DC’s New Absolute Batman Has a Violence Problem (& I Am Honestly SO Here For It)

WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for ABSOLUTE BATMAN #1!

After reading the first issue of Absolute Batman, one thing is crystal clear: Bruce Wayne has a serious violence problem, and I am here for every brutal moment. No disrespect to his mainstream counterpart, but this is by far the most thrilling and intense version of Batman DC has delivered in years. I’m hooked—and already counting down the days until the next issue drops.

Absolute Batman is the perfect balance between the standard Batman and Red Hood.

DC recently launched their ALL IN initiative, shaking up the DC Universe with major continuity-breaking changes. One of the most significant of these is the introduction of the Absolute Universe, a Darkseid-created world that reimagines fan-favorite characters as darker, more brutal versions of themselves.

Among these reimaginings is Batman, who has been given his own ongoing title, led by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta. Absolute Batman #1 brought this new Dark Knight to life—and my biggest takeaway (aside from this quickly becoming my favorite ongoing series) is that this is the most brutal portrayal of Batman yet.

Absolute Batman vs. Main Continuity: What Makes Him More Brutal?

Even Hitman Alfred Pennyworth Is Shocked by Bruce’s Excessive Force

In this Absolute version of Gotham, Roman “Black Mask” Sionis has been reimagined as a far more twisted and horrifying figure. Now leading a gang/domestic terrorist organization known as the Party Animals, his gang’s animalistic masks, inhuman behavior, and psychopathic violence unsettle me more than even my most hated DC villain, Professor Pyg. The Party Animals’ brutal attack on Mayor Jim Gordon’s press conference gives us our first real look at Absolute Batman in action, and it’s nothing short of unforgettable.

The Party Animals storm the press conference with a plan to kill as many people as possible. But Batman steps in, confronting them head-on. What follows is an incredibly brutal showdown, with the Dark Knight systematically dismantling the gang one by one with surgical precision and terrifying efficiency. The art and dialogue make it clear that Batman fights with savage brutality, pushing the limits of what’s necessary without crossing into fatality. However, it’s Alfred Pennyworth’s narration—now a hitman in this universe—that really underscores the unparalleled violence in Bruce’s methods.

Watching from a rooftop, Alfred describes Bruce’s fighting style as “brutal, yet precise,” noting how the vigilante is going further than needed in his attacks, almost “putting on a show” to make sure the sounds of breaking bones and snapping joints are heard. Perhaps the most unsettling part is Alfred’s admission that this Absolute Batman seems to be “enjoying” the violence. Bruce’s savagery and twisted enjoyment from his fighting starkly contrast with his DCU counterpart, who consistently condemns unnecessary violence. Yet, despite these darker impulses, Absolute Batman still refrains from crossing the line into killing, even as he dangerously skirts the edge.

From A Near-Sentient Cape to a Chest Ax, Bruce Wayne Isn’t Messing Around

In addition to Batman deliberately inflicting as much damage as possible on the Party Animals, what truly sets this Bruce apart as exceptionally violent is his choice of weapons and how he uses them. His cape functions almost like a symbiote, forming tendril-like appendages that move and strike at his will, sending enemies crashing through walls. His unnaturally long bat ears are revealed to be detachable knives. While knives aren’t unfamiliar to the standard Batman, Absolute Batman wields them with unmatched brutality. As Alfred narrates, “And the knife work… my lord. So bloody, yet you miss each artery by just enough.”

This Batman also wields a massive axe, which he detaches from his chest logo. In a particularly gory moment, Bruce uses the axe to sever one of the Party Animal’s hands, cutting it clean off. The permanent damage, particularly the hand severing, is in sharp contrast to how the standard Batman typically operates. In the DCU, Bruce is rarely depicted inflicting such excessive injuries. In fact, he would even lecture his Robins if he perceived them as getting “too violent.” This stark contrast emphasizes just how much more violent this iteration of the Dark Knight is in the Absolute Universe.

Absolute Batman’s Excessive Violence Is Necessary

The Absolute Universe’s Villains Are More Dangerous and Sadistic Than Ever

While I’m hooked on Absolute Batman’s heightened violence for the pure thrill of it, there’s a deeper narrative reason behind it that goes beyond the typical comic book action. As noted before, the Absolute Universe presents a darker, grittier version of the DCU, where heroes are outmatched and villains often dominate due to the pervasive influence of Darkseid’s energy. This makes the villains tougher, more ruthless, and more dangerous than their standard counterparts. Black Mask, for example, leads a violent domestic terrorist group, terrorizing Gotham unchecked.

In this context, Batman’s extreme violence serves a critical function. To take on these overwhelmingly powerful foes, he needs to match their brutality and make a lasting impact. The villains in this universe have long been free to spread fear and chaos, giving them a significant upper hand. Batman, however, has to strike harder, yet still maintain the line between them and himself by keeping his violence non-lethal. This subtle balance hasn’t been fully explored in the narrative yet, but I’m confident it’s only a matter of time before the story dives into this justification.

Absolute Batman Is the PERFECT Mix Between Standard Batman and Red Hood

Why I Can’t Get Enough of Absolute Batman’s Darker Side

Absolute Batman has a serious violence problem, from severing hands to slicing villains’ within an inch of their lives, and I can’t get enough of it. While some fans admire the standard Batman’s more restrained approach, I’ve always sided with Red Hood’s logic when dealing with the worst of the worst—eliminating them permanently from the equation. That’s why I see Absolute Batman as the perfect balance. He upholds the standard Batman’s no-kill rule, but he doesn’t pull punches against those whose only goal is to spread death and destruction.

Absolute Batman #1 is available now from DC Comics!