For Batman fans, this is going to be one bumpy ride. DC just dropped one of the biggest reveals in the ‘Absolute Batman’ comic. The series released the 20th volume in the installment, and here’s where things get exciting.
Scott Snyder’s latest volume flips the original lore big time. It has almost changed the way we perceive the series, and no, we’re not exaggerating. The plot twist not only overrides the Marvel comic’s origins but also reduces them to mockery. But how does it affect the story as a whole? Let’s dive in!
DC’s New Plot Twist Topples Batman’s Origin Story
The latest addition to the ‘Absolute Batman’ series majorly focuses on a reimagined Bruce Wayne. He is a blue-collar worker rather than a rich billionaire. The greatest twist though is that he discovers the truth about his father’s death. Yeah, he learns that Joe Chill sent his father six feet under. But guess what? That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
In reality, it was the Scarecrow and Joker who plotted and orchestrated the murder to trigger Wayne’s transformation. So, they actually “made” Batman to thwart the Court of Owls. The story doesn’t relent after this, it goes deeper.
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Martha Wayne, in reality, is one of the members of this cult society. She dies in the canon stories, along with her husband, but here that trope is overturned. It all ends with Thomas’ death, and she holds the reins as a Talon.
The plot then pivots in a different direction, suggesting Bruce’s potential confrontation with his mother. He will ultimately come face to face with this shocking truth. For fans, this reveal precisely makes a complete mockery of the trauma, trials, and tribulations of one of DC’s most loved superheroes.
How The Change Affects Batman’s Journey
Not all heroes are born with capes and superhuman powers. Sometimes, they are born out of tragedy, and that’s the case with Batman. The original comic books are centered on Bruce Wayne’s alter-ego taking over.
Equipped with the gadgets he designed and built himself, he emerges as a masked hero to fight injustice in Gotham City. This is true for his stature and status quo, but this time, everything is overturned as he builds his persona from scratch.
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The entire trope of him toiling and failing, although impressive, dials him down completely. And honestly, it has positioned the hero in a laughable position.
However, the cruelest thing to happen was Scarecrow’s confession. The entire metaphor of owls preying on bats dims the intensity and relevance of Bruce’s trauma. It mocks the very jarring experience that made him a superhero in the first place.
“Batman isn’t a project, he’s a joke” was enough to shake up the entire lore, but still, one thing is certain. While Joker and Scarecrow’s tactics are meant to break Wayne’s fortitude, there’s a way out. This version of Batman still possesses his tact, will, and, most importantly, his intellect. He is one of the brilliant masterminds in the DC Universe.
The character can potentially reframe this storyline, with or without the inherited wealth. It would mean freeing Martha from the Court of Owls. This would also be followed by him rescuing and allying with the Absolute Robins in the end, and that’s something fans would love to see.
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