Warning! Spoilers ahead for Absolute Batman #3!The Absolute Universe’sBatmanis this close to losing one of the coolest aspects that separates him from his Prime Universe counterpart. Bruce Wayne is facing difficult odds as his crusade to save Gotham from the terrorist groupknown as the Party Animalsintensifies.
Absolute Batman may not havethe Wayne Family fortune or the means to create cutting-edge tech, but he’s been kicking some serious ass and pushing the Party Animals to their limits. But the reality of his world is pushing DC’s new Dark Knight to take a deal that could seriously undermine the most important aspect of Absolute Batman.
Black Mask Just Offered to Make Absolute Batman a Millionaire
Bruce Wayne is on the Verge of Gaining a Fortune
InAbsolute Batman #3by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin, and Clayton Cowles, Alfred and Bruce arein Batman’s gigantic Batmobileand on the run from the Party Animals. As the duo work in tandem to shake the violent gang, Alfred brings Bruce up to speed on 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 implores Batman to stop fighting Black Mask’s gang, saying that Sionis is too big to stop on his own.
In fact, Alfred tries to convince Bruce to take the deal he overheard Black Mask offer,saying that Batman could use whatever he gets to make his operation bigger and more effective. Bruce has Alfred ejected from the Batmobile as Batman returns to one of his many Batcaves. Later, Batman consults with his friend Eddie and uses his AI system to gain insight into the Party Animals. Again, Bruce is told that the Party Animals are simply too big to take down by himself.
…Black Mask, who does indeed offer Bruce money. 200 million dollars, in fact.
Batman does a bit more digging 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 up a line of communication with Black Mask, who does indeed offer Bruce money. 200 million dollars, in fact. All he has to do is stand down for a week andBlack Mask will give Bruce enough money to make Batman bigger than ever. Bruce cuts Black Mask off and bitterly informs the criminal that he’s taking the deal.
Absolute Batman is Already Moving Past His Working Class Roots?
Bruce is Learning a Harsh Lesson about the Absolute Universe’s Reality
The Absolute Universe was once just another reality in the DC Universe’s panoply of neighboring Earths. However, after Darkseid’s physical body was destroyed, his residual energy broke through the dimensional barrier of the Prime Universe and imprinted on a newly developed Earth. This universe’s entire reality was corrupted by Darkseid’s energy, transforming it intoa world that reflected the ideals that embody Darkseid, such as turmoil and strife. The DCU’s biggest icons still exist in this world, but they lack many things compared to their Prime counterparts and had much more difficult backgrounds.
Don’t miss the birth of the Absolute Universe inDC All In Special #1!
In Absolute Batman’s case, he didn’t have the privileged upbringing most other Bruce Wayne variants have. His parents were working-class people, his father a teacher and his mother a social worker. However,some things in the Absolute Universe are sadly consistent, and this Batman still lost his father, though it actually occurred in a mass shooting at a zoo rather than in 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 numerous subjects such as psychology and chemistry before settling into a career as a civil engineer, getting to know Gotham’s inner workings intimately. He didn’t have the money to build the most advanced Batsuit ever, but he did fashion one that had a more utilitarian design, incorporating weaponry 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 scrape together,Batman was able to make some serious headway against the Party Animals, a group that had 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 take Black Mask’s money for the obvious reason that he’s a criminal that profits off the pain and misery of others. But aside from that glaring issue, Bruce shouldn’t take the money because it would completely remove one of the most interesting things about him. Namely,being 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 struggle and push himself to have an operation that even remotely resembles what his privileged counterpart could produce with endless 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 gambit on Batman’s part. It wouldn’t be the first time the Dark Knight has bluffed one of his foes only to turn the tables on them later. But this issue really does put things in 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 might have more muscles than Bane, butAbsolute Batman is likely starting to think that substantial money may be what he really needs to change the world.
But what he fails to realize is that heischanging the world without having millions at his disposal. Black Mask wouldn’t be offering Bruce money if he wasn’t scared of what Absolute Batman was accomplishing. The greatest thing about this new version of Batman is that he shows that what it really takes to make a difference is determination and vision, not fancy toys or streamlined gadgets. He’s an inspiration as he is, and would only do himself a disservice by taking Black Mask’s dirty money.
Absolute Batman’s Struggles Have Made Him a Great Hero
He Doesn’t Need Money to Improve When He’s Fine on His Own
Darkseid may have made a harsher, bleaker world when he created the Absolute Universe, but he made the perfect conditions for a new kind of Batman. One who fought and clawed his way to get to where he is. Giving him money wouldn’t magically solve his problems or make the real issues he’s facing go away. But pressing on and hitting Black Mask where it hurts certainly will. Hopefully,Batmanwill reject this offer and stay the course to ultimately defeat his new foe.
Absolute Batman #3is available now from DC Comics.
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
