It has been really interesting to experience how Scott Snyder reinterprets established Batman characters for the Absolute Universe. All of the major characters had been slowly introduced into Absolute Batman, but Robin was missing. In Absolute Batman #19, we were shown not one Absolute Robin, but many. Absolute Batman #20 explores them further and even has them in action against Batman!
Major spoilers ahead for the Absolute Batman series.
A flock of Robins
Dick Grayson had been teased for a while in Absolute Batman. It was only a matter of time before he would become part of the main storyline. In the main universe, Dick was a Robin, before eventually becoming Nightwing and the hero of Bludhaven. It was a surprise, albeit a small one given the series, that it looked like Dick was being setup as an adversary to Bruce.
“It’s like the whole city has gone crazy. All because of him.” – Dick Grayson
Having the two on opposite sides was confirmed in Absolute Batman #19, but it was who was with Dick that was a surprise. There were other, familiar names alongside him. Jason Todd, Duke Thomas, Stephanie Brown, and Tim Drake were all named as part of the Robin Program.
The Robin Program
Jim Gordon had met an unfortunate end in Absolute Batman #19 and his death was pinned on Batman. Gordon had of course been murdered by the Scarecrow, but this scenario was enough for Jack Grimm to manipulate. The Joker used the death to win public support for a new program designed to protect them from the creatures of the night.
This Robin Program was made up of candidates who had been supported by Jack Grimm as youngsters. These youngsters were trained and groomed by Grimm to be part of a new ‘totem‘ of the city. They were to be a message of the morning, a new dawn for Gotham. In charge of these ‘wards of the state‘ is Slade Wilson, AKA Deathstroke.
Batman vs Robins
Absolute Batman #20 explored this new team of Robins further; it was the first time we saw them in action. Stylistically, the team of Robin are visually quite different from everything else in Absolute Gotham. The villains, and even the heroes, are dark and gritty. Nick Dragotta has designed all the characters to have their creepy stats maxed out. The Robins are quite different however.
Fleeing an encounter with Scarecrow that left Joe Chill dead, Batman is apprehended by the Robin initiative. He is confronted with a 100 foot tall, Robin mech, like some sort of teen titan. The other Robins are in smaller mech-suits, that transform into different vehicles and armour. The colours and style scream manga and anime.
Robin Designations:
- R-1 – Dick Grayson, giant blue mech-suit
- R-2 – Jason Todd, giant red mech-suit
- R-3 – Tim Drake, green mech-suit
- R-4 – Duke Thomas, orange mech-suit
- R-5 – Stephanie Brown, purple mech-suit
In this brief encounter, Batman is taken by surprise. Evading the giant mech-suit piloted by Dick, he is brought down by fire from Jason. Their technology, skills, and ability to work cohesively as a team is effective against Batman. As the whole team close in on him however, Bruce picks himself up and faces off against them.
We will have to wait until Absolute Batman #21 though to see how this fight finishes though.
Buy Absolute Batman Volume 1 – Bookshop.org US
Buy Absolute Batman Volume 1 – Bookshop.org UK
Buy Absolute Batman #21 – Forbidden Planet UK
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