Warning: Spoilers for Absolute Batman #2!As DC’s new Batman has his origin story totally rewritten in the Absolute Universe, his relationship with his mom reveals a tragic truth about the Caped Crusader and his personal life. In this alternate world where only Bruce Wayne’s father dies, Martha is active in Gotham and present to raise her son in one of the rare realities that allows it. However, Bruce’s trauma still renders him unable to connect with his living family.
After the shocking reveal that she survives in this timeline, more of Martha Wayne’s life outside of Bruce is featured in Absolute Batman #2 by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin, and Clayton Cowles. She’s revealed to have a close relationship with the Gordons, namely Barbara and Jim.
In a private discussion with Jim in the hospital, Martha states that she doesn’t even know her son anymore since the shooting that killed Thomas. In a depressing turn of events for one of the few universes they can coexist in, Martha and Bruce have a strained relationship.
Absolute Batman's Devastating Twist Sees Martha Wayne Alive and Well - But She Still Can’t Reach Bruce
A New Kind of Wayne Family Tragedy
Since one of Batman’s defining moments as a character is the death of both his parents in front of him, leading him to build his mission upon that grief, Bruce not being emotionally available for Martha when she’s alive in Absolute Batman is truly tragic. Though most comic continuities see Bruce raised by his butler Alfred Pennyworth after his parents’ death, another relationship totally twisted by the Absolute Universe, Martha was actually able to raise her son here. Snyder and Dragotta’s new take on the character sees the trauma of his father’s death unfortunately drive a devastating wedge between Bruce and Martha.
Related
How Batman Saving His Parents Changes His Entire Mythos Forever
Did Bruce Wayne’s parents have to die so Batman could live? One story explores how Bruce becomes a very different Batman after his parents are saved.
While Martha Wayne has been alive in other alternate universes, most notably with her turn as the Joker in Flashpoint by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert, it’s tough to see Bruce not communicating with his mother when he is so often mourning her. It seemed like Absolute Batman would fix a DC trend focusing on Thomas Wayne in Batman’s lore, and while Martha and Bruce’s current relationship is a bit discouraging, there’s still a chance for their bond to develop in ways DC hasn’t seen before. With her new role on Mayor Gordon’s team, she could take a central role alongside Batman or in Gotham’s leadership.
Martha Wayne’s Absolute Status Makes Her Connected to Other Bat-Family Members
Meanwhile Batman Still Works Alone
After the fallout of the Party Animals’ attack on Mayor Gordon at a town hall meeting, Martha’s hospital visit sheds more insight into her place in this new version of Gotham. Though she and Bruce have trouble communicating, Martha is seemingly a close family friend of Jim and Barbara Gordon.Barbara hasn’t taken up either the mantle of Batgirl or Oracle here yet, but she stands up for Batman, and both Martha and Jim remark on her being a good kid. With Batman still more of a lone wolf in this universe, Martha already has stronger connections to major potential Bat-Family members than this new Dark Knight.
The addition of Martha to this universe as an active player could shake things up if Bruce lets her in.
While his solo mission as Batman is a valiant one, Bruce’s hero persona is fueled by his trauma and guilt and is likely the thing that keeps him distant from Martha in adulthood. Since he still works alone in Absolute Batman, there is no Bat-Family. The hero doesn’t even have Alfred in his corner as his confidante yet, as he often does in most other stories. The addition of Martha to this universe as an active player could shake things up if Bruce lets her in.
But Can Bruce Wayne Still Evolve?
As a sign on the bat sanctuary on Bruce’s tragic fateful day at the Zoo even proclaimed, “bats can be social or solitary,” and that simple fact could speak to a choice Batman has to make in this story as it progresses. Though they have been clashing, a bond could be brewing between him and Alfred, and Bruce’s relationship with Catwoman has been teased as well. However, even with Martha actively involved in Bruce’s life and having connections to famous Batman allies, there’s still work to be done to get the mother and son on the same page.
Looking for more Absolute Universe stories? Check out Absolute Superman #1 by Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval and Absolute Wonder Woman #1 by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman, both available now from DC Comics.
It’s still early days for Absolute Batman, which is only in its second issue, so Martha and Bruce’s relationship will likely be developed, explained, or expanded upon as the series is fleshed out. However, with the sad reveal that their relationship is a bit troubled and Martha feels she barely knows her own son, it still highlights that the Dark Knight’s crime-fighting destiny is not one that comes easy. Since Batman still can’t fully connect with Martha in the rare universe where she’s alive, it seems he never even had the chance to lead a normal life after violence in Gotham upends his childhood.
Absolute Batman #2 is available now from DC Comics.
Batman
One of DC's most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world's leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
Created By Bob Kane , Bill Finger
Alias Bruce Wayne
Alliance Justice League, Outsiders, Batman Family
Race Human
FIRST APP Detective Comics #27 (1939)
English (US) ·