WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for ABSOLUTE BATMAN #2!Absolute Batman: The Animated Series, putting an unexpected twist on one of the show’s most iconic episodes. This bold reimagining doesn’t just transform Bruce’s relationship with his rogues—but it also teases possible narrative developments in future issues that are as intriguing as they are nerve-wracking.
....despite the rogues not being supervillains at this point, they may already be on the path to becoming Batman's foes.
Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin, and Clayton Cowles’s Absolute Batman #1 dropped the bombshell that Bruce Wayne was childhood friends with some of his most iconic rogues—a revelation that perfectly illustrates how radically different the Absolute Universe is from Earth-Prime.
Among these foes-turned-friends are Waylon “Killer Croc” Jones, Harvey “Two-Face” Dent, Oswald “The Penguin” Cobblepot, Edward “The Riddler” Nygma, and Selina “Catwoman” Kyle. Absolute Batman #2 builds on this unexpected dynamic by featuring the group—minus Selina—gathered for a poker game, a scene that plays out as a clear homage to the iconic "Almost Got 'Im" episode from Batman: The Animated Series.
Absolute Batman #2 Pays Tribute to Batman the Animated Series’ 'Villain Poker Scene'
"Almost Got 'Im": Batman: The Animated Series - Season 1, Episode 35
As a refresher, "Almost Got 'Im" is the 35th episode of Batman: The Animated Series and remains one of the most beloved episodes among fans. It stands out for its portrayal of Batman’s iconic villains in a new and unexpected light. The episode primarily features Joker, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, The Riddler, Killer Croc, and The Penguin gathered around a poker table, casually chatting about life and, of course, Batman. What made the episode so groundbreaking was its portrayal of these usually eccentric, larger-than-life characters as just a group of friends unwinding after a day of villainy.
Absolute Batman mirrors this scene by having Harvey, Bruce, Oswald, Edward, and Waylon sitting down to play poker together—though with a few key differences. First, Bruce isn’t just a topic of conversation; he’s an active participant in the game. Second, these Gotham rogues aren’t supervillains but are rather reimagined as Bruce’s childhood friends, now living more as civilians than as criminal masterminds. The third significant change is the absence of Poison Ivy—who has yet to appear in the series—and the Joker, who briefly appeared in Absolute Batman #1 and was teased as a main antagonist.
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Absolute Batman Transforms Bruce Wayne’s Relationship With His Villains
Bruce Wayne Is Friends With Waylon Jones, Harvey Dent, Oswald Cobblepot, Edward Nygma, and Selina Kyle
While Absolute Batman #1 revealed that Bruce was childhood friends with those who are his rogues in the Earth-Prime canon, instantly transforming his relationship with them, the revelations in Absolute Batman #2 take this a step further by showing Bruce interacting with his friends. These interactions highlight just how familiar the five men are with each other. However, the gathering carries a bittersweet tone, as it becomes clear to the reader that Bruce is only spending time with his friends—whom he’s been avoiding—to gather information on Black Mask's movements. His friends, particularly Oswald, have various connections around the city that could prove useful.
While this was hinted at in issue #1, Absolute Batman #2 all but confirms that Oswald is involved in less-than-legal activities. This has created tension within the group, especially between Oswald and Harvey, who works for Gotham's D.A. This issue strongly hints that, despite the rogues not being supervillains at this point, they may already be on the path to becoming Batman's foes. If this development comes to , it would be fascinating, as it would mean that the majority of Batman's rogues were once his friends, adding a layer of complexity to the dynamic, much like the one seen between Batman and Two-Face in the Earth-Prime canon.
Absolute Batman's Titanic Batmobile Is Basically the Batcave on Wheels (Yes, It Really Is That Big)
Absolute Batman’s Batmobile has roared onto the scene, instantly earning a place among the Dark Knight’s most iconic and unique rides.
Absolute Batman’s Poker Scene Makes Clever Tribute to the Joker
Joker Appeared in the Original ‘Poker Scene’ in BtAS
As previously mentioned, one of the biggest differences between the poker scene in Absolute Batman and the one in Batman: The Animated Series is the absence of Joker from the game. However, Snyder and Dragotta still offer a clever tribute to the clown when Bruce asks if they are playing with jokers, to which Harvey responds, “Jokers are never welcome here, Bruce...” This line is accompanied by the image of a Joker card, making the nod to the villain unmistakable. Although Joker isn’t physically present at the poker game, it seems that Absolute Batman is teasing his imminent appearance, possibly in the next issue.
“Batman AF”: The Official Nickname for DC's Absolute Batman Just Proved He’s The Ultimate Version of The Dark Knight
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ABSOLUTE BATMAN #2 is available now from DC Comics!
- Alias
- Bruce Wayne
- FIRST APP
- Detective Comics #27 (1939)
- Created By
- Bob Kane, Bill Finger
- Franchise
- D.C.
- Race
- Human
- First Appearance
- Detective Comics
One of DC's most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world's leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
