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Spoilers for “Absolute Surprise Girl” #15 forward.
Once we final left Diana of the Wild Isle in “Absolute Surprise Girl” #14, she was headed to Gotham Metropolis to analyze a homicide scene bearing the mark of her patron goddess, Hecate. She’s not the one customer; as “Absolute Batman” #15 revealed, the immortal trillionaire Joseph “Joker” Grimm is again on the town too. Now that Batman has defeated his champion Bane, the Joker has determined that the Bat calls for his private consideration.
Each of those threads are picked up in “Absolute Surprise Girl” #15, “The Mark of Hecate” by author Kelly Thompson and artist Hayden Sherman. That is the primary inter-title crossover of the “Absolute” DC Universe. “Absolute Batman” and “Absolute Surprise Girl” have been the primary two “Absolute” titles to launch (and are undoubtedly the perfect ongoing ones), in order that they get to steer the primary team-up. The problem opens, although, with the villains: U.S. Nationwide Safety Advisor Veronica Cale, who’s on a name with an unseen Joker. Cale needs to kill Surprise Girl, Joker needs to kill Batman, and the 2 have introduced the heroes collectively hoping to wipe them out.
“Absolute” Bruce Wayne provides the character a brand new blue-collar background; he does not have Earth-moving energy, he is combating it. “Absolute” Batman will not be an institutionalized hero on name from the Gotham Police Division’s Bat-Sign. If the e-book holds to its convictions that this Batman represents some wanted chaos, he by no means will likely be. Nonetheless, this crossover does give a brand new wondrous origin to the Bat-Sign.
To get Batman’s fast consideration, Surprise Girl (who, in contrast to the traditional model, is a witch) casts a spell to generate a glowing and ethereal inexperienced Bat-signal within the sky. It catches Bruce’s eye, and shortly he and Diana hit it off.
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Absolute Batman and Surprise Girl collectively is a reminder of how nice superhero crossovers might be
The final allusion to the Bat-Sign was in “Absolute Batman” #5, when Batman staged a gathering with gang chief Black Masks. Batman had supposedly agreed to take a $200 million bribe to put off Black Masks’s gang, the Celebration Animals. As soon as Bruce had the cash, he organized the stacks within the form of his emblem and burned them, lighting a sign within the sky as a message. That Bat-Sign confirmed what Batman is all about, however Diana’s serves the extra conventional function: a misery name. Bruce’s response when he first notices it within the sky and it sends some punks he was combating working away? “What the f*** is that?”
As soon as Bruce meets Diana, although, they get alongside. However despite the fact that they work effectively collectively, that teamwork illuminates the variations between them. Be aware how she introduces herself as Diana, whereas he introduces himself as Batman. Diana is exceedingly well mannered as at all times, whereas Batman is brusque and laconic but nonetheless appreciative of Diana’s assist; he says his father would love her concepts about altering the world with love. Once they examine one of many Hecate-marked murders, Diana items collectively why the ritual does not observe from a magical perspective, whereas the paranoid Batman clocks it as bait to lure Diana out.
“Absolute DC” ready greater than a 12 months for a team-up that includes two main superheroes has paid off; Batman and Surprise Girl’s assembly right here appears like an occasion. This slow-burn intersection jogs my memory of the early Marvel Cinematic Universe. The tales make you just like the characters on their very own phrases first, which makes it thrilling to see them work together with one another as a uncommon deal with.
That stated, this primary crossover suggests there’s extra to come back.
Will the Absolute DC Universe give us a Legion of Superheroes?
Diana provides Bruce a silver talisman formed into the mark of Hecate, one which he can use to name on her at any time. Like she summoned him with the Bat-Sign, he can sign for an viewers together with her. (Diana calls the talisman her Hiketeia, referencing each an historical Greek customized of supplication and one among the most famous Wonder Woman & Batman stories.)
The upcoming “Absolute Batman” #16 will guest-star Surprise Girl as Bruce and Diana journey into Hell; the “Surprise Girl” situation places Diana on Bruce’s house turf in Gotham, whereas the “Batman” situation will take Bruce into Diana’s realm. It will not be a direct continuation of this situation, although. “Absolute” Batman and Surprise Girl’s first assembly is not a two-parter, per se, however two standalone tales unfold throughout each books. Thompson and Sherman acquired to jot down/draw the story in “Absolute Surprise Girl,” identical to the “Absolute Batman” staff of author Scott Snyder and artist Nick Dragotta are dealing with the following one.
Past that, it is not clear when the following “Absolute” crossover will likely be. “Absolute Surprise Girl” #15 confirms Bruce and Diana each know Superman exists, although, and Diana suggests they observe him down: “I believe we will want plenty of buddies, if we will save this world.” You’d assume this is able to be establishing an “Absolute” Justice League, but Joker, Cale, and co. have already claimed that name. The legislation is on evil’s aspect on this world, in spite of everything. So, what is going to the united heroes name themselves? Maybe, as some readers have put forth , the Legion of Doom — doom for the highly effective and evil, that’s.
“Absolute Surprise Girl” #15 is now obtainable; “Absolute Batman” #16 is scheduled for launch on January 21, 2026.
