Warning: Contains spoilers for Absolute Batman #19.21 years ago, Batman Beyond received a long-awaited epilogue in Justice League Unlimited season 2, appropriately titled “Epilogue”, and it revealed that Terry McGinnis was Bruce’s biological child thanks to Project Batman Beyond, a secret government program designed to keep Batman’s legacy alive. The twist was incredibly divisive for how convoluted it had to make things to answer questions no one was asking, and above all else, it undermined the idea of Terry being his own Batman.
Few twists within the Batman lore, both in and out of comics, are as controversial as the twist of making Terry Bruce’s son, and not only is it rarely brought up in Batman Beyond comics, but many fans would even go so far as to consider it non-canon. That makes it all the more surprising, then, that DC’s Absolute Batman seems to be modernizing Batman Beyond’s big twist, but considering Absolute Batman’s track record, it can do a far better job of pulling it off.
How Absolute Batman Is Modernizing Batman Beyond’s Biggest Twist
Absolute-Batman-19-Project-Batman
In Absolute Batman #19, following Martha’s disappearance and things in Gotham escalating further than ever, Gordon did some digging into things and uncovered a startling truth about everything that had been happening in Gotham. The readers are never told what Gordon uncovered because Scarecrow filled him with crippling paranoia to the point that he jumped off a roof to his death, but Gordon gave Bruce a file titled “Project: Batman”, and a page directly referenced Bruce’s incident at the zoo.
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With a mysterious project called Project: Batman, and said project covering details of Bruce’s life, there’s definite symmetry with Project Batman Beyond, where Amanda Waller planned on controlling every facet of Terry’s life to mold him into the next Batman. All of that has to be intentional with how much blatant overlap there is, so surprisingly, it seems like Absolute Batman is planning to reveal that everything in Bruce’s life, including his father’s death, was engineered to make him become Batman.
It’s unknown how something like that could even be possible, but there are already two plausible ideas: the Court of Owls could have set things up for Bruce to become Batman, especially since Martha is a member in this universe; if not them, then the Absolute Universe’s Joker might also be responsible, as issue #15 established that he often backs opposing sides in conflicts for maximum profit. All of that is hypothetical, of course, but if this really is the direction Absolute Batman is going in, then it would be surprisingly easy to explain.
Absolute Batman Can Do Batman Beyond’s Big Twist Way Better Than The DCAU
The idea that Absolute Batman would revive Batman Beyond’s biggest and most controversial twist is crazy to think about, but fortunately, it would be so much better than in the DC Animated Universe. While the original twist was mitigated both by Waller not doing anything beyond making Terry Bruce’s son and by the reassurance that the circumstances of Terry’s birth didn’t stop him from being his own person, many people still felt that it added nothing to the story and made many parts of Batman Beyond worse in hindsight, and framing it as a good thing only enforced that idea to many fans.
Conversely, not only can Absolute Batman make the idea of Bruce being manipulated into becoming Batman far less convoluted, but it has no reason to frame the twist as anything other than something horrible for Bruce to overcome, which is something fans have wanted from Batman Beyond for over 20 years now. Add in how there would actually be time to properly explore the ramifications of Project: Batman, and this is nothing but a good thing for Absolute Batman.
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01
DC’s Absolute Universe is a new line of comics launched in late 2024 that reimagines iconic DC heroes in a world without the legacy advantages they traditionally have. Which DC event/storyline set up the creation of the Absolute Universe?
ADark Crisis
BInfinite Frontier
CDarkseid’s rewriting of the DC Multiverse in the current continuity
DFlashpoint Beyond
✓ Correct! The Absolute Universe was born from Darkseid rewriting reality in the current DC continuity. This cosmic act of villainy created a parallel world where DC’s greatest heroes exist without the advantages and support systems they traditionally rely on.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is Darkseid’s rewriting of the DC Multiverse. While Dark Crisis, Infinite Frontier, and Flashpoint Beyond are all significant DC events, it was Darkseid’s manipulation of reality that gave birth to the Absolute Universe.
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02
In Absolute Superman, Kal-El’s origin is dramatically different from the main universe. Instead of being raised by the Kents in Smallville, how does Absolute Superman grow up?
AHe is raised by the government
BHe grows up on Krypton
CHe is raised in an immigrant community with no wealth or privilege
DHe is raised by Lex Luthor
✓ Correct! In the Absolute Universe, Kal-El lands not with the Kents but in an immigrant community, growing up without wealth or privilege. This reimagining strips away Superman’s traditional support system while keeping his core values of hope and justice intact.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is that he’s raised in an immigrant community with no wealth or privilege. The Absolute line is built on the concept of heroes without their traditional advantages, and Superman’s new upbringing reflects this perfectly.
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03
Absolute Batman reimagines Bruce Wayne without his billionaire status. In this version, Bruce Wayne has a very different civilian occupation. What is Absolute Batman’s day job?
APolice officer
BEngineer / construction worker
CTeacher
DJournalist
✓ Correct! In the Absolute Universe, Bruce Wayne works as an engineer and construction worker. Without the Wayne fortune or Wayne Enterprises, this Bruce builds his gear and gadgets with his own hands and working-class ingenuity, making him a truly self-made Batman.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is engineer / construction worker. Absolute Batman strips Bruce Wayne of his billionaire status entirely. This Bruce is a massive, imposing figure who uses his engineering skills and physical labor background to craft his own Batman arsenal.
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04
Absolute Batman’s costume and physique are dramatically different from the traditional Batman. This version of Bruce Wayne is much larger and more imposing. Who is the writer of Absolute Batman?
ATom King
BJames Tynion IV
CScott Snyder
DChip Zdarsky
✓ Correct! Scott Snyder, who previously wrote the acclaimed New 52 Batman run, is the writer of Absolute Batman. His bold reimagining of Bruce Wayne as a working-class hero without billions has been one of the breakout hits of the Absolute Universe line.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is Scott Snyder. Known for his legendary Batman run featuring the Court of Owls and other iconic storylines, Snyder returned to the Dark Knight with Absolute Batman, completely reinventing Bruce Wayne for this new universe.
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05
Absolute Wonder Woman reimagines Diana in a significantly different setting. In this version, the character’s mythology and origin pull from different cultural influences. Who is the writer of Absolute Wonder Woman?
AG. Willow Wilson
BKelly Thompson
CBecky Cloonan
DMariko Tamaki
✓ Correct! Kelly Thompson writes Absolute Wonder Woman, bringing a fresh take on Diana’s mythology and origin. This version reimagines Wonder Woman’s world with different cultural influences while maintaining the warrior spirit at the core of the character.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is Kelly Thompson. While all four writers are acclaimed in the comics industry, it’s Thompson who helms Absolute Wonder Woman, crafting a bold new vision for Diana in the Absolute Universe.
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06
The Absolute Universe was created as a result of Darkseid altering reality. A key difference is that in this universe, heroes don’t have the traditional advantages and support systems. What concept describes this — that these heroes exist without their usual “safety nets”?
AHeroes without legacy
BHeroes without hope
CHeroes without privilege
DGrounded heroes
✓ Correct! “Heroes without legacy” is the core concept of the Absolute Universe. These versions of DC’s iconic characters exist without the inherited advantages, mentors, wealth, and support networks that traditionally define them — forcing them to become heroes purely on their own terms.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is “Heroes without legacy.” The Absolute Universe is built on the idea that Darkseid stripped these heroes of their legacies — Batman has no fortune, Superman has no Kents, Wonder Woman has no Themyscira as we know it.
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07
Absolute Flash reimagines Wally West in the Absolute Universe. In this version, the Flash’s connection to the Speed Force is portrayed differently. Who is the writer of Absolute Flash?
AJeff Lemire
BJoshua Williamson
CMark Waid
DJeremy Adams
✓ Correct! Jeff Lemire, known for his deeply human storytelling in titles like Sweet Tooth and Animal Man, writes Absolute Flash. His take on Wally West reimagines the speedster’s relationship with the Speed Force in the context of the Absolute Universe’s stripped-down heroic landscape.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is Jeff Lemire. While Williamson, Waid, and Adams have all written excellent Flash stories in the main continuity, it’s Lemire who brings his unique storytelling vision to Absolute Flash.
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08
Absolute Superman is written and drawn by a critically acclaimed creator who handles both the writing and art duties on the series. Who is this creator?
AJim Lee
BJason Aaron (writer) with Rafa Sandoval (art)
CGrant Morrison
DJorge Jiménez
✓ Correct! Absolute Superman is written by Jason Aaron with art by Rafa Sandoval. Together they’ve crafted a powerful reimagining of Kal-El, placing him in an immigrant community without the Kent family’s support, creating one of the most compelling new takes on the character in years.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is Jason Aaron (writer) with Rafa Sandoval (art). While Jim Lee, Grant Morrison, and Jorge Jiménez are all legendary DC creators, it’s the Aaron and Sandoval team that brings Absolute Superman to life.
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With how much stock Absolute Batman puts in deconstructing the Batman mythos, it’s probably the best story for modernizing such a controversial twist as the one from Batman Beyond, so as much as people might hate it, it would be surprisingly great for this to be the direction Absolute Batman heads in, and hopefully, upcoming issues will make that more apparent.
Release Date
1999 – 2001-00-00
Network
The WB
Writers
Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Stan Berkowitz, Rich Fogel, Hilary Bader, Bob Goodman, Gerry Conway