Everyone who knows the name the launch of DC's Absolute Universe is rewriting the Batman fans know. This version of Bruce Wayne has lived a totally different life, and as such, has some major lore changes.

Absolute Batman by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, and Frank Martin walks a wonderfully fine line between changing the core elements of Batman and still staying true to who he is at his core. This version of Batman is familiar enough that any fan of the character will feel at home, but different enough to thrill both new and established fans of the Bat. To help prepare readers, these are the biggest changes to Absolute Batman's relaunch in DC Comics.

Bruce Wayne Never Traveled The World To Learn His Skills

Batman Studied Gotham City Itself, Instead

In the main DC Universe, Bruce traveled the world to learn the skills he would need, once his mind was set to becoming a vigilante. With his near-infinite wealth, Bruce was able to learn from the best of the best. Characters like Henri Ducard and the original Mister Miracle, and in some interpretations, he even learned from the League of Assassins. This intense years-long training is how Bruce Wayne became the fearsome Batman, but the Bruce Wayne of the Absolute Universe didn't have these opportunities.

Without his fortune, Bruce stayed close to home. Bruce used football to get a scholarship to the best university in the state, where he then learned mechanics, chemistry, criminal psychology, and more. He then went home and studied Gotham City itself by ing the city court and other important institutions.

The Wayne Family Aren't Billionaires

Bruce Wayne Grew Up Modestly, Within Gotham

In the Prime Universe, Martha Wayne was a philanthropist and Thomas Wayne was one of the greatest doctors in America. Combine this with the fact the Waynes were one of the founding of Gotham City, and Bruce grew up incredibly wealthy. That same wealth was how Batman afforded all of his absurd gadgets, which was only helped by the Wayne Enterprises company that his family also owned.

But Absolute Batman hasn't been so lucky. This version of Bruce was the son of a social worker and a teacher: two professions known more for their social conscience and community-mindedness than any material wealth. This means that this version of Bruce grew up modestly, while also living in Park Row (also known as Crime Alley).

The Absolute Batsuit is Significantly More Weaponized

Without Gadgets Bruce Relies More On His Suit

In the Prime Universe, Batman is notorious for his high-tech gadgets. No matter what situation he's in, he likely has a gadget that was specifically created to take care of the situation. From custom batarangs to deal with specific enemies,to shark-repellent to take care of any... unexpected shark attacks. Prime Universe Batman always has a tool for the job, since he has a multi-billion dollar company to help him research and develop his gadgets.

For Absolute Batman, he has to rely more on what he can create himself. This has resulted in a heavily weaponized Batsuit. Instead of a massive array of gadgets, Batman has a cape of his own design that can do several different things, as well as a giant bat-symbol that can double as a battleaxe, which is sharp enough to cut someone's hand clean off.

Bruce Was Inspired By Bats In A Completely Different Way

He Never Fell Into A Cave In This Version

The reason Bruce decided to dress up as Batman is a now-iconic scene: sitting late at night in Wayne Manor, Bruce was struggling with his idea to become a vigilante. He wanted to stop crime, but as a man, he simply wasn't striking fear into the hearts of criminals. As Bruce continued pondering, a bat flew through his window, shattering the glass. This moment, combined with a traumatic event from his childhood, inspired him to become Batman with the unforgettable "Yes, Father, I shall become a bat."

This went a little differently in the Absolute Universe. In this world, Bruce was visiting the Gotham Zoo during a school field trip with his father, when an as yet undetailed shooting began. Bruce's father then pushed him into the bat sanctuary along with the rest of his classmates to avoid the gunman. This event caused Bruce to take inspiration from bats.

Batman is Friends With His Regular Rogues Gallery

They Grew Up Together, Not Worlds Apart

Since Bruce Wayne grew up on the mean streets of Park Row, instead of in the pampered estate of Wayne Manor, he naturally made some new friends. Instead of fellow billionaire children like Thomas Elliot, Bruce grew up alongside Waylon Jones, Selina Kyle, and Oswald "Ozzie" Cobblepot.

These characters may not be exactly on the straight and narrow, none of them are full-on supervillains or high-tier criminals. While they will likely go down the path of villainy eventually, this will only be made more complicated by Bruce Wayne's past with them.

Batman's First Villains Are A New Group, Led By An Old Villain

No Matter The Universe, Roman Sionis Is A Villain

Since Batman is friends with his iconic rogues gallery in this universe, that begs the question of who his villains are. The first group of villains that Batman is going up against is the Party Animal Gang, a group of people who wear black animal skull masks, and commit random violence throughout the city, attacking people and destroying property with no seeming rhyme or reason. But this gang isn't acting without intelligence.

They're being led by none other than Black Mask, but the reasons and goals of the Party Animals are currently unknown. One thing is for sure, taking on Black Mask is significantly more dangerous than the Prime Batman's first threats that he faced in his first year, which were simply the Gotham Mob, such as the Maroni and Falcone families. These groups, while dangerous, pale in comparison to the pure barbarity and violence of the Party Animal Gang.

Absolute Joker Has Every Resource Batman Lacks

He's A Very Rich Man

The Joker has always had money, but never as much as Batman. While Joker has resources to finance his criminal schemes, he was never a billionaire. Part of the Joker's mystique is the fact he just showed up one day, with the specific 'skills' or training left largely to the imagination.

The Absolute Universe is going in a different direction and giving readers a Joker who has the skills and training that should have been Batman's. In this new universe, it's the Joker who has access to billions of dollars and decided to travel around the world learning from the best killers the world has to offer. He studied under Henri Ducard and even the League of Assassins, and then he apparently killed them all.

Alfred Is An Enemy, Not His Butler

Alfred Never Worked For The Wayne Family

There is no one in Batman's life that he trusts more than Alfred Pennyworth. Alfred has been a trusted ally since Bruce was a child and, even as an adult, he still depends on Alfred. No matter what Batman goes through or what rules Batman has, Alfred is almost always the exception and always there for him. Batman is infamous for his no-guns and no-killing rules, which he makes everyone in the Bat-Family abide by, but not Alfred. That's how deep his trust and care for Alfred is.

But since Bruce didn't grow up wealthy in the Absolute Universe, he never had access to things like a trusted butler. This means that instead of being his greatest ally, Alfred starts out as a Batman villain. While it's unlikely the two will stay enemies, for now at least, there's no denying that they're off to a rocky start.

Bruce's Father Was Killed In The Zoo, Not Crime Alley

Instead Of In Crime Alley

One of the most important parts of Batman's mythos is the death of Martha and Thomas Wayne in Crime Alley. It was a moment that shook the city of Gotham and changed Bruce Wayne forever. Without this tragedy, it's unlikely he would have grown up to be Batman and do everything in his power to save the city. While this trauma still exists in the Absolute Universe, it's a bit different.

Instead of Batman's parents being killed in a dark alley at night, his father was murdered in broad daylight at the public zoo. This origin based in a public shooting, like the survival of his mother, should prove to be a key distinction in Scott Snyder's new vision for what the modern Batman story can represent.

Absolute Batman Has No Issue With Guns

This Batman Doesn't Mind A Cool Shotgun

Because of the trauma Bruce suffered in Crime Alley, Batman is completely opposed to the use of guns. Unless it's the most dire situation possible, Bruce will not use a gun. This is a well-known fact of the character, but his aversion to guns is entirely due to his trauma. If that trauma is taken away or changed, then things would be different. This was proven when Batman stole Alfred's prized shotgun and shot him in the face with it.

While it was a shocking moment, it was revealed that while Batman has no issue with guns in this universe, he still won't use lethal force. He was still traumatized by the death of his father, but because he never actually saw the shooting or his father being killed, he never manifested that severe aversion to firearms like the Prime Universe Batman has.

Martha Wayne Is Still Alive

She Wasn't At The Zoo That Fateful Day

Everyone knows that Batman's parents are dead. It's kind of his whole deal, having dead parents. But a new universe means new rules, and in this universe, Martha Wayne is very much alive. Instead of Thomas and Martha taking their son to see the Mask of Zorro and being murdered outside the Monarch Theater, it was only Thomas who took Bruce to the zoo, as part of his job. When a shooting occurred, it was only Thomas who was killed. Martha wasn't anywhere near the shooting when it happened.

This is by far the biggest and most exciting change to Batman's lore that the Absolute Universe has to offer. Because of this one change, Batman's entire dynamic is changed. He has someone specific he wants to protect, the last living family member he has. Of all the changes, making Martha Wayne still alive is by far the best one for Batman.