Batman's cape has always been pretty versatile. It can be used to obscure him so it's harder for him to be shot, he can use it to block enemies' vision, he can blend into the shadows, and now, in the Absolute Universe, it seems to be the closest thing that DC will get to one of Marvel's iconic symbiotes.

In Absolute Batman #1 by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta, readers are introduced to a brand-new version of Batman for a brand-new world. While Absolute Batman is very similar to the Batman that fans have known and loved for the past several decades, Absolute Batman has some major changes to his equipment, including a new version of his iconic cape.

Batman's cape is one of the best things in his arsenal. It's usually how he gets down from the skyscrapers and high rises, and it's had a ton of other surprising uses over the years. But as amazing as Batman's cape is, it simply can't hold a candle to Absolute Batman's cape. This new Batman's cape is practically a symbiote with the amount of versatility it has.

Absolute Batman's Cape Can Even Form Spikes - Somehow

Absolute Batman #1 by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin, and Clayton Cowles.

This new cape has shown a huge amount of versatility, even above the regular Batman's. This cape can react to what Bruce needs and when he needs it. He has used it like a tendril, an extension of himself, to attack opponents and toss them across the street. It can harden, allowing him to stand on two tendrils like a pair of stilts. He can even use this whip function so precisely that he no longer needs a grapple gun, instead using the cape to pull him up to a building. It's also capable of wrapping around him, protecting his body from gunfire, and can even form spikes along his back.

It's no coincidence that his brutal new cape has made Absolute Batman significantly more dangerous despite his younger age and lack of experience.

Marvel's symbiotes are some of the most versatile aliens in superhero comic history. Symbiotes simply bond to a host, going over their body like an extra layer. The symbiote then vastly increases the 's strength, agility, and durability. One iconic feature of symbiotes is their tendrils, which they can unleash in any direction from their body. These "unleashed" tendrils are often the symbiots' most used attack. It's markedly similar to how Batman uses his new cape, and it's no coincidence that his brutal new cape has made Absolute Batman significantly more dangerous despite his younger age and lack of experience.

Absolute Batman's New Cape Is Unlike Anything Else in His Arsenal

The Closest Fans Will Get to Seeing Batman with a Symbiote

One of the greatest parts of Batman's character is his ability to innovate. Innovation was obviously made easier when he had billions at his command, but even without that, he still managed to create the design that allows this new cape to function, and it's incredibly effective. Batman may not have an entire host of batarangs or special gadgets at his fingertips, but this cape alone is enough to make even the DC Universe Batman pause and reconsider fighting him. While there's certainly more reinventions coming from the Absolute Universe, so far, this new Batman is an amazing look at what he'd be like if he ever got a symbiote.

Absolute Batman #1 is available now from DC Comics!