Early in life, the Trinity in DC Comics’ Absolute Universe were left without things that made them heroes on Earth-Prime. Wonder Woman wasn’t raised on Themyscira, and Kal-El (Superman) didn’t have Ma and Pa Kent long enough for them to teach him the lessons he needed to learn. However, Batman (Bruce Wayne) had an upbringing that was a gift and a curse.
Bruce’s father (Thomas) was killed on a trip to the zoo, but Martha Wayne survived to raise her son. If she had died with him, Bruce would have been lost. Sure, his friends (Selina, Harvey, Eddie, Waylon, and Ozzy) would have done the best they could, but he needed parental supervision. He was too angry and needed guidance.
Eventually, Bruce develops a plan. He goes to college, learns everything he can about criminal psychology, architecture, and Gotham City. When the time is right, he becomes the giant Batman of the Absolute Universe. But like everything else in this Darkseid-created universe, even the good things have a twist to them.
Bruce Wayne is walking through the city trying to find some normalcy in his life. Harvey, Eddie, and Ozzy wanted nothing to do with Bruce after what Bane did to them (Absolute Batman No.12). Waylon hasn’t been seen since Bruce left the arrowhead (Absolute Batman No. 16), and he’s shedding his skin. Normally, when a reptile sheds its skin, it means they’re getting bigger. But is that the case here?
As if that wasn’t enough, even Joe Chill stopped going to their regular meetings at the prison. It’s like everything that can go wrong is going wrong. That left Bruce to go to the one place he can always be happy. He goes to see his mother.
Bruce walks to the door and stops when he hears another voice. He looks in and sees Jim Gordon and his mother on the couch. As she’s explaining that she knows what she needs to do, but she’s scared for Bruce and what Jim would think of her. After Jim explains that nothing about her past will make him look at her differently, they kiss. Bruce sees this and walks away without a word. Unfortunately, Jim sees Bruce leaving and knows this isn't good.
Normally, the secret that Martha’s holding would take a few issues to be sorted out. But not this time. At the end of the issue, Martha is making a phonecall in secret. On the last panel, readers see who she’s talking to, and it’s the Court of Owls, who say they knew she’d be back.
Other than the Court of Owls dressing in all black and still seeming enigmatic, there isn’t much else to know. However, there’s one detail that should be mentioned. They’re not wearing the same clothes. That could hint that they aren’t the rich, cult-like society that was introduced in DC Comics’ New 52. Although Martha says that Jim might not like who she was in a previous life says otherwise. Plus, this is the Absolute Universe. Something about them will likely be extreme or disturbing.
Thanks for reading. Stay tuned to Bam Smack Pow’s social media sites, Bluesky, Instagram, and Twitter for more comic book, TV, and movie news, opinions, and rumors as they come out.