Absolute Batman Vol. 1 Why This BRUTAL NEW Batman is Worth The Hype

Click here to subscribe for more awesome content from us!!! https://bit.ly/TBATBYOUTUBE

Check out Panel Bound Comics: https://bit.ly/TBATBOPB

Buying 1 to 3 books? Save $2 with our code Braveboys

Buying 4 or more books together? Save 5% with our code Braveboyssit

Thank you for watching, and until the next time, keep reading and stay brave!

Connect with us on social media:

Our Discord: https://discord.gg/ju6JcKM4zJ

Our Instagram: https://bit.ly/TBATBInstagram

Absolute Batman Vol. 1 gives you a Batman who feels mean, messy, and brutal in a way we almost never see from Bruce. He is broke, working in construction, driving a dump truck version of the Batmobile, and trying to hold Gotham together while Black Mask and the Party Animals turn the city into a war zone. In this video we walk through the entire first arc, full spoilers, and ask the big question: is this new Batman worth the hype.

This is also the first episode of The Brave and the Backlog, a new series where we finally pull books off our own shelves and give them a full deep dive instead of a quick overview. Each episode is one book, so we can talk about how the story is built, what it is trying to say, and where it fits on your Batman shelf.

In this one we break down how Absolute Batman rewrites Bruce’s origin, what changes when Bruce is blue collar and broke, and how Alfred, Gordon, and Martha Wayne are all remixed. We talk about Black Mask’s plan, the Party Animals, the way Gotham is laid out like a bomb, and how the art and paneling sell the action. We also look at how it reads issue by issue compared to sitting down with the Absolute edition.

Huge thank you to Panel Bound Comics for supporting the channel. You can grab Absolute Batman Vol. 1 and a stack of other DC Absolute editions from them and use code BRAVEBOYS at checkout for a discount on your order.

We are also doing a gift card giveaway tied to this video. To enter, drop a comment with your favorite moment, idea, or character beat from Absolute Batman Vol. 1. We will pick a winner before the next Brave and the Backlog episode and announce it there. If you like longer breakdowns like this, subscribe so you do not miss the next backlog pick. Stay brave.

Chapters

00:00:00 Brutal new Batman and what this video is

00:01:18 Why Absolute Batman Vol. 1 was the first backlog pick

00:03:10 Creative team, art, and why the book feels tight

00:07:03 Big picture setup before full spoilers

00:08:24 Bruce’s childhood friends as his future rogues gallery

00:09:52 Blue collar Bruce and his new origin story

00:11:35 Flashbacks at the zoo and a different Wayne family tragedy

00:12:50 Gadgets, the bat suit, and how weaponized this Batman is

00:13:55 Gordon as mayor, Martha Wayne alive, and Alfred the spy

00:16:10 Black Mask, the Party Animals, and Gotham under pressure

00:18:20 Training, city planning, and the dump truck Batmobile

00:23:00 Why this never feels like a standard origin story

00:24:58 Money, morals, and Batman burning the payout

00:30:00 The yacht assault, brutality, and Alfred’s choice

00:31:40 Teases for Joker, Bane, and the mystery of Ark In

00:36:20 Comparing Absolute Batman to Absolute Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter

00:39:50 Do you need to read anything before Absolute Batman

00:42:10 Why this works for new and veteran Batman readers

00:44:00 Final thoughts, rankings, and what is next for The Brave and the Backlog