The Absolute Universe just got the massive jolt of adrenaline with the Absolute Batman 2025 Annual #1, bringing in massive comic talents like Daniel Warren Johnson and James Harren to explore the early, brutal days of this uncompromising Batman. This is not a story for the faint of heart; it drops us headfirst into timely, tough themes, all rendered with an unmistakable, visceral artistic vision.
Johnson wastes zero time setting the dark, real-world tone. The story opens on a young Bruce Wayne discussing an extremist bombing with his father, creating a quiet but powerful parallel to the chaos of today’s world. Fast-forward to the adult Batman and the dial is cranked to eleven: we see him, flamethrower in hand, torching a group of neo-Nazi fanatics. Yes, it’s as awesome as it sounds and probably your new favorite Batman wallpaper.
The central conflict revolves around a growing wave of emboldened bigots in Slaughter Swamp, led by the vile Deejay, who, along with some crooked cops, are terrorizing a local migrant camp. Johnson is brave enough to tackle this heavy, real-world subject matter head-on, making it clear that this Batman is fighting the worst of modern hate.
The art in this annual is simply a feast for the eyes. Johnson’s signature grit and dark energy are perfectly suited to the story’s tough themes. His design for Deejay is terrifying; he starts as a regular, albeit roided-out-looking guy, but Johnson’s lines etch raw anger and hate onto his face in a way that’s genuinely unsettling.
The action is unrelentingly brutal. When Batman faces off against these fanatics, it’s pure demolition: we’re talking powerbombs, boots to the face, and repeated hammer fists. It all has that glorious, hulking, precise energy that instantly reminds you of The Dark Knight Returns. Letterer Clayton Cowles sells every sickening blow, especially a bone-breaking KRAKK that leaves no doubt about a certain right hand being completely shattered.
And the colors! Spicer enhances the intensity with a sickly lime green for the ominous Slaughter Swamp, which is brilliantly contrasted with the red and blue siren glare during the migrant camp raid, making the scene feel all the more intense and wrong.
And then there’s the Batmobile. It’s the return/debut of the Absolute Batman colossus mining dump truck. Johnson’s design is godly, and when Batman uses it to literally run over goons, it’s a moment that’s simultaneously ridiculous, deadly serious, and unbelievably cool, and right there is the essence of Absolute Batman.
Beyond the awesome violence, the story has a sharp moral center. When the compassionate Father Peters argues that meeting a wrong with another wrong isn’t the way, Batman retorts that his way involves teaching evil a lesson, because when bigots think they have no opposition, they get bolder. The issue ends on a powerful, somber panel, a quiet moment after the storm that lingers emotionally.
The annual also includes a short, punchy backup story, ‘Sanctuary,’ by James Harren and Dave Stewart. It’s mostly an adrenaline-fueled action sequence, following some of Black Mask’s crew as they desperately try to escape Batman. It’s a quick read that still manages to sneak in a tender moment about the enduring bond between father and son, even under the worst circumstances.
Absolute Batman 2025 Annual #1 is a fantastic, necessary comic. It’s incredibly drawn, timely, and delivers a brutal version of a hero perfectly suited for our tumultuous world. If you like your Batman dark, uncompromising, and absolutely terrifying, grab this annual.
‘Absolute Batman Annual: 2025’ #1 Brutal Batman Fights Real-World Hate
Absolute Batman 2025 Annual #1 is a fantastic, necessary comic. It’s incredibly drawn, timely, and delivers a brutal version of a hero perfectly suited for our tumultuous world. If you like your Batman dark, uncompromising, and absolutely terrifying, grab this annual.
