There is a collective opinion that the MCU is trodding along a downward spiral. Movies post “Avengers: Endgame” have garnered less and less attention and critical acclaim. When people hear news of the MCU’s latest projects, there follows an accompanying bad taste.
In 2019, director Martin Scorsese faced major backlash for saying Marvel movies aren’t cinema, but people are now beginning to understand what he meant. There is a certain lack of risk in these movies. Scorsese said, “the pictures are made to satisfy a specific set of demands,” meaning, the intent behind the movies is to appeal to fans while working within the constraints of groundwork the MCU laid. This is becoming even more apparent in the MCU’s recent plans to bring characters back from the dead. The MCU takes advantage of nostalgia fans have for previous highs in the series without taking into account what made those moments good. See Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom.
Faced with the opinions that superheroes just aren’t “in” anymore, Scott Synder, an American comic book author best known for his Batman comics, felt a certain outrage. He, in all his love for the medium, was determined to show critics and fans alike that there is still a place in the world for superheroes.
Enter DC’s All In Initiative: The Absolute Universe. Spearheaded by Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson, this initiative allows for a reinvention of established characters in new and personal ways. Creators are given space to write the stories they truly want, be it a new take on a character or continuing with legacy storytelling. Unlike the traditional way comics are written, where writers are constrained by DC editorial and canon, the Absolute Universe allows creators to take control of the stories they want to tell. The general spirit for these stories is not just to appeal to newer audiences, but to write these characters in a way that is relevant today.
One story that embodies this idea is “Absolute Batman,” written by Synder and illustrated by Nick Dragotta, which invents the working-class Batman. Traditionally, Batman is in a position of power, with his absurd amount of wealth and occasional team-ups with local law enforcement.
What makes “Absolute Batman” relevant to me is his separation from the system and thus the privilege Batman typically takes advantage of. This shift speaks to the feelings of helplessness in the current state of the world, and our feelings of distrust in these longstanding institutions we always thought were designed to protect us. “Absolute Batman” tackles the idea that this one individual can hope to make meaningful systemic change. It reflects people’s hopes and fears to face things that seem insurmountable or untouchable.
Beyond the relevant stories, The All In Initiative takes other actions to welcome in fans, new and old alike. A big sticking point for reluctant comic readers is the confusing timelines and lack of any clear starting points for stories. When comparing American comics to manga, fans never fail to bring up this problem, which is present in the former. The Absolute Universe allows for jumping on points for any story you would like to read. If someone has an interest in “Absolute Wonder Woman,” they can start with “Absolute Wonder Woman” #1. It makes for numerous accessible stories for those who can’t get over the barrier of not knowing where to start.
The intent for the Absolute Universe is also reflected in the artwork. So far, many of the stories showcased unique art styles and takes on established character designs. People unfamiliar with comics often reduce their art to the same airbrushed musculature, and though this assumption has been largely untrue, many of the stories in the Absolute Universe have refreshing takes on the art.
One standout is “Absolute Batman,” with its bold colors and dynamic composition. For some fans, the striking designs for “Absolute Batman” were a point of contention for a while, with some saying it was too unbelievable or edgy. However, most fans quickly grew to love the absurdity of the design and its functionality, like the bat symbol on his chest doubling as an axe. If readers are into this new Batman they are likely to keep having fun with these dramatic additions.
Some fans looking forward to this new universe have some doubts. In one of the comments under Snyder’s newsletter regarding “Absolute Batman,” one fan admitted he felt a certain fatigue with specific characters, saying Darkseid and Joker needed “some downtime.” I was never one to share these sentiments as the overused characters were often my favorites, but I can understand the frustration. This character fatigue is often because the inclusions of these characters don’t take creative swings or risks like they used to.
“The Killing Joke” is one of the most popular portrayals of the Joker because it approached him from a new angle. It took on a much darker tone than most takes at the time and offered a unique backstory and take on his psyche. Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight is also iconic for his grittier performance and appearance. These portrayals take Joker’s bare-bones traits but do something new with them, he keeps his funny guy murderer schtick while also deviating from it in interesting ways.
Unfortunately, the main takeaway from these successes is that the Joker sells, as a result, he is pushed more often than other characters. The oversaturation in hopes of making sales loses a lot of what made the more iconic portrayals exciting. In trying to capture that same magic they get lost in shallow imitations, not really understanding why these renditions were successful.
In “Absolute Batman”, the Joker has been hinted at. His Absolute persona is a billionaire. Not much else is known yet but I think this change is both exciting and fitting. The traits of a billionaire and the Joker already have some overlap, minus the theatrical craziness. Both are apathetic to those under them and both are self-serving, bordering on hedonistic. It would highlight the class struggle if they frame Joker as Batman’s #1 nemesis in this universe as well. He likely won’t appear for a while but I have high hopes for this take on the Joker.
I am primarily a Batman fan, so that is the story I’ll be checking out, but there really is shaping up to be something for everyone. This whole initiative is a breath of fresh air for readers and writers alike. My interest in superhero comics as a casual fan was waning, but this makes me want to get back into reading them. The accessibility and novelty of these stories are welcome changes of pace to the usual superhero media. Though I can’t predict the future of superheroes, I think they’ll be all right.