As it approaches its landmark issue #20, Absolute Batman is just getting started, and we’re seated for every issue.
Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta’s Absolute Batman is probably the most talked about comic book series of the last year — issue #1 has not hit an unprecedented 11 reprints. It reimagines the Batman mythos from the ground up. Set in a world where Bruce Wayne is not the inheritor of a billion-dollar business empire, but a civil engineer, it chronicles how his life could’ve played out differently. It’s a much different vision of traditional Batman, but it keeps the essence of the character and the DNA somewhat in tact. It feels both authentic and novel at the same time.
Looking ahead to the future of Absolute Batman, there’s big plot points aplenty. From Absolute Joker to the arrival of the Court of Owls, everything is getting dialled up to eleven. Absolute Batman has already told a gluttony of stories: issues #1-6 told The Zoo storyline; #7-8 was Absolute Zero; #9-14 was Abomination; #15 was the Joker Special; and #16 is the second part of the Wonder Woman crossover arc. Issue #17 sees the caped crusader face off against Absolute Poison Ivy.
During a Ask Me Anything session on Substack in 2025, Snyder revealed that he and Dragotta have already mapped out around 35-40 issues for the series. What’s more, Snyder has an endgame arc in mind: “We know the big final chapter of it.”
As for what else is in store, Snyder tries to keep his cards close to his chest, but spoilers do ultimately make their way onto the internet. “Truth is, much as I hate big spoilers getting out there, we have so much coming in Absolute Batman it’s all good,” he recently teased.
The cover for issue #20 is just around the corner, and issue #17 is out on Wednesday, February 18. These are exciting times, to say the least. We’ll keep you posted on all the latest updates.
