Comic Review: Absolute Batman #4 – The Best Issue of the Series

 

After three issues spent building a new, alternate Batman, Absolute Batman #4 turns out not only to be the best installment of the series so far, but also the first that truly hits home—emotionally, aesthetically, and thematically. Unfortunately, it does so in a way that highlights just how much Snyder previously strayed from his own concept for this incarnation of the Dark Knight.

A Return to Roots – But with a Twist

This issue is mostly a flashback—a look into Batman’s early days in this alternate universe, where Bruce Wayne isn’t a billionaire, doesn’t live in a manor on a hill, and is placed squarely within Gotham’s lower middle class. This completely reshapes the context of the character—and it works. Brilliantly.

The issue opens in a way that immediately evokes the legendary Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli. Bruce is experimenting with fighting methods, entering the world of crime without a fully formed Batman identity, and—most importantly—making mistakes. This is a Batman who doesn’t yet know how to be Batman. He resembles a wild animal still learning to hunt.

But unlike the classic version, Bruce isn’t driven by fear of bats—here, it’s admiration for their adaptive capabilities that guides him. His fighting style, his movements, his gadgets—they’re all inspired by real bat behaviors. This version doesn’t just refresh the familiar myth, it brings genuine originality to a character that has been reinterpreted countless times.

Adaptation as the Key to Survival

The main theme of this issue is adaptation—Bruce has no money, no access to super-tech, no help from the Justice League. All he has is pain, determination, and a city that doesn’t want him. In one of the most powerful moments in the issue, we hear Bruce’s inner monologue as he gathers intel—almost word-for-word echoing Year One, but with a new tone: it’s not fear that drives this Batman, but the belief that no one else will fight.

We finally see how different this Bruce is from the Earth-0 version. It’s not just about the suit (though the early version—with fangs, stitches, and no fancy gadgets—looks incredible), but about where he lives and how he thinks. This Bruce lives in the heart of Gotham, not above it. He works, he observes, he fights—and he understands the world because he’s part of it. He’s a working-class Batman. A Batman who can’t afford mistakes, but makes them and learns immediately.

Bridge Symbolism and a New Vision of Justice

One of the most surprisingly profound moments in the issue is the symbolism of a bridge Bruce built with his father as a child. The bridge—both a literal structure and a metaphor—becomes a core ideological element for this Bruce. His mission isn’t “revenge,” but connection—between people, ideas, values. He wants to be the link between the world of criminals and a society overrun by them.

This is a Batman not driven by vengeance, but by a vision of justice that is complex, messy, and impossible to achieve with fists alone. And that’s why this issue works so well—because we finally understand who he really is.

Gabriel Hernández Walta – A Master of Mood

Guest artist Gabriel Walta is pure gold. His style—scratched, gritty, and heavy with atmosphere—fits this flashback perfectly. When needed, his linework is brutal; when the story calls for it, it's delicate and emotionally nuanced.

Many readers may even find that Walta outshines Dragotta in telling this story. Walta’s style is rougher, dirtier—and that’s exactly what Absolute Batman should be.

Positives:

+Fantastic, atmospheric narrative in the spirit of Year One, but with a new twist

+Finally, a deep characterization of this new Bruce

+The idea of Batman inspired by real bats—fresh and logical

+Bridge symbolism—thoughtful, subtle, and emotionally resonant

+Walta’s outstanding artwork—arguably the best in the series

+Strong balance between detective and fighter

Negatives:

– It’s all… a flashback. Why are we only getting this in issue #4?

– The present-day costume looks weaker compared to this earlier version

– Frustration that the series didn’t start with this version of Bruce

Summary

Absolute Batman #4 is the issue that finally shows the true potential of this version of the Dark Knight. It’s a raw, emotional story about a man with nothing but pain and the will to survive—and yet he becomes a symbol of justice.

It’s a story that moves, inspires, and frustrates… because it makes clear this should have been the foundation of the series, not an exception. If Snyder and Dragotta can maintain this tone and direction, Absolute Batman could become one of the most compelling interpretations of the character in years.

My Rating: 8.5/10