Absolute Batman Volume 1: The Zoo Shows Batman In A Way You’ve Never Seen Him Before

Written by Scott Snyder. Art by Nick Dragotta and Gabriel Hernandez Walta. Coloured by Frank Martin. Lettered by Clayton Cowles. Published by DC Comics.

Batman is one of the most malleable characters in comics. There are so many interpretations of him. Different tones paint him, from grimdark to light. The types of stories vary, from action-packed to detective mysteries. If you wanted to, you could drop him in outer space, make him a pirate, or transport him into a steampunk setting. As a result, there have been countless varieties of Batman. However, only Absolute Batman has gotten the same level of attention as the mainstream counterpart.

This version of Batman launched as part of DC Comics’ Absolute Universe. As an alternative to the mainline DC Universe, this line of comics spotlights fresh takes on familiar characters, taking creative risks while unmoored from 85 years of previous stories. The result has been a huge success, embraced by critics and readers. As a result, these comics (but especially Absolute Batman) have been some of DC Comics’ top-selling titles.

So, what makes Absolute Batman such a big deal? Let’s probe into Absolute Batman Volume 1: The Zoo – containing the first six issues – to find out.

Absolute Batman Volume 1: The Zoo cover by Nick Dragotta and Frank Martin.

Gotham City is rocked by random acts of violence. The Party Animals, coordinated by Black Mask, use this violence to seed chaos and terror throughout the city. The police cannot do anything to stop it. The only person who can is Batman, aided by MI6 special agent Alfred Pennyworth. Although, as readers will discover, this violence is just a cog in a much larger international plan that will unfurl throughout future stories.

This isn’t any Batman you’ve seen before. He’s young (24 years old), 6 foot 9, and built like a brick shithouse. Nick Dragotta draws him as this hulking figure that feels like it’s partially inspired by Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. (The comic even goes as far as to do a homage to The Dark Knight Returns with a specific splash page.) At the same time, there are sharper elements to the design, making the hulking body look even more imposing. This Bruce Wayne doesn’t have the unlimited resources of wealth. He’s had to lift himself with limited resources at his disposal to become Batman. As a result, this interpretation is a scrappier version of the character we all know. Fighting crime with fewer tools at his disposal, all of which he’s either had to fashion himself or earn to achieve.

Absolute Batman #2 page by Nick Dragotta and Frank Martin.

It’s not just Batman who’s different. This opening arc also introduces several supporting characters in unfamiliar roles. This includes Bruce Wayne’s friendship group, which Batman fans may recognise in other forms. These inclusions expand Absolute Batman’s world while continuing to subvert it, a trend that continues into future stories.

At the same time, the Absolute Universe Batman doesn’t feel like a foreign concept. Writer Scott Snyder, who has written countless Batman stories over the last 15+ years, ensures this interpretation still shares DNA with the classic version. Back when I wrote about Batman: Court of Owls, one of Snyder’s earliest Batman tales, I mentioned Batman’s resourcefulness. He had an answer to everything he faced. To a degree, that’s the same with Absolute Batman, albeit in a low-fi manner. For instance, he wields a makeshift axe, created by his chest plate and a homemade handle. However, sometimes you need to suspend your disbelief with some of his solutions, as occasionally they seem out of reach for this version of Batman. But hey, it’s superhero comics. It’s part and parcel of the genre and adds to the spectacle.

Structurally, Absolute Batman Volume 1: The Zoo alternates between the present and the past. The former focuses on Black Mask and the Party Animals, with the latter exploring Absolute Batman’s origins. Snyder’s script introduces the origin and events surrounding it in pieces throughout the story arc, rather than a linear tale that dumps it all at the beginning. This method allows the comic to have more forward momentum. As a result, the comic can tie the past and present thematically.

Absolute Batman #1 panels by Nick Dragotta and Frank Martin.

Absolute Batman is a surprisingly brutal comic. While Batman’s anti-gun and anti-killing policy are still intact for this interpretation, that doesn’t mean that he’s not going to mess up criminals and send them to the hospital. The hits are hard in this comic, often breaking bones and spilling blood. Dragotta doesn’t shy away from illustrating this style of action, with one fight showing spike thrusted into limbs, blood spurting. They’re often depicted in smaller panels, which, when accompanied by others of similar size, speed up the pace and add to their intensity. It’s another way in which Absolute Batman separates itself from other interpretations. However, it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. That being said, the entire comic isn’t like this, with this kind of violence happening in bursts or as a set piece.

Dragotta’s pages are often dense. They often feature panels that reach the double digits. As discussed before, these often benefit the action scenes, highlighting every blow through the use of smaller square or narrow rectangle panels. On the other hand, larger panels are used to spotlight big moments. Gabriel Hernandez Walta (who provides art for issue #4) opts for a lot of elongated panels instead. While different in approach, it works fine as it is a slower issue.

All the subversions make Absolute Batman an approachable comic for new readers. Even if you haven’t read the comics before, you’ve probably picked up enough knowledge through popular culture, picking up on the broader strokes of change. At the same time, if you know nothing about Batman, Absolute Batman is still accessible because it doesn’t expect anything from you. Everything you need to know is established in the comic itself, and anything you don’t know is intentionally a mystery.

Absolute Batman succeeds because it knows when to subvert Batman and when to keep his core intact. This first arc introduces readers to a version of Batman that feels fresh but familiar, introducing you to a whole new set of remixed ideas and jam-packed full of action. It’s an exciting start that looks like it will only get more exciting.

Absolute Batman Volume 1: The Zoo is available in all good comic book shops, online retailers, eBay, and Amazon/Kindle.