Absolute Batman 2025 Annual #1 features stories by writer-artists Daniel Warren Johnson, James Warren and Meredith McClaren. The book is published by DC. Colours are by Mike Spicer and Dave Stewart and letters by Clayton Cowles. Main cover art (left) is by Johnson and Spicer.
Absolute Batman 2025 Annual #1 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
Some of the biggest names in comics take a turn in the Absolute Universe! Daniel Warren Johnson and James Harren tell tales from Absolute Batman’s early days! How did Bruce acquire his batmobile? And what was it like for Black Mask’s party animals when Batman first hit the scene?
Review
Absolute Batman is going super-sized this month for a 2025 annual featuring three all-new stories. Giving Scott Snyder’s arc a breather is giving creators Daniel Warren Johnson, James Warren, and Meredith McClaren a chance to step in to the Batcave. Get ready for new perspectives, new styles and a whole new outlook on Snyder’s colossal Dark Knight.
The main story for the annual comes from writer-artist Daniel Warren Johnson, fresh from an incredible run on Transformers. Johnson and Snyder feel cut from the same cloth. Their approaches to storytelling rip apart rule books and defy compromise. So it feels natural to have Johnson take a stab at Absolute Batman, particularly when the challenging subject matter of white supremacy creeps in. From the outset Johnson tackles Snyder’s world with brave sense of Bruce’s moral compass. The story opens on a moment between Bruce and his father as a Gotham Globe headline depicts an extremist bombing. The sharply focussed moment shows the curiosity of young Bruce but also the gentle nature of Thomas. Cut to the next page with a suited-up Batman, flame-thrower in hand, surrounded by unconscious bodies and a burning flag.
Johnson’s juxtaposition of the kind-hearted Thomas playfully tussling with his son against the burning white supremacist flag is breathtaking. It encapsulates everything about this story in just one turn of the page. If Snyder were ever to step away from Absolute Batman this story is Johnson’s perfect audition to take over. But I digress…
Johnson uses the story to tackle extremism on a number of different fronts. The most obvious being the extreme views and violence held by the antagonists. But that plays off brilliantly against Bruce’s own extreme reactions. Throughout the story we see him taking extreme measures to stop his pig mask-wearing opponents. He pulls no punches in the way we’ve come to expect with Johnson matching Snyder’s characterisation of Batman without skipping a beat. But it’s underpinned by Thomas Wayne and his hopes for positive future for his son. Those hopes spotlight just how stark the contrast is in seeing Bruce handing out vigilante justice.
Also depicting just how violent the Absolute Universe Batman can be is James Warren. Though his story runs shorter than Johnson’s it still lands with one hell of an impact. It’s a more personal story which follows a group of goons in Black Mask-style masks breaking in to the home of one of their dads. Though the two share a clear bond a falling out has led to this moment. Unfortunately when crime takes place in Gotham the Batman isn’t far behind. The crooks soon find themselves on the sharp end of his brand of violence. It’s less bombastic than Johnson’s take on the character. But Warren’s art finds the most stylish way to bring the story to life.
The book ends with a two-page piece from Meredith McClaren which looks at some Bat-facts, played against the backdrop of Batman sightings across the city. It’s a neat palate cleanser to end the issue. It brings a little levity to what has been a very heavy issue.
Verdict
A powerhouse annual that proves the Absolute Universe Batman can thrive in other creative hands. Johnson’s story alone is worth the price of admission, delivering both explosive action and meaningful social commentary that feels essential rather than preachy.
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