Comics review: Absolute Batman Annual #1 (2025) – Anger, Compassion, and the Cost of Heroism

 

Absolute Batman Annual #1 is not only the strongest issue in the still very young Absolute line, but also one of the boldest, most uncompromising, and emotionally exhausting Batman comics in years. It’s an issue that hurts, provokes, and forces reflection offering no easy answers. And that’s exactly why it’s so outstanding.

This annual does not shy away from politics, moral gray areas, or spiritual questions, while still remaining unmistakably Batman. Daniel Warren Johnson, James Harren, and Meredith McClaren each deliver distinct stories that together form a cohesive meditation on violence, responsibility, and the limits of heroism.

Main Story – Daniel Warren Johnson and Batman Without Anesthetic

The opening story is an absolute knockout. DWJ tackles radicalization, white supremacy, fascism, and systemic violence head-on, with zero hesitation. This is a story that directly confronts a very real and contemporary problem in the United States particularly the radicalization of young men and asks the difficult question: what happens when standing by and doing nothing becomes complicity?

Batman here is not an icon of order, but a man consumed by anger, frustration, and a deep sense of moral obligation. We see Bruce observe a boy being pulled into extremist ideology, while a priest attempts to intervene with words, empathy, and care. Batman pushes forward anyway, knowing that without action, the cycle of violence will only continue.

This is where the story’s central tension emerges:
Is violence against violence a solution?

DWJ offers no clear answer. Batman brutally dismantles the neo-Nazis, dehumanizing them, calling them “vermin.” It’s cathartic. It’s shocking. But it’s also the moment where Batman fails morally not because he intervenes, but because he allows rage to take the reins.

The true heart of the story lies with the priest, a man who shows compassion both to persecuted immigrants and to the beaten extremists. Without him, this would be pure revenge fantasy. With him, it becomes a reflection on how violence does not cure violence, and how ideology often fills a void that fists never can.

Tying Batman’s evolving moral code to the teachings of Thomas Wayne is a brilliant choice. In the Absolute Universe, the no-kill rule is not innate it is forged, painfully, through guilt and doubt.

Visually, Johnson is at the top of his game. Every page crackles with energy, fury, and motion. Mike Spicer’s colors intensify the emotional weight, while the vehicle designs and action sequences practically beg for an oversized edition.

This is a loud, extreme, unapologetic comic and surprisingly subtle in what it leaves unsaid.

“Sanctuary” – James Harren and Batman as a Nightmare

The second story, by James Harren, shifts perspective. Batman becomes a horror movie monster, seen through the eyes of a low-level Black Mask thug. It’s a story about fear, family, and the collateral damage of Batman’s crusade.

Does Batman save this family?
Does he destroy it?
Is he divine retribution or blind chaos?

Harren’s visuals are unsettling and effective. Batman appears like a shadow, a spider, something inhuman. It’s a simple story, but one that leaves lingering unease and questions about the cost paid by ordinary people when heroes wage war.

“Let’s Learn About Bats!” – Meredith McClaren and a Moment to Breathe

The final two-page story by Meredith McClaren is warm, charming, and intentionally gentle. It pairs facts about bats with Batman’s own traits. Simple? Yes. Necessary? Absolutely.

After pages of brutality and moral conflict, this short piece reminds us that Batman isn’t just fear and violence he’s also care, empathy, and symbolism, subtly reflected in Gotham’s everyday life (the Batman merchandise motif is no accident).

Final Thoughts

Absolute Batman Annual #1 is an important comic. Controversial, challenging, and often uncomfortable but that’s exactly what Batman should be in 2025. It’s a story that doesn’t try to please everyone, because it doesn’t want to. It wants to be confronted.

It’s about anger mistaken for justice.
About compassion dismissed as weakness.
And about a hero who hasn’t yet fully decided who he wants to be.

Pros

+Bold, uncompromising main story by Daniel Warren Johnson

+Exceptional visual storytelling throughout

+Moral complexity with no easy answers

+Excellent use of the annual format

+Strong supporting stories, especially “Sanctuary”

Cons

-The subject matter may feel too confrontational for some readers

-Meredith McClaren’s story could have been longer

-Minor plot conveniences in the main story

Final Score: 9.5 / 10

Absolute Batman Annual #1 is the kind of comic people will be talking about for years not because it’s “cool,” but because it has something to say. And it says it loudly.