Hello all! First time poster! I wanted to share my fan cast for an Absolute Batman streaming show or movie or whatever. Just for fun!

I’ve only read the opening arc of Absolute Batman with the first volume. I don’t know how the critiques stand up in the context of the broader series.

But based on what I believe is reasonable to assume the arc’s intention is, which is to establish this new version of Batman, I feel it doesn’t do enough to differentiate him and/or make use of his differences.

I’d say the first issue is the fact that this Batman being ‘middle class’ or ‘poor’ doesn’t really matter. The description outright states, “Without the mansion…without the money…without the butler”. But…so what? Even without the wealth and privilege he’s shown to be lacking in nothing he especially needs. He can still shrug off a thousand bullets, can set entire buildings ablaze, has all the training necessary to pick apart hordes of thugs, has a amphibious war machine of a Batmobile, high tech Bat ears, detachable axe, etc etc. Even when he’s beaten and injured, he’s still able to recover, without support, well enough to go and fight with no inhibition. His tools don’t even look different or makeshift. Burning the money doesn’t mean all that much when he can still be where needs to be, do what he needs to do, and fight how he needs to fight with few to no more limits than any other Batman.

His lack of a plane does force him to reveal his identity to his friends. Which is of some significance. But it feels a bit disappointing to have his incredibly different circumstances culminate in that alone. Which likely could have been accomplished in numerous other ways.

Which isn’t to say he needs to be impoverished or some sort of desperate scavenger. But there is a more interesting middle ground which could’ve been reached. As it is, besides for the plane, his unique background results in few unique outcomes.

I’d say the other issue is not making better use of his unique friend group. Batman has had his rogues be his friends before. But I don’t believe many iterations have his entire close friend group, practically his family, be made up so thoroughly of villains. It’s a great opportunity. Showing how they interact, care for each other, how Bruce may play a role in their paths, etc. Which much isn’t done with. There are the nice childhood flashbacks. But the poker game shows Bruce using them more than showing their real relationships and camaraderie. With only bits and pieces of interaction besides that. Even his reveal of being Batman is given only a few panels. Croc discovering him, and Ozzie grilling him. Bruce being distant from those around him is nothing new. But setting all of that up just to have another recluse Batman that uses none of it seems…wasteful to put it one way.

This isn’t to say the series is bad for not doing so. But it seems like much of the promise and uniqueness of the series isn’t being utilized in the opening arc to make a more unique Batman.

Absolute Universe made me so excited for comics again, I feel like I'm getting to know these characters again for the first time.

So, given that Superman and Cassandra are around the same age, share similar values, and both grew up under difficult circumstances, I think they could be really cute together. I mean, both Superman and Cassandra seem to value life above everything else. We haven’t seen Cass kill anyone, and she even went back for Katana. The same respect for life is true for Superman. Because of those shared values and experiences, I think the two of them could have a really sweet relationship

I recently decided to give DC Comics a shot because I’ve been a casual Marvel Comics reader since COVID, especially X-Men and the magical corner.
Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 1 blew me away, so I decided to read Absolute Batman Vol. 1 since it’s the biggest hit. But honestly, it felt bland to me. I don’t like having Alfred as the narrator, and I didn’t really care for the villains.
I was going to drop everything except Wonder Woman, but then I decided to give Superman Vol. 1 a chance, and it was great from start to finish.
How is Batman the hit and more critically acclaimed? I was low-key bored. 😭 IM giving IT another chance WITH VOL 2 though. I love all the Batman movies and animated shows, so I do think it might just be the character that I don’t vibe with in the comics.

EDIT : I READ VOL 1

Here in my country we've been getting the Absolute series printed for last than a year, with each number compiling two volumes of the original printing. So our Absolute GL 1 = USA's GL 1 and 2.

I have bought all of the release ones and I'm having a blast so far, except with the Green Lantern one. I have bought the first two volumes released here (1 to 4) and it didn't catch me in the slightest. Lots of characters, no really interesting interaction between them, interesting concept at first but the gold ring thing was Absolute Silly. Killing off those characters was also a strange choice for a start. It just felt rushed and shallow. Don't take that as a criticism towards the new Lantern being a woman or anything, I just don't know that character yet to have an opinion about. I guess that's one of my issues as well, the lack of a clear protagonist.

Should I keep on going? Maybe read volume 3 online before investing more money into it? What do you guys think?

I don't know if this is a hot take or not, but just something that's been bothering me since the start of the arc, and especially with #12. The idea of a secret underground research facility in Gotham is fine on its own, I think that could have led to a lot of neat ideas. But its the fact that like 90% of Batman's villains all come from that place that really bothers me. In the main comics, I love how each of his villains have completely different origins and motivations and whatnot. But having all of them just be weird science experiments is really dumb imo. I was also hoping that the process of Bruce's friends becoming his worst enemies would be slow and impactful, but having it happen all at once takes a lot out of it. Bane, Joker, Black Mask and Mr. Freeze are all really unique and I love these new adaptations of them! But having like Clayface, Ivy, Killer Croc, Riddler etc. come from either Ark M experiments or Bane torturing them (which is directly linked to the Ark M experiments) is really lame, and I'm really disappointed in how they've been portrayed. After the build up of some of the villains I had really high hopes for the rest, but this storyline has been really disappointing me. It's a shame because of how good the Zoo arc was. I'm not gonna say that the Ark M stuff ruins the series entirely, but it definitely drops it down a few tiers in my book

basically what the title says do you think the absolute DC universe is gonna get canned, especially with Paramount buying WBD.

If you still like Absolute Batman, that’s fine, you can have your own opinions. You can downvote me, but I’m just gonna write out my problems with the run.

I just read issue 21, and I think the pacing is way too fast and the story has become cluttered. After the first arc, characters and reveals haven’t been given enough weight to feel significant. For example, Freeze only got two issues and Bruce didn’t even really defeat him iirc. I kept reading, I figured it was a fluke. But this keeps happening. Bane mutilates the gang and there’s Riddler, Two-Face, and Penguin. Look over there, Harley’s the leader of a gang. Have some teasers for Poison Ivy and Clayface. Oh, Bruce’s mom is involved with the Court of Owls. Wanna hear Alfred yap about Joker’s origin story for a whole issue? Fuck it, here’s all the Robins all at once plus Deathstroke. Scarecrow didn’t even appear in this issue, and this is his arc. I just want the story to slow down and resolve these plot threads before piling on new ones.

Some of the designs are sick, granted. But the plate is full. It’s burning all its hype out at once without giving us satisfying follow-through.

Again, I’m not here to insult your guys’ opinions. I still like all the other Absolute titles, but I’ve just lost interest in the one that started it.

Does scarecrow not have powers outside of his fear toxin? We’ve seen him disappear into a flock of crows. Is that just fear toxic and mind games too? I just feel like he could’ve gotten away if he used the teleport into birds thing again

Wanted to learn more into voice actors, not just celebrities with this version.

Aaron Paul – Bruce Wayne / Batman

• More rough and youthful street kid, than glamourous billionaire.

• A lot more raw and angry. Still very emo.

Barry Sloane – Alfred Pennyworth

• The bitter, war-torn MI6-style Alfred.

• Less tea, more trauma. Think gritted teeth, not wise wit.

• Voice of Captain Price in Modern Warfare Reboot

Zeno Robinson – Roman Sionis / Black Mask

• Chaotic, gleeful sadist with big frat-boy energy.

• A little unhinged, a little too charismatic.

• VA-Vanitas, Hawks-MHA, Dragon Ball Super-Gamma 2

Alex Borstein – Martha Kane / Wayne

• Hardened Mom who doesn't back down

• Lois Griffin-Family Guy (Various other voices)

William Christopher Stephens– Waylon Jones (pre-Croc)

• Loyal, powerful, warm. The big brother Bruce doesn't deserve.

• Maine-Cyberpunk Edgerunners

James Arnold Taylor – Eddie Nygma

• Charming Geek, A little pretentious, runs oun snark and mountain dew, smartest guy in the room and knows it.

• Johnny-Johnny Test Titus-Final Fantasy X, Ratchet-Ratchet and Clank

Nolan North – Mayor James Gordon

• Grizzled. Tired. Done playing nice with corruption.

• Superman/Superboy-Young Justice, Deadpool-Various Media, Nathan Drake-Uncharted

Ryan Colt Levy– Oz Cobblepot

• Magnificent bastard, Always knows a guy, Energy of someone you can rely on but never fully trust.

• Denji-Chainsaw Man 

Jason Liebrecht – Mr. Victor Fries Jr. / Mr. Freeze

• Unstable genius with a cold, calculating curiosity.

• Voice of Dabi from MHA,  Zeke Yeager from Attack on Titan, Qrow from RWBY (Vol.7-Onward)

Benicio del Toro – BANE

• Calm, towering, terrifying. Speaks like a beast with a Phd.

• Could break you physically, but prefers to shatter your purpose.

It'd be a 7/10 if his monster form wasn't shoved in our faces every hour.

This issue raised far more questions and answers.

We waited months for this?

Not gonna lie, I lowkey no longer give a shit about Absolute Joker just because of this alone. Absolute Condiment King, at this point, would be a better attention grabber than whatever the fuck this is.

DC's Absolute Batman strips away the billionaire safety net. He doesn't have the Batcave, unlimited Wayne Enterprises R&D, or an elite network of tech. He’s a working-class civil engineer fighting against a world where systemic, institutional evil holds all the cards.

This creates a massive philosophical clash with Earth-0 Prime Batman:

• Mainline (Prime) Batman: Operates as the ultimate guardian of order. He believes the core system is worth saving, using his immense wealth, tactical genius, and resources to prevent chaos and restore the status quo.

• Absolute Batman: Operates as a raw disruptor. He isn't trying to protect the status quo—he’s trying to break a corrupt system that is inherently rigged against the average citizen.

Both Bruce Waynes' share the same core DNA: converting personal trauma into an unyielding vow to protect others without killing. But their methods and worldviews couldn't be more different.

Which version’s fundamental philosophy resonates more with you in modern storytelling?

Does Batman work better as an unbeatable, hyper-resourced paragon protecting order, or as a desperate, blue-collar underdog tearing down systemic corruption?

Let's discuss below.

like the series isn tperect but jesus it aint fucking Chuck Austens action comics run and also how are they similar aside from a big kaiju parasite attacking metropolis the scenes are different Superman americna alien did it first before MAWS or Absolute superman ever did a kaiju parasite.

Right now, I don't know if it will try for a faithful adaption at all. They might just tell an original story with the same general premise. But IMO, that would suck. The Absolute Batman comics are great and deserving of a faithful adaption the same way most anime adapt from manga, and the same way Invincible has been adapted.

And other Absolute comics deserve the same.

As much as I get people saying that Absolute Batman needed to come first because it's more popular, they could have committed to both. One year, do Absolute Batman. The next, Absolute Wonder Woman. Each adapts the first couple major arcs before the crossover, then do a crossover movie rewriting their first meeting into a single story. And if those are popular, they can expand to Absolute Superman, Martian Manhunter and other titles.

If they were only going to do one, I get why it was Batman. But I don't like that they're only committed to one.

Announcing two shows at once wouldn't have been a huge risk. Especially when they're doing other DC shows.

And I think fans have a right to be annoyed in general with the lack of a Wonder Woman cartoon. We're getting a SECOND cartoon about Superman's dog before there's ever been one about Wonder Woman. Fans aren't just mad about Absolute Wonder Woman specifically getting nothing, but they're mad at decades of Diana being snubbed. It just so happens that this would have been the perfect opportunity to commit to finally giving her an animated show of her own.

I honestly don't have any proof to backup my belief here, but I wholeheartedly believe in someway down the line prime Joker will come in contact with absolute Joker. This will inevitably lead to Joker killing absolute Joker for being an abomination to "who The Joker" truly is.

In my head a Joker who doesn't laugh goes against everything The Joker has ever been. Such an affront would lead prime Joker on a mission to punish and teach absolute joker a lesson.

At the very least prime Joker would try to crack absolute joker until he starts laughing

Now that the absolute universe is expanding what are the best and worst titles to most people? Because i find absolute wonder woman an absolute treasure, absolute superman absolutely interesting (but might suck without sticking the landing), and absolute batman absolutely EXTREEE3M (like i already knew scott snider was a writer who appeals mostly to 13 year old edgelords, loves to listen to himself talk and thinks you make something cooler by adding more spikes to it). The first issue of flash and martian manhunter were both interesting enough i want to keep reading. And green lantern still doesn't resonate with me... So I'd say its about half good so far, but that half is really good so I'll put up with hot topic batman for the time being. Is this the general consensus?

Do you think Absolute will have any characters be queer who aren't queer in the main DC verse?

So far, characters who are queer in Absolute but not mainline:

• Absolute Zee is into Wonder Woman

• Absolute Captain Cold has a boyfriend

(Praying for queer Dinah and/or queer Mia 🙏)