Image via DC Comics
Published Jul 16, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
Jason is an award-winning journalist whose writing career dates back to when he developed the ability to use a crayon. He, most notably, worked previously as a "professional fan," as he likes to call it, at CinemaBlend, for which he wrote about anything and everything under the pop culture umbrella... especially Batman. His passion for the art of cinema began even earlier, stemming from repeat viewings of The Wizard of Oz.
This initially led him to pursue a career in filmmaking -- and even work briefly in the industry as an extra in the straight-to-video family film, Alice Upside Down -- before deciding that his talents would be better served discussing and showing appreciation for the various forms of entertainment he is passionate about.
The popularity of Absolute Batman is a phenomenon that just won't stop. The smash-hit comic book series' influence appears to be catching on in even the most unexpected ways.
Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta's alternate version of Bruce Wayne's alter ego has yet to make its official debut as a trading card. However, that did not stop one artist from making it a reality by reimagining a major league baseball star as the gritty superhero.
L.A. Dodgers Shohei Ohtani Trading Card Repainted Absolute Batman Style
At this point, anyone who has ever read Absolute Batman wants to be the eponymous, larger-than-life working-class vigilante. One person who has been given that unique opportunity, and in a unique way, is Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
A Topps 50/50 trading card featuring the Japanese-born baseball star was painted over to dress him like the Absolute Universe's iteration of the Dark Knight, replacing his helmet with a cowl and his bat with Batman's now-iconic battleaxe. A photo of the one-of-a-kind card was
shared in an Instagram post by psacard, the official account of sports and hobby memorabilia grading and authentication leader, Professional Sports Authenticator.
This stunning collectible is painted and autographed by David Choe, an American-born artist of Korean descent who got his start spray-painting the streets of L.A. in his teens before briefly attending the California College of the Arts. He is best known for his self-published 1996 debut graphic novel, Slow Jams, and his acting appearances, including a cameo on The Mandalorian and a main role on the first season of Netflix's Emmy-winning series, Beef.
Ohtani, in addition to his stunning athletic career that has earned him comparisons to the likes of Babe Ruth, is also a noted comic book fan who cites Goro Shigeno, the protagonist of the long-running baseball-inspired manga and popular anime series Major, as a pivotal influence on his life, according to The Los Angeles Times. It is unknown whether he is a fan of Absolute Batman, but he is likely bound to pick up a copy after seeing himself as the superhero on Choe's card.
An Official Absolute Batman Trading Card Is Set To Debut
Image via DC ComicsWhile David Choe's reimagining of Shohei Ohtani as Absolute Batman could be considered the first trading card depicting the popular superhero, it does not count as the DC character's first appearance on such a collectible. However, that will become a reality soon.
DC is bringing a slew of exclusive Absolute Batman-related merchandise to San Diego Comic-Con in 2026, including special reprints and even an Absolute Universe line of Funko POP! vinyl figures. Among this swag is a limited edition trading card designed by Nick Dragotta.
The card is part of the SDCC exclusive Absolute Batman #1 Bundle Set, which also includes a foil-variant cover edition of the series' debut issue and a T-shirt also featuring a design by Dragotta. The set is presented in collaboration with Shoe Palace and Upper Deck, the latter of which is a leading trading card company behind 2026's Batman: The Animated Series trading card set and other recent DC-inspired collectible products.
Absolute Batman, taking place in the Darkseid-created Absolute Universe where classic DC heroes are reimagined as outcasts without their signature advantages, was launched in the fall of 2024, along with Absolute Superman and Absolute Wonder Woman. It has since become one of the comic book industry's most astonishing success stories, even being credited with reinvigorating interest in the medium among audiences of all ages and inspiring an Absolute Batman animated series that is now in the works.
San Diego Comic-Con 2026 takes place between Thursday, July 23, and Sunday, July 26, at San Diego Convention Center.
Writer Scott Snyder
Penciler Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Nick Dragotta
Colorist Frank Martin
Publisher(s) DC
English (US) · 