Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Absolute Batman #2I'm ready to it that, surprisingly, DC's new Absolute Batman is officially more Batman than the original Bruce Wayne. Debuting in a darker new universe created Darkseid, this new Dark Knight takes everything that makes the OG Batman so cool, and amps it up to an 11. As such, it can also be argued that Absolute Batman is just as compelling as the main Batman, if not moreso due to additional struggles (and intensity).

Coming from Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta, Absolute Batman has only published two issues thus far, and I'm already hooked. While there is certainly a cool factor with everything being bigger, badder, and more intense, it's sufficiently countered with the fact that there are additional struggles and a brand-new status quo that this new Bruce Wayne has to reconcile with as well. To that end, there's more than one reason why it can be argued that Absolute Batman is effectively "out-Batman-ing" the OG Batman.

Absolute Batman Is Next Level

Taking The Original Batman's Mission and Methods So Much Further

In both issues of Absolute Batman, this new Dark Knight has far more brutal origins. This Bruce Wayne doesn't come from money, instead growing up in Crime Alley with his father having been killed protecting Bruce and his friends from a mass shooter, friends who would have been Batman's enemies in the main DC Universe. Likewise, Bruce grows up to work in construction and engineering, working all over Gotham by day while brutally taking on the horrific gang known as the Party Animals at night. It's a very refreshing origin that puts Bruce Wayne at much more of a disadvantage, one I've found to be quite compelling.

"While his no-kill rule looks to remain intact (so far), Absolute Batman's war certainly looks to be far more intense and rage-fueled in comparison..."

This Batman has no qualms about maiming and permanently damaging his foes, seen hacking off limbs and breaking bones in the most painful and lasting ways possible. He even creates improvised hydrochloric acid on the fly to burn and melt the Party Animals' feet in Absolute Batman #2, taking the original Batman's signature intelligence and ingenuity to the next (and much darker) level. While his no-kill rule looks to remain intact (so far), Absolute Batman's war certainly looks to be far more intense and rage-fueled in comparison.

Absolute Batman doesn't have a butler either. Instead, Alfred Pennyworth is an elite intelligence operative who's been hired to observe both the Party Animals and Batman, and The Dark Knight's methods gradually earn Alfred's respect. Eventually, Pennyworth becomes quite impressed while tracking Batman's movements and his ongoing fight against the Party Animals. Absolute Batman never compromises or retreats, always using everything around him to his best and most brutal tactical advantage.

"Batman AF" Is An Understatement

Everything Is Bigger And Badder (Even The Batmobile)

In particular, Absolute Batman #2 features two iconic moments, and both show how much bigger and badder this new Bruce Wayne is next to the original Batman. When the Party Animals discover one of Absolute Batman's many caves hidden around the city, Batman revealed he had the stash house rigged to blow, confirming he knew they were coming and motivated Alfred's conclusion that this Batman will never retreat: "Maybe that's what he is...all he is...one long advance forward...Batman AF." It's a major moment that shows that Absolute Batman is bigger and somehow even badder than the typical Batman in the main DC Universe.

As if these first two issues weren't enough, the end of the second issue adds a definite exclamation mark with the debut of Absolute Batman's new Batmobile, a massive black and modified rigid hauler, connected to his work in construction and engineering. Shown plowing through police cars as if they're nothing, seeing this new monstrosity of wheels punctuated the entire point of Absolute Batman in my mind: there's more than one way to become Batman, and some ways are going to be far darker and way more intense than one would think.

Classic Batman Will Always Be Iconic...

BUT I'm Seriously Loving Absolute Batman

It's worth noting that my new love for Absolute Batman certainly doesn't discount the classic Batman. After all, the OG Caped Crusader will always be an icon who's compelling in his own right with 85 years of storytelling to back up his status as one of the greatest superheroes of all time. That said, credit must be given to DC Comics and the stellar team of Snyder and Dragotta who've somehow found a way to debut an exciting new take on Batman who's in many ways more Batman than Batman himself.

Absolute Batman #2 is on sale now from DC Comics.