Plot
Alfred Pennyworth is dispatched to Gotham City to investigate the terrorist organization known as the Party Animals, led by Roman Sionis. While in Gotham, he attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter and learns that the criminal known as the Joker has evaded surveillance. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne grows up in Gotham and witnesses the murder of his father during a mass shooting. Traumatized by the event, Bruce later commits himself to combating crime and eventually emerges as Batman.
Batman’s first public actions disrupt a Party Animals plot to assassinate Mayor James Gordon. Pennyworth deduces Batman’s identity but refuses orders to kill him. As Sionis intensifies attacks using both the Party Animals and corrupt police, Batman exposes Sionis’s criminal activities. Although Sionis survives, Batman ultimately defeats him, and Pennyworth rescues the injured vigilante. An epilogue reveals that the Joker orchestrated events behind the scenes and has summoned Bane to Gotham.
Following these events, Gotham is placed under martial law after Hamilton Hill defeats Gordon in the mayoral election and authorizes construction of an offshore detention facility known as Ark M. Bruce Wayne investigates Ark M and uncovers connections to cryotechnology developer Victor Fries. Fries, operating as Mister Freeze, uses a prehistoric bacterium in experimental cryogenic research and causes extreme snowfall across the city. Batman confronts Freeze but is overpowered and forced to retreat.
Waylon Jones, Bruce’s close friend, is later kidnapped, drawing the attention of the mercenary Bane. Batman attempts a rescue but is defeated and imprisoned, where he is subjected to experimentation involving a venom-based enhancement. He eventually escapes and returns to Gotham, where he allies with Catwoman, Waylon, and the Red Hood Gang to stop Bane. Batman defeats Bane by exploiting his reliance on venom, though the Joker remains at large.
Alfred later recounts the Joker’s alleged origins, suggesting a long-running criminal lineage tied to the Grimm family. Seeking to restore Waylon’s humanity, Bruce enlists Wonder Woman’s help, ultimately acquiring a magical artifact capable of reversing his transformation.
Reception
The first issue of Absolute Batman had a print run of around 250,000 copies and by the end of 2024, Absolute Batman became the best-selling comic of 2024, with combined sales of first, second, third and black-and-white printings, selling just under 400,000 copies. Within the first eleven months, the first issue went through eight printings, with subsequent issues being reprinted as well. [6]
Absolute Batman was praised for its writing and art, being called "a bold reinvention" of the character [7] and "a masterwork of action storytelling", [8] yet criticized for "the flat characterization of its villain" [9] and the story's lack of consequences. [8] Comicbook.com gave credit for the "insane story" and "genuine appreciation for the emotional core of the character". [10]
In September 2025, Absolute Batman reached #5 on the New York Times Best Seller list. [11]
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