Warning: Spoilers for Absolute Batman #4

Absolute Batman's bulky design received intense backlash from fans upon his initial reveal due to how different it was from the classic look. As it turns out, that costume is Bruce Wayne's second attempt at a bat-suit, and the first is even more shocking. Rather than making every aspect of his appearance larger-than-life, Batman's original attempt at his costume ended up being much more terrifying.

The preview for Absolute Batman #4 by Scott Snyder, Gabriel Hernández Walta, Frank Martin, and Clayton Cowles depicts Bruce Wayne's earliest days as the Dark Knight. Gotham criminals are seen pushing a woman off a rooftop, only for her to be rescued, and they're suddenly ambushed by a menacing figure who had been looming over them.

This figure turns out to be none other than Batman, but his costume is unlike any he's ever worn in DC lore. Rather than relying on his overwhelming size, this Batman scares foes by behaving like a fearsome bat, making it Bruce Wayne's most terrifying suit yet.

Absolute Batman's Original Costume Is Already His Scariest in DC History

Batman Goes All-In On the Bat Aesthetic With His Vampiric Redesign

Bruce Wayne takes a page out of Dracula's book with this unnerving claws that resemble Wolverine's, hissing while he fights. This is Batman at his most bat-like, and there's a reason for this to be Bruce's suit of choice in this new continuity.

Thomas Wayne's death, and the bats swarm him as his father loses his life. The direct correlation of bats to his deepest trauma gives Bruce's fixation on the creatures a believable explanation. This Batman associates bats with his father's final moments, so it makes sense that he would choose to embody a bat and strike the same primal terror he experienced as a child.

Batman's Absolute Universe Origin Story Will Finally Be Explored In Its Entirety

The Story of How Bruce Wayne Became the Dark Knight Gets Unveiled at Last

The debut of Bruce Wayne's first costume kicks off this issue, which will chronicle Absolute Batman's full backstory. Readers have already seen his father's demise, which serves as the catalyst for his son's vigilantism - just like in DC's prime continuity - but the actual establishing of the Batman mantle has yet to be portrayed. Now, Batman's early days are being presented to answer fans' long-held questions about how this revamped Dark Knight came to be. At long last, Batman is ready to unveil why he chose to leave his initial costume behind and instead become the hulking force he is now.

Absolute Batman #4 is available January 8th, 2025 from DC Comics.