Warning! Spoilers ahead for Absolute Batman #1!The first glimpse into the Absolute Universe isn’t just an impressive read, it shows just how muchDarkseidhas fundamentally changed the DC Universe.In Darkseid’s bid to attain more powerthan ever, he’s created a world, and Gotham, that’s far more brutal than fans expected.
DC All In Special #1showed how Darkseid went madafter the multiverse was sealed away. But after losing his physical body, his energy was sent to the young, alternate Elseworld,creating the oppressive Absolute Universe. Now fans are able to see the results of his actions and discover just how bad a world based on Darkseid’s ideals truly is.
Absolute BatmanDemonstrates the Worst Depths of Darkseid’s New World
Absolute Batman #1by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta, on sale now.
In Absolute Batman #1 by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin, and Clayton Cowles, MI-6 agent Alfred Pennyworth returns to Gotham to investigate the criminal activity of a terrorist group known as the Party Animals. The Party Animals have brought war to the city with their violent and murderous acts and have even raised the crime rate by 700% alone. Alfred is warned to not engage with the Party Animals, buthe is given permission to take down the mysterious Batmanwho has been seen skulking around Gotham’s streets at night.
…before the terrorist group can attack the civilians, Batman arrives and drags the gang out into the street.
The town is furious and afraid for their lives with the Party Animals in town. Mayor Jim Gordon holds a town hall to assure them they have the situation under control, but the Party Animals interrupt the meeting and shoot at the mayor. Thankfully, before the terrorist group can attack the civilians, Batman arrives and drags the gang out into the street. With a combination of unique weapons such as his chest plate axe and his bulletproof cape,Batman effortlessly drives the Party Animals away in fear.
Don’t forget to see the birth of the Absolute Universe inDC All In Special #1 (2024)!
Alfred does some investigation and quickly determines that Batman is actually Bruce Wayne who, in this universe, survived a mass shooting (though he lost his father). Alfred tracks down Bruce in an abandoned high-rise, only for the vigilante to best him in combat and get away, oddly inspiring hope in Alfred towards Gotham’s future. Elsewhere, a couple of helicopter pilots discuss their employer, a billionaire who is so rich no one knows his true identity. In lieu of a name,people have taken to calling him the Jokerdue to his distaste for laughing.
Darkseid’s Energy Permeates the Absolute Universe
Every New Change is a Reflection of Darkseid
Everything about Darkseid’s new world can be traced back to Amanda Waller’s recent actions in Absolute Power. Waller went after the superhero community and had their powers stolen thanks to a crew of soup-up Amazos known as Task Force VII. However, de-powering and imprisoning the heroes wasn’t enough as Waller wanted to establish her authority on the rest of the DC multiverse. To stop Waller’s mad scheme, Flash destroyed the multiversal gate she had built, but in doing so,the Prime DC Universe became separated from its neighboring Earths.
The severance occurred inAbsolute Power #4 (2024)!
No one was more affected by this change to the multiverse than Darkseid who grew restless with all his power concentrated into one form rather than spread out to other worlds. This caused him to build a Miracle Machine and use its power to bind his being with the Spectre. The Spectre brought their amalgamated form to the Justice League’s headquarters, where the wraith begged Darkseid to stop his campaign. With Darkseid refusing to let the Spectre go, the two were forcefully split apart,causing Darkseid’s body to unleash a wave of energy.
Here, Darkseid was able to influence the timeline and make grand changes that reflected the New God’s ideals.
This energy tore through the cosmos and went straight for the impressionable Elseworld. Here, Darkseid was able to influence the timeline and make grand changes that reflected the New God’s ideals. Here, oppression was the reigning force instead of hope.While heroes like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman would rise in this world, they lack many thingstheir Prime counterparts have. These heroes still represent hope, but they’re up against greater odds than ever before.
Absolute Batman #1is a Perfect Foray Into DC’s Dark New World
Readers Get to See the ‘Dark Side’ of the Absolute Universe
Ever since it was announced, fans have been curious about what the Absolute Universe would be like. WhileDC All In Special #1provided an interesting glimpse, it wasn’t the most thorough look. ButAbsolute Batman #1doesn’t waste a second,showing just how badly Darkseid has corrupted this world.Gotham City has always been one of the more unseemly parts of the DC Universe, but with villains like the Party Animals around, Gotham is practically a war zone while they commit atrocities like burning down daycare and dancing as they burn.
Just look at his battle with the Party Animals when Batman uses his axe to cut off one of the criminal’s hands.
Even Batman, though undeniably still the same hero fans know him to be, has been radically altered by this world. He’s rougher around the edges, still haunted by the gun violence he witnessed as a young man. But aside from carrying years of trauma, he’s so much more violent than the Prime Dark Knight. Just look at his battle with the Party Animals when Batman uses his axe to cut off one of the criminal’s hands. Batman’s no stranger to extreme shows of force,but his Absolute doppelgänger had to be much more severe to survive in Darkseid’s world.
Other titleswill reveal more of this new universe, but as far as first looks go, this was an extremely effective way to showcase how this new world is separate from the mainline DC Universe. It’s brutal, scary, and just a tad hopeless. However, even with so much wrong with this world, hope still exists thanks to the heroes intrinsically woven into the DCU’s fabric. Darkseid may have thought he’d achieved everything he wanted by creating his own world. Butas long as the Absolute Universe has heroes like Batman, Darkseid isn’t going to win.
Hope Will Ultimately Win in Darkseid’s World
Absolute Batman is Already Changing the Game
Darkseid wanted to create a world where his ideals were law and that hope had no chance. But as Absolute Batman proves, the heroes can’t help but thrive when a challenge is thrown their way. Yes, this new world is darker than most other Earths, but it’s not alone. Batman is there and he’s going to give his all to stop the awful crimes that are pervading his city (and undoubtedly the rest of his Earth).Darkseidmay have gotten the corrupted planet he wanted, but with heroes around, victory just isn’t in his future.
Absolute Batman #1is available now from DC Comics.
Darkseid
Darkseid is a tyrannical supervillain in DC Comics, ruling the hellish planet Apokolips. He seeks the Anti-Life Equation to control all sentient life and eliminate free will across the universe. With immense strength, energy manipulation, and Omega Beams that disintegrate targets, Darkseid is a relentless foe of Superman, the Justice League, New Gods, and free people everywhere.
