Notice! Spoilers ahead for Absolute Batman #3!The Absolute Universe Batman is close to losing one of the coolest aspects that separates it from its Prime Universe counterpart. Bruce Wayne faces difficulties as his crusade to save Gotham from the terrorist group known as the Party Animals intensifies.
Absolute Batman may not have the Wayne Family fortune or the means to create cutting-edge technology, but he's kicking ass and pushing the Party Animals to their limits. But the reality of his world is pressuring DC's new Dark Knight to accept a deal that could seriously harm the most important aspect of the Absolute Batman.
Black Mask Was Just Offered to Make the Absolute Batman a Millionaire
Bruce Wayne is about to make a fortune
In Absolute Batman #3 by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin and Clayton Cowles, Alfred and Bruce are in Batman's gigantic Batmobile and running away from the Party Animals. As the pair work together to shake down the violent gang, Alfred informs Bruce about the Party Animals and their leader, Black Mask, aka Roman Sionis. According to Alfred, Sionis uses his gang to destabilize governments at the behest of powerful figures. Alfred begs Batman to stop fighting Black Mask's gangsaying that Sionis is too big to stop alone.
In fact, Alfred tries to convince Bruce to accept the deal he heard from Black Mask's offer, saying that Batman could use whatever he could to make his operation bigger and more effective. Bruce kicks Alfred out of the Batmobile while Batman returns to one of his many Batcaves. Later, Batman consults his friend Eddie and uses his AI system to obtain information about the Party Animals. Once again, Bruce is informed that the Party Animals are simply too big to take down alone.
…Black Mask, who in fact offers Bruce money. 200 million dollars, in fact.
Batman investigates some further and discovers that Mayor Hill is working with Sionis on a project known as Ark M, Gotham's newest private prison with unsavory ties to special interest groups. With the world seemingly against him, Batman opens a line of communication with Black Mask, who does in fact offer Bruce money. 200 million dollars, in fact. All he has to do is stay away for a week and Black Mask will give Bruce enough money to make Batman bigger than ever. Bruce interrupts Black Mask and bitterly informs the criminal that he is accepting the deal.
Is Absolute Batman already outgrowing his working-class roots?
Bruce is learning a hard lesson about the reality of the Absolute Universe
The Absolute Universe was once just another reality in the panoply of Earths neighboring the DC Universe. However, after Darkseid's physical body was destroyed, his residual energy broke through the dimensional barrier of the Prime Universe and was imprinted on a newly developed Earth. The entire reality of this universe was corrupted by Darkseid's energy, transforming him into a world that reflected the ideals that Darkseid embodiessuch as turbulence and conflict. The biggest icons of the DCU still exist in this world, but they lack many things compared to their Prime counterparts and have much more difficult backgrounds.
Don't miss the birth of the Absolute Universe in DC everything in special #1!
In the case of Absolute Batman, he didn't have the privileged upbringing that most other Bruce Wayne variants have. His parents were working class, his father was a teacher and his mother was a social worker. However, some things in the Absolute Universe are sadly consistent, and this Batman still lost his fatheralthough it actually occurred in a mass shooting at a zoo rather than Crime Alley. Bruce Wayne grew up angry and lashed out at the world during his teenage years. But eventually he found the focus he needed and decided to change his world for the better.
Bruce studied various subjects such as psychology and chemistry before settling into a career as a civil engineer, intimately knowing the inner workings of Gotham. He didn't have the money to build the most advanced Batsuit ever, but he created one that had a more utilitarian design, incorporating weapons into it, such as ears that could transform into blades and a symbol that doubled as an ax head. With just his wits and the things he could piece together, Batman was able to make great progress against the Party Animalsa group that terrorized Gotham for months.
Absolute Batman taking the money would destroy what makes him special
Don't throw money at a problem that doesn't exist
Of course, Batman shouldn't accept Black Mask's money for the obvious reason that he is a criminal who profits from the pain and misery of others. But beyond that glaring issue, Bruce shouldn't take the money because it would completely remove one of the most interesting things about him. Namely, be a Batman who doesn't have millions of dollars at his disposal. It's been fascinating to see how this version of Bruce has had to fight and struggle to have an operation that even remotely resembles what his privileged counterpart could produce with infinite resources.
Black Mask wouldn't be offering Bruce money if he wasn't scared of what Absolute Batman was accomplishing.
Of course, this could be a move on Batman's part. It wouldn't be the first time the Dark Knight bluffed one of his enemies, only to turn the tables on them later. But this issue really puts things into perspective for Bruce, reminding him that as effective as he is in combat, he's a big fish in a small pond compared to the movers and shakers of the world. He may have more muscles than Bane, but Absolute Batman is probably starting to think that substantial money might be what he really needs to change the world.
But what he fails to realize is that he and change the world without having millions at your disposal. Black Mask wouldn't be offering Bruce money if he wasn't scared of what Absolute Batman was accomplishing. The best thing about this new version of Batman is that it shows that what it really takes to make a difference is determination and vision, not fancy toys or simplified gadgets. He's an inspiration as is, and would only do himself a disservice if he took Black Mask's dirty money.
Batman's absolute fights made him a great hero
He doesn't need money to improve when he's fine on his own
Darkseid may have created a harsher, darker world when he created the Absolute Universe, but he created the perfect conditions for a new kind of Batman. The one who fought and paved the way to get where he is. Giving him money wouldn't magically solve his problems or make the real problems he's facing disappear. But going ahead and hitting Black Mask where it hurts certainly will. Hopefully, Batman will reject this offer and stay the course to finally defeat his new enemy.
Absolute Batman #3 is now available from DC Comics.