In this entry of our Best Comics of 2025 celebration, we focus on Absolute Batman from writer Scott Snyder and artist Nick Dragotta.
If you read one DC series this year, make it Absolute Batman. From Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta, the re-imagined Batman mythos is off-the-scale epic, dialling everything up to eleven. Absolute Batman offers up a much grittier take on the hero’s origin. He has not inherited wealth, and Alfred Pennyworth is not a butler, but a hardened operative. Wayne himself isn’t a rich socialite –in his mid-twenties, he works as a civil engineer.
The series is a phenomenon. Issue #1 has already had an unprecedented nine reprints, and it’ll be returning to shelves for a 10th reprint due to overwhelming demand. In addition to that, the Absolute Batman Annual by Daniel Warren Johnson and James Harren is getting a second printing. If these aren’t testament to its immense success, nothing is.
As we near the end of 2025, Absolute Batman continues to be among the best-selling comics month-to-month. Absolute Batman #12 was the third best-selling comic book of September 2025, coming in just shy of Deadpool / Batman #1 and Batman #1. In October 2025, issue #13 was the second best-selling comic behind D.C. K.O. #1.
Snyder has a way of delivering exceptional action combined with lots of heart. The series, so far, reached its peak with issue #14. In Absolute Batman #14, both Batman and Catwoman face-off against Bane in the ultimate final boss battle. It offers just about everything the Absolutes have become known for. But it’s not just pure fighting; there’s plenty of heart. I particularly loved the callbacks to Waylon Jones (Killer Croc) and his seminal fight before he became Killer Croc. The combination of the stories, which both echo and repel each other, was a glorious addition to the story. It dives into Wayne’s psyche, which again, is both different and similar to traditional Batman, while keeping the character’c core values front and centre.
The series will continue its daring stories and adventures with a new arc beginning in issue #15, illustrated by guest artist Jock. The landmark issue introduces Absolute Joker. We’ve seen many iterations of the Joker over the years, but nothing quite like the monstrous, billionaire serial killer Jack Arthur (likely a nod to Arthur Fleck and Jack Napier) in Absolute Batman. Joker is one of the richest inhabitants of the entire Absolute Universe. His character, an outlandishly rich business mogul and highly-skilled fighter, is a total re-imagining of the Joker we know. Many fans have cited that this iteration of Joker echoes Bruce Wayne’s core character. It’s no longer Wayne Industries; it’s J.K. Holdings.
Joker’s exterior appearance is businessman-like, but really, he’s a monstrous entity who needs blood transfusions to keep up his human facade. His core appearance is otherworldly with heavily bleached skin, bursting veins, and sharp teeth. In fairness, it’s much easier to show you. See for yourself:
The other ongoing Absolute comics are also brilliant, especially Deniz Camp’s Absolute Martian Manhunter. But Absolute Batman currently stands in a league of its own. It’s the zeitgeist of what has been a winning year for DC Comics.
Buy ‘Absolute Batman, Volume 1: The Zoo‘ here.
