DC Unveils Bold New Origin For Batman That Completely Redefines The Classic Hero

Published Sep 25, 2026, 10:15 PM EDT

Mark has been a comic book journalist for over 15 years and has interviewed comic book creators like Gail Simone and Caspar Wijngaard. And when he's not writing, he's working on beating his record of 1,200 comics read in a year.

Each issue of Absolute Batman leaves readers with a lot of emotions. Sometimes the series wants fans to feel bad for what happened to Bruce Wayne, his mother, or his friends, or upset that this version of Gotham City resembles the current world. Fortunately, every so often, the series will make fans smile, and maybe even tear up a bit. Absolute Batman No. 24 was the latter.

The “Straw Man” storyline was the toughest storyline for Bruce in his personal and superhero life. Jack Grimm (Joker) brought in Jonathan Crane to psychologically assault Bruce by removing important people in his life, like Joe Chill and James Gordon. To make things worse, those deaths and more sent Bruce down a rabbit hole full of conspiracy theories about what Joker has done to his life. It drove Batman to a point of madness that may have turned his allies against him.

On top of all of that, Slade Wilson brought together Dick Grayson, Stephanie Brown, Tim Drake, and Jason Todd to form the Robin Program. During their hunt for Batman, Jason’s rush to catch the Dark Knight ends with Tim being killed by Clayface. Despite knowing it wasn’t his fault, Bruce still feels bad for Tim’s death.

That’s a lot for any superhero to go through, and this happened in the last five issues. Thankfully, in the recent issue of Absolute Batman, things finally start looking good for the Dark Knight.

DC Finally Reveals The Moment Bruce Became Batman

After fighting Clayface and seeing Tim murdered, Bruce goes back to the place where everything started. He returns to the zoo where his father was murdered. Because of the tragedy that happened there, it didn’t make sense that this was a safe space for him. Of course, writer Scott Snyder had an explanation. It was the place where he decided to become Batman.

After taking a beating from Carmine years ago, Bruce ran to the bat exhibit, where he saw a bat with her babies. He was astonished that they were still there after everything that had happened. Then, Bruce reached into his pocket and read a note from his mother that said, “Be more than this, Bruce. Love, Mom.” Bruce then says, “All right, Mom. I’ll be a bat.”

Famously, in Detective Comics No. 33, Bruce says, "A bat! That's it! It's an omen. I shall become a BAT!” During Batman: Year One, he says, "Yes, Father, I shall become a bat." Now, Scott Snyder has a moment like that of his own, and it’s well deserved.

How Batman's New Origin Helps Him Fight Absolute Scarecrow

As was mentioned earlier, Jonathan Crane had beaten Bruce so badly mentally that it left a lasting effect. Luckily, Martha Wayne didn’t give up on her son. After a pep talk, she gave Bruce the option to go after Scarecrow or start a new life. He chose the former and confronted his tormentor. Not only did he beat him, but he overcame Crane’s fear toxins and left Crane in a field, nailed with knives to a post like a scarecrow.

Bruce Wayne needed this win. He’s been taking it on the chin so long that one more hit, and he may be knocked down and not get back up. Thankfully, Batman faced his fears, smiled that terrifying smile of his before he punched Crane, and claimed his victory.

The Bat Begins

For months, DC Comics has been building up to Absolute Barbara Gordon becoming the Bat (not Batgirl). There were plenty of variant covers and teases showing Barbara in her father’s coat. However, how would this happen so quickly? It’s simple. Like his counterpart on Earth-0, Bruce Wayne has a plan for almost everything.

Barbara finally tells Batman that she knows he didn’t kill her father, Jim Gordon, then demands that he tell her where he is. Batman obliges. When she arrives at the location, Barbara sees her father’s coat and is overcome with emotions. She then puts the rest of her uniform together and becomes The Bat.

Seeing a Black Barbara Gordon be one of the first people with a bat in their name was special. There haven't been a lot of Black heroes in the Absolute Universe, so this is a big deal. Unfortunately, their next battle is against the Joker, and it's doubtful that will go well. Nevertheless, we'll all be there to see how the fight goes.