears incredibly relatable trauma
Batman’s origin has always been rooted in gun violence and the tragic tale has been retold many times over the years. Part of What made Batman’s story such a timeless one (at least as far as American readers were concerned) was that gun violence never went away.It only got worse as the years went by. Another sad truth about gun violence is that as much as someone may fear a one-on-one encounter, mass shootings have ballooned in America over the past few decades, occurring in places like parks, malls, stores, and most tragically, Schools.
Absolute Batman Don’t be ashamed of the dangerous guns in a modern society…
Changing the origin of Batman is a no-no for many fans, but this is an alternate continuity and, honestly, it’s a bold move. Mass shootings are an uncomfortable subject as they tie into a number of hot-button issues such as access to mental health and gun rights and many prefer to skirt the issue rather than address it. But Absolute Batman It doesn’t shy away from the danger that guns pose in a modern society and uses the origin of the iconic hero to showcase it. And it’s not just an incredible change, since This event has a very real effect on the absolute Batman’s life.
As Alfred reveals, this Bruce is incredibly affected by the mass shooting he survived. He is angry at his helplessness in the situation and is still working through it all over a decade later. Sure, the Prime Universe Dark Knight also discussed the impact of losing his parents and his distaste for firearms. But Absolute Batman Don’t shy away from the trauma that Bruce carries, and it’s honestly pretty refreshing to see. Making Batman a mass shooting survivor wasn’t done just to be a surface-level changeIt is used to explore how gun violence can really impact someone.
What the future holds for Absolute Batman and his trauma
Can Batman overcome his most harrowing moment?
No matter the universe, Batman is someone who is driven by his past. Whether he saw the family die in Crime Alley or the Gotham Zoo, that moment defined Bruce Wayne’s life. While the Prime Universe Batman has more or less come to terms with what happened, the Absolute Batman is still struggling. True, he is younger and in a much worse place than the prime Bruce. But with the right support system, the absolute Batman Can finally work through this terrible moment in his history.
Absolute Batman #1 is available now from DC Comics.