As most of you already know by now, Absolute Batman isn’t just another successful comic launch. It’s a full-blown phenomenon. Hypothetically speaking, this is the biggest comic book series to hit the medium in decades, the kind of lightning-in-a-bottle moment that recalls the insanity surrounding X-Men #1 in 1991 or Spider-Man #1 in 1990. The kind of release that reshapes the conversation around comics entirely.
And honestly? It deserves it.
Writer Scott Snyder and artist Nick Dragotta have created something that feels genuinely new. Brutal. Violent. Scary. It taps into body horror, manga influences like Berserk and Akira, and channels them into what may genuinely be the most exciting Batman run in the last 30 or 40 years. This version of Batman is domineering, terrifying, emotionally raw, and somehow still incredibly cool. It connects with modern audiences in a way most legacy superhero books simply don’t anymore.
As longtime readers already know, we’ve been regularly covering Absolute Batman heavily here at Dread Central. Not because we’re trying to chase a trend, but because the series genuinely rules. And yeah, now everybody else is suddenly trying to pile onto the buzz after watching the internet explode around it. But the truth is simple: people should be reading this comic because it’s awesome.
And if it hasn’t clicked for you yet, stick with it.
Once you hit the Bane arc and get beyond Issue #9, the series goes completely nuclear. There are currently two trade paperbacks available, multiple reprints of nearly every issue, and absolutely no excuse not to jump in. You can probably even read it through your local library digitally on your iPad. Go do it.
Which brings us to this insanely cool fan project.
Dang IT Productions went ahead and created a full 8-minute stop-motion adaptation of the first issue of Absolute Batman, and to be completely honest, it’s phenomenal.
The production value wonderful for an at-home project. The custom figures are incredible, the atmosphere is nailed perfectly, and the creator does an impressive job translating the comic’s panel layouts, tone, and pacing into motion. The entire thing captures the oppressive energy and brutality of the first issue remarkably well.
More importantly, it works as the perfect gateway drug for newcomers.
Think of it like one of those little free samples at the grocery store where somebody hands you a cube of cheese, and suddenly you’re standing there going, “Holy shit, that’s good cheese.” That’s what this stop-motion film feels like. It’s a taste test for the madness that Absolute Batman becomes.
You get the violence. The visceral action. Batman’s absurdly cool weapons. The overwhelming physicality of this version of Bruce Wayne. It’s pure, unapologetic badassery.
And honestly? If Warner Bros. and DC don’t eventually turn Absolute Batman into either an animated series or a feature film, they’re completely out of their minds.
Watch the stop-motion adaptation below. Then go read the comics.
