Absolute Batman No. 2: Bruce Wayne violently becomes the bat

One of the difficult parts about creating a new universe is showing the differences between the prime world and the new one. It’s even more so with a popular character like Batman. People want the changes, the story, and more as soon as possible. Two issues into Absolute Batman and writer Scott Snyder did this flawlessly. 

In Absolute Batman No. 1 we learn that Bruce’s father Thomas was killed at the zoo while he was supervising a school field trip (he was a teacher at Bruce’s school). When the shooting that killed Thomas started, Thomas sent Bruce and the students into a bat exhibit and locked the door behind them. While in there, Bruce was assaulted and covered by bats. What was once an admiration for the animals became something more. Like the main canon, Bruce has an encounter with bats that leads to his namesake.

The funny thing is it didn’t look like the bats were attacking him. Sure, they were freaked out and all over him, but take a closer look. When we see Bruce again, there aren’t any scratches or bite marks on his face. It had to be terrifying and mentally scarring for Bruce, but they weren't fighting him. It looked like they sensed his fear and were compelled to cover him.

“I actually think he would’ve liked Batman.” Martha Wayne talking about Thomas Wayne

There was a sign before Jim Gordon kicked in the door to save Bruce that had cartoon bats hugging and said bats can be social or solitary. The image may have been lighthearted for younger park visitors, but it showed that bats aren't exclusively loners. Some of them are protective in groups. They may have sensed Bruce’s fear and been compelled to keep one of them safe. To Bruce, the swarm was violent, but it could be more than that. 

In Marvel Comics, there are animal totems that represent certain characters. The most famous is Spider-Man’s. DC Comics may not have explained this as thoroughly as Marvel, but there has to be a Bat totem. In a variety of universes, Bruce Wayne or version of him is Batman. For example, Dark Knights of Steel and the upcoming series, Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires. It makes sense that it would be the same in the Absolute Universe. It’s also understandable that becoming the bat would be more violent here.

When Darkseid created this new universe (DC All In Special), he wanted to take away everything that made the heroes who they were. During that issue, Darkseid said, “If that world is driven by life, by hope…then this one would be driven by challenge, by turmoil…”

Darkseid wasn’t joking. Everything that Batman faces has made him darker and more grim. That includes how he became the bat. It made him bigger, stronger, more violent, and resourceful. Darkseid wanted a different version of the Dark Knight and he got it. It’ll be interesting to see what new information about Bruce's origin will come out of Absolute Batman No. 3. Whatever it is, Caped Crusades will be here to report it.

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