Absolute Batman Annual: 2025 - Review

• Written by: Daniel Warren Johnson, James Warren

• Art by: Daniel Warren Johnson, James Warren

• Colors by: Mike Spicer, Dave Stewart

• Letters by: Clayton Cowles

• Cover art by: Daniel Warren Johnson, Mike Spicer (cover A)

• Cover price: $5.99

• Release date: October 29, 2025

Absolute Batman Annual (2025) #1, by DC Comics on 10/29/25, pits the Absolute Dark Knight against two vicious gangs with selfish intentions and murderous plans.

First Impressions

Annuals weeks tend to be the wasteland of side stories and discarded ideas where the Big 2 dump whatever they have on hand to fill the space. Thankfully, DC chose the better path with two tales of woe that elevate Absolute Batman's prowess as a force to be reckoned with, even if the stories lack solid foundations.

Plot Analysis

Main Story

A young Bruce Wayne meets a man on the outskirts of town to purchase off-the-books weaponry for his war on crime as Batman. On his way to the rendezvous, Bruce notices an immigrant encampment in the remains of an abandoned construction project. During the weapons buy, Bruce hears a trio of thugs attacking two immigrants nearby, prompting Bruce to intervene. The weapons dealer sneaks up on Bruce and knocks him out, but before the thugs can kill Bruce, a priest who ministers to the nearby encampment intervenes. 

Later, Bruce is tended to by the priest in the priest's home. Bruce sees a nearby picture and recognizes his father in a group photo, which means the priest knew Thomas Wayne many years ago. Bruce doesn't give his name or unveil the connection. The priest explains in vague terms that the leader of the thugs, Deejay, intends to clear out the encampment by force. Bruce chooses to stop Deejay and his men by any means necessary.

Shortly after, Deejay and his gang attack the encampment with the help of the local police, who are secretly part of Deejay's gang. But before the sweep gets too far, Absolute Batman arrives and attacks in full force - breaking limbs, smashing skulls, and using a flamethrower to burn down every bit of resistance. In the end, Absolute Batman is confronted with the choices his father made as a teacher and the priest made as a man who holds onto peace.

Well, there's no doubt Daniel Warren Johnson has a flair for drama in his art and his writing. There isn't a single moment that doesn't hit you on some level, which is a rare commodity among the Big 2 these days. That said, the heavy-handed messaging practically smashes you in the face with self-righteousness, leaving behind all the setup and character work needed to make the conclusion satisfying. 

The plot boils down to "white racists try to wipe out non-white people, therefore Batman must wipe them out first." If you ask yourself the very basic question of "Why is any of this happening?" you'll be left wanting. In a way, the main story almost comes off as masturbatory as Johnson uses Scott Snyder's creation to vent his personal fetish for justifiable murder. You'll remember the cool art but easily forget the shallow plot.

Sanctuary

A masked gang breaks into a former pastor's church, led by the estranged son of the pastor, for guns and whatever else they can scavenge. During the brief visuals, we learn that the son, Victor, parted with his father after his parents divorced and his father remarried. During the burglary, Vincent's father surprises the group, as Vincent expected him to be out of town. We learn, again, through brief but powerful visual hints, that the former pastor's second wife died recently due to an illness.

While the father/son drama plays out, the gang leader instructs his people to arm and prepare for the arrival of Absolute Batman. The Dark Knight's arrival is swift and vengeful. The issue ends with a father/son reunion born of blood and pain.

James Warren's story, although sized as a backup, is packed with more meaning, heart, and purpose than the main story. Plus, the art, which is equally stylized as Daniel Warren Johnson's, albeit in a different way, echoes the deep noir shadows and unique character designs of Mike Mignola. There's still a missing "Why is any of this happening?" element, but Warren's character work offsets the gaps nicely.

Positives

Absolute Batman Annual (2025) #1 further confirms that the Darkseid Universe's version of the Dark Knight is a hurricane of force to be reckoned with. Both creators pull duty as writers and artists to hit you with the impact of a sledgehammer, but surprisingly, James Warren's backup story is the better of the two.

Negatives

As noted above, both stories lack that all-important question: "Why is any of this happening?" which is fundamental to making the stories feel complete and ending on a satisfying note. Warren almost (but not quite) offsets the backup story's lack by creating an emotionally resonant conclusion for the father and his son, but Johnson's "beat 'em up" tale is wholly lacking.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Final Thoughts

Absolute Batman Annual (2025) #1 pits the Beefy Bat against one-dimensional white supremacists and a masked gang with a hot tip for goods to steal, fueled by a son's hate. The stylistic art from both creators is worth the price of admission, but both stories struggle to establish motivations that make the stories feel complete and memorable.

7/10

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