How Absolute Batman Reimagines One of Bruce Wayne's Greatest Tragedies

Warning: This nonfiction contains afloat spoilers for Absolute Batman #23!

Absolute Batman authors Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta definite cognize however to crook the screws connected mediocre Bruce Wayne. The existent communicative arc, "The Straw Man," has delivered 1 misery-inducing twist aft another. So far, Batman has dealt with being framed for the execution of ex-mayor James Gordon, fought a caller service of mech-suit-clad Robins, and adjacent dealt with the revelation that his full trajectory arsenic a costumed leader whitethorn person been secretly orchestrated by Joker and Scarecrow.

Suffice it to say, mediocre Bruce is astatine his breaking constituent successful the latest contented of the series. In different words, it's the cleanable clip for the bid to present its ain rotation connected 1 of the astir tragic Batman storylines of each time. What horrible caller improvement unfolds wrong these pages? Read connected to find out.

Art by Nick Dragotta. (Image Credit: DC)

As mentioned, this existent storyline has introduced the Absolute Universe versions of the Robins - Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown, Duke Thomas, and Jason Todd. But conscionable similar truthful overmuch astir this universe, the precise conception of Robin has been distorted and twisted. They aren't Batman's plucky sidekicks, but alternatively a squad of teen soldiers organized by Slade Wilson to instrumentality down the Dark Knight. And fixed that each 1 pilots a powerful, monolithic suit of armor, they surely person the means to bash so.

Issue #23 puts its ain rotation connected 1988's Batman: A Death successful the Family, the infamous communicative wherein Jason Todd is murdered by the Joker. Here, the reckless Jason is shown suiting up to hunt Batman alone, a rash determination that proves to person unspeakable consequences for some men.

Art by Nick Dragotta. (Image Credit: DC)

No sooner does Jason find and subdue Batman (who's astir reached his affectional breaking constituent and doesn't adjacent enactment up a fight), than Absolute Clayface makes his beingness known. Clayface impersonates Batman and attacks Jason. But ultimately, it's not Jason who becomes Clayface's victim, but Tim Drake, who belatedly arrives to assistance his partner. Tim is impaled and killed connected faux-Batman's enarthrosis spikes.

Enraged, Batman battles his newest foe, but he's incapable to harm an hostile made retired of surviving clay. Clayface yet slinks into the sewer, but not earlier informing Batman that helium tin ne'er flight the trap that's been laid retired earlier him. The unconscious Jason past awakens to observe Tim's lifeless body, assuming Batman himself was the 1 responsible.

Art by Nick Dragotta. (Image Credit: DC)

The individuality of the quality successful question has changed, but we erstwhile again person a script wherever Batman is mourning the decease of a Robin. And if helium wasn't already successful occupation with the law, he's surely going to beryllium now.

Let america cognize successful the comments what you deliberation of this latest Absolute Universe twist.

In different Absolute Batman news, the bid was precocious honored astatine the 2026 Eisner Awards, and the archetypal hardcover has dropped to a caller all-time debased terms connected Amazon.

Jesse is simply a mild-mannered unit writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intelligence thicket by following @jschedeen connected BlueSky.