DC dropped some big, over-seven-feet tall news on Thursday: Absolute Batman, the best-selling DC Comics series, is heading to the small screen. An animated Absolute Batman show is in the works, as announced at Annecy Animation Fest.
The Absolute line of comics reimagines DC’s heroes by stripping them to their cores. In Batman’s case, that means taking away his wealth, his butler, and many of his gadgets (while giving him a Bat-axe in the process). His intellect isn’t taken away, however; Absolute Batman is a construction worker with the mind of an engineer and the body of an NFL linebacker. Absolute Batman mixes up the expected Batman canon in other ways too, like turning some of Batman’s enemies into allies.
Created by writer Scott Snyder and artist Nick Dragotta, Absolute Batman has sold over 6 million copies across its 21 published issues. It was nominated for an Eisner Award in 2025 for Best New Series and letterer Clayton Cowles won for Best Lettering. Snyder will serve as executive producer and showrunner on the series, and Dragotta will join him as a producer.
Here’s the official description of the show:
Absolute Batman boldly reinvents the Batman mythos for a new generation of fans, reimagining the Dark Knight as a working-class hero up against impossible odds (and the most terrifying foes ever), on a mission to prove that even in an era of wealth, power and corruption, one good person can change the world.
No manor, no money… all Batman. When you take away the manor, the money, the advantages, what you’re left with is something absolute.
No release window was given for when the Absolute Batman animated series will air.
DC has had many successes with animated superhero series old and new. My Adventures with Superman is currently airing its excellent third season. Batman: Caped Crusader, which is inspired by the character’s 1930s roots, returns next month for season 2.
Back when it looked like Netflix was going to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, Polygon argued anime company Mappa should adapt Absolute Batman. That deal fell through, and now Paramount is merging with Warner Bros., but at least DC fans are still getting an animated Absolute Batman.
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