WARNING: Contains potential Spoilers for ABSOLUTE BATMAN #13 (2025)!
For 86 years of comic canon, Batman has remained strictly human. After all, Bruce’s vulnerability is what made his heroics so impressive, standing out among his Justice League peers, many of whom operate at godlike levels. However, in a bold move within the Darkseid-created Absolute Universe, DC has granted him Hulk-level powers, and yes, he even turns green.
Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta’s Absolute Batman #13 delivers another epic installment in this gritty reimagining of the Dark Knight. Set in the Absolute Universe, which remains part of mainstream continuity, the origins and lore of DC’s heroes and villains have been twisted in nearly every way possible.
This issue introduces yet another major departure from traditional Batman lore, revealing that the vile experiments performed on Bruce in previous issues have transformed him into something far beyond human. In fact, Batman is now essentially DC’s version of the Hulk.
Batman “Hulks Out” in the Absolute Universe
Comic Page Comes from Scott Snyder’s Absolute Batman #13 (2025) – Art by Nick Dragotta
Absolute Batman #13 sees Bruce reunite with Selina “Catwoman” Kyle. After a passionate coupling, the two embark on a mission to check in with the Red Hood, “an outlaw collective” with whom Bruce had previously established a tentative alliance. However, their arrival at the fairgrounds hangout is met with hostility.
The Red Hood collective immediately goes on the offensive, attacking Batman and Catwoman while refusing their request to meet the leader. During the fight, Selina narrowly avoids being struck by a rocket launcher. Bruce’s instinctive, emotionally charged reaction triggers the Venom coursing through his veins, causing him to essentially “Hulk out” in a surge of raw power.
In this moment, Bruce undergoes both a visual and mental transformation. His body grows in size, his eyes and skin taking on the toxic green glow of Venom. Surging with superhuman strength, he topples a giant Ferris wheel into the ocean. His emotions run equally volatile, particularly his anger, as he warns Selina to stay back, afraid he might unintentionally hurt her.
Batman Is No Longer Fully Human, Signaling a Massive Shift in DC Lore
Comic Page Comes from Scott Snyder’s Absolute Batman #13 (2025) – Art by Nick Dragotta
Bruce’s physical and mental transformation mirrors the Hulk’s, and while the full extent of his superhuman abilities remains unknown, toppling an entire Ferris wheel with his body is undeniably a Hulk-level feat. The fact that his transformation appears to be triggered by emotion adds another layer to how Absolute Batman channels Marvel’s Hulk, blending raw power with volatile instincts.
It’s important to note that Bruce isn’t injecting himself with Venom; the substance now seems intrinsic to him, a consequence of the heinous experiments performed in the previous issues. This firmly places him in metahuman territory. The fact that Batman is no longer fully human and now exhibits superpowers marks a major and epic departure from traditional lore, redefining what the Dark Knight is capable of.
ABSOLUTE BATMAN #13 is available now from DC Comics!