I took a few days from Hive, but also a few days from reading things. I felt I was spending a little too much time reading and wanting to focus on something else a bit, especially with the holidays being around and the general slowness of Hive as everyone celebrates. But I couldn't help myself when I noticed that Absolute Batman's third volume had been released. It's by far my favourite of the current Absolute Batman lineup, with the Absolute Superman coming in at second place. While Absolute Superman's series is clearly going in a certain route as it introduces its new idea of Superman, Absolute Batman feels a bit more in control, something that knows where it's going already and took very little time to show it to us. I've really been enjoying the pacing of the comic alongside its really neat art style that takes things in a more fun direction in terms of character and costume design. Plus, a little more brutality in the realm of DC is pretty much what the comics need. Not the usual tame violence, but all-out gory action that shows a more ruthless Batman coming from a very different background. No more the billionaire man-baby that complains about the state of the world, but more your average young adult that sees the horrors of the world, wanting to do good by working hard but also fighting the evil head-on without a care.
Volume two saw us going into the past to get a little more backstory on our current Bruce Wayne, a male now in his 20s living in a regular home, working in construction to rebuild what is often utterly destroyed by him and the rest of the city's night crawlers. That volume saw a younger Bruce trapped in a zoo while a shooter attacked the location, leading to him being locked up in a closet while his father attempted to save others, of course in usual Batman fashion, leading to his death. It's a little bit different but still ultimately a bit more of the same thing. But I still enjoyed it. It's volume three that still somewhat carries from that perspective of Bruce as a child with its opening, showcasing a younger version of Catwoman in the process. But Absolute Batman still manages to weave in elements of comedy through its panels, showcasing the sheer ridiculousness of Bruce's technology and vehicles. How he's obtained them is not clear at all. Remember, he comes from an ordinary background without money. Batman's not really one of inconspicuous movements, it didn't take long for someone to figure out his identity, though without particularly malicious intent. And its that contrast of the more military trained individual compared to Bruce and his chaotic destruction and noisy escapes that adds to some fun differences in character.
In this volume we learn a bit more of the masks that the various criminals throughout the city are wearing. They've been causing a bit of a nuisance in various attacks throughout, though it's revealed they're working for a higher group of elites that seek to gain more power through their pursuit of destabilisation. The masks aren't ordinary masks though, they're more technological ones that digitally ensure the wearer's identity remains hidden. This is also where the comic's volume made me cringe a little with some modern day references: the masks also contain a wallet. Yes, you know which type of wallet I am referring to here. A cryptocurrency wallet. It means that each criminal is digitally tied to their actions and are paid out in crypto based on their achievements. Paid directly into the mask. Alongside this, it also contains data that helps them gain new work, information on certain hits and locations to pursue. Allowing them to pick and choose certain tasks that will get them paid. Ultimately allowing them to serve as gunmen for hire. The crypto side of things was a little annoying to see, I prefer to have no major references to the real world when it comes to fiction, especially this space. But the rest were neat ideas that definitely served as some fun additions. Masks that allow criminals to stay hidden from algorithms, while also relaying data that allows them to get new work. It gives the whole idea of random henchman wearing silly little masks a bit more depth.
I liked that it showed that the whole masked organisation was something being conducted under a major scale, rather than a small collective. With the Absolute idea, characters are mixed up a little more and taken out of their usual places. The Riddler is actually a friend of Bruce. Someone that works with computers and gives him a bit of information here and there when needed. I think these elements have been fun, but especially in how they remove the general idea of who the main villain(s) could be. It's definitely a bit more vague and adds more mystery to things in that sense. Rather than here's your usual Joker, and here's his group of boring henchman you'll never see again. With the idea of Batman being a detective, a lot of Bruce's day-to-day actions seem to hold more of that side of things. It feels like there's a bit more seriousness to it, where there's more research and scouting locations, especially his new friend Alfred. Yes, that's Alfred, who happens to be a secretive Black Ops sort of individual with extensive military training. Though I enjoy that it holds that side of things to it, where Bruce has to learn a little more of the stealth side of things from him.
For a third volume I think it was pretty good. It glances over a few different things while adding some new characters in, showcasing Bruce's emotions and fears for his family. While also expanding upon the world and its depth by revealing the nature of the masks. All with a little bit of action at the start. It's definitely heading in the right places so far, and I'm certainly curious as to where it continues to go from here on. I enjoy this pacing and the depth it offers, not focusing too much on one thing, giving us many characters to think of and see even if their weight on the main story is relatively thin. It does add to that immersion. I just hope it can maintain this momentum.
Why can't they have some variant of crypto in the comic world seeing as they also have cars and guns and cities and things XP
Don't go using basic logic on me ;^)
I don't know though, it just feels a bit forced to inject that stuff into things. Even with tv, last night in an episode of Only Murders in the Building a character states they now accept crypto. It just felt more lazy and almost like an attempt to break the fourth wall, if you know what I mean?
I haven't read the thing and am not going to (I don't like the genre) but purely from your description it seemed like a sensible injection. Is this a recent series? Were they just trying to include it to seem hip and trendy? As if that's the case I can see why it could be grating if its inclusion/exposition/explanation wasn't done fantastically.
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