Absolute Batman # 1 and Absolute Superman # 1 Kirkham 616 Comics CGC 9.8 4635230023 4635231008

Absolute Batman # 1, released on October 9, 2024, is the blockbuster debut of DC’s Absolute Universe. Created by writer Scott Snyder and artist Nick Dragotta, it reimagines Bruce Wayne as a working-class "chaos agent" rather than a billionaire socialite.

The Story & Setting

In this reality, the "wealth" is stripped away. Bruce Wayne is a massive, 6'6" city engineer who grew up in the public housing of Crime Alley.

• The Origin: His father, Thomas Wayne, was a social worker, and his mother, Martha, was a municipal employee. They were killed in a mass shooting at a zoo, leaving Bruce with a raw, structural understanding of Gotham’s decay.
• The Mission: Without a cave or a butler, Bruce uses his knowledge of Gotham's infrastructure to fight from the bottom up. He views Batman not as a symbol of order, but as a "beast" meant to tear down the corrupt systems of the elite.
• The Villains: The issue introduces the Party Animals, a lethal gang wearing animal masks, who serve a mysterious group of wealthy elites known as the Black Mask.

Key Reinventions

• The Arsenal: His bat-ears double as combat knives, and his massive cape is made of heavy, weighted ballistic material. His primary weapon is a brutal, foldable battle-axe formed from the chest emblem of his suit.
• Alfred Pennyworth: No longer a butler, Alfred is a high-level MI6 field agent sent to Gotham to observe and potentially neutralize the threat that Batman represents.
• The Batmobile: He drives a modified, heavy-duty armored motorcycle rather than a high-tech supercar.

Absolute Superman #1 (released November 6, 2024) is the debut of a darker, "rawer" version of the Man of Steel within DC's Absolute Universe. Written by Jason Aaron with art by Rafa Sandoval, it reimagines Kal-El without his traditional support systems—no Fortress of Solitude, no Superman family, and initially, no Kent family upbringing. 

Key Plot and World Details

• A Different Krypton: In this universe, Krypton is defined by a rigid caste system. Jor-El and Lara-El are not revered scientists but members of the Labor Guild, the lowest class. The iconic "S" shield is actually the symbol of this labor class rather than a family crest.
• Adult Arrival: Unlike the classic origin, Kal-El arrives on Earth as an adolescent or young adult rather than a baby. In this first issue, he is a "lone wolf" activist traveling the globe to protect exploited workers.
• Modified Powers and Suit: His powers are not as absolute; he must regulate his solar energy using a sentient, AI-driven suit named Sol. His heat vision is described as appearing like "lava," and he may not even have the power of flight initially.
• Lazarus Corporation and Lois Lane: The primary antagonist is the Lazarus Corporation, a global entity that exploits laborers and employs high-tech "Peacemakers" as enforcers. Shockingly, Lois Lane is introduced not as a reporter, but as a high-ranking military agent for Lazarus who captures Superman at the end of the issue.
• Darker Tone: The series is part of a universe born from "Darkseid energy," meaning the world is intentionally bleaker and heroes are "underdogs" fighting against a corrupt system.