The DC W.I.P. Absolute Batman # 1 11 X 17 Format Framed 2025 NM

The DC W.I.P. (Work In Progress): Absolute Batman #1 is a specialized, oversized "Artist's Edition" that showcases the raw, uncolored creation process of the debut issue. Released in September 2025, this edition allows fans to see the original artwork by Nick Dragotta at its actual drawn size (11" x 17"). Frame 14.25 X 20.25 Comic is Bagged and Double Boarded, too. 

Key Features of the WIP Edition 

• Original Art Reproduction: The book features high-quality scans of the original ink pages, including production details like pencil marks, white-out corrections, smudge marks, and even pieces of green painters tape used for paste-ups.
• Artistic Process: It provides a rare look at Dragotta's draftsmanship, highlighting his use of heavy blacks, brushwork, and manga-influenced storytelling techniques.
• Special Presentation: The edition uses semi-transparent digital lettering and a transparent logo on the cover to ensure the focus remains entirely on the background artwork.
• Behind-the-Scenes Content: It includes a brand-new introduction by Nick Dragotta and features roughs and thumbnails that illustrate how the book's sequences were built. 

Collector & Purchase Details 

The WIP edition has become a high-demand item for collectors due to its unique format and limited nature. 

• Format: Treasury-sized (11" x 17"), 48-page softcover.

Absolute Batman #1 (released October 9, 2024) kicks off DC’s Absolute Universe, a brand-new continuity where classic heroes are reimagined with drastically different backgrounds. Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Nick Dragotta, this version presents a "working-class" Dark Knight who lacks the signature wealth and resources of the original Bruce Wayne. 

Core Premise & Bruce Wayne 

In this reality, Bruce Wayne is a 24-year-old civil engineer who grew up in Crime Alley. He has no billion-dollar trust fund, no Wayne Manor, and no high-tech Batcave. 

• Hulking Physique: Bruce is depicted as a towering "absolute unit"—roughly 6'6" and 220 lbs—relying on raw power and his engineering skills rather than expensive gadgets.
• New Origin: His father, Thomas Wayne, was a public school teacher killed in a mass shooting at the Gotham Zoo, while his mother, Martha, is still alive.
• DIY Arsenal: His equipment is self-made. Most notably, the Bat-symbol on his chest is actually a heavy axe head he can detach and use in combat. 

The World of Absolute Gotham 

The setting is a more brutal, chaotic version of Gotham City where the power dynamics are flipped. 

• Alfred Pennyworth: Instead of a loyal butler, Alfred is a cynical MI6 agent sent to Gotham to investigate a terrorist group. He initially acts as an antagonist, tracking Batman as a potential threat.
• Rogues Gallery: Many of Batman's traditional enemies are reimagined as his childhood friends or part of his social circle, including Harvey Dent, Edward Nygma, and Waylon Jones (Killer Croc).
• The Villains: The primary threat in the first issue is the Party Animals, a violent gang backed by a wealthy, elite version of Black Mask (Roman Sionis).
• The Absolute Joker: Teased in the epilogue, this universe's Joker is one of the world's 30 richest people. He is a dark mirror to the original Bruce Wayne: highly trained, wealthy, and notably, he never laughs.