Absolute Batman #20 (DC Comics, 2026)
Absolute Batman #20 (July 2026), published by DC Comics, titled "The Straw Man". As Batman attempts to digest the information from the files handed to him by Jim Gordon before his death, the conspiracy grows deeper. Batman confronts Mr. Chill and The Straw Man, and then runs into The Robin Project.
Absolute Batman #20 Story Summary
Behind a clock and down the stairs hides a secret room filled with screens showing the chaos in Gotham City. The Joker, who appears to be in need of some serious dental work, cackles in a chair while being affixed to a pile of mutated children who look like the thing from The Thing. Readers wonder if all is going as planned, while television reporters accuse Batman of murdering Jim Gordon in the previous issue, Absolute Batman #19.
Batman broods while going through the files given to him by Gordon before he jumped off the roof.
Harley Quinn and Pennyworth try to help him, while Bruce's friends seem to spiral into madness, except for Way, who returned to his human form after receiving the necklace in Absolute Batman #16. Eddie (The Riddler) and Way share a moment talking about what they can do for Bruce (Batman), though Eddie's sincerity seems less than convincing.
After a series of Bruce Wayne flashbacks, Batman paraglides to the prison and sneaks inside to interrogate Mr. Chill about information learned from reading Jim Gordon's files. It then comes as a surprise that the Straw Man is in the cell with him. He brings up "The Batman Project", a decades-old project to turn Bruce into this, and its connection to Bruce's mother, Martha, who was a member of the Court of Owls.
The Straw Man seems pleased to be living in an age of dread. Before Batman can grab him, he "persuades" Grimm to hang himself and then disappears into the shadows. Batman escapes after the alarms sound.
While Batman sails through the night sky pondering the insanity of what he's discovered, he encounters The Robin Project, a gigantic mech-like flying robot that emerges from the clouds. He evades it, but other robots open fire, bringing Batman down to the ground, where he is surrounded by Robins on motorcycles.
Rather than running or turning himself in, Batman removes the ax from his chestplate and prepares to fight.
Absolute Batman #20 Creative Team
- Writer: Scott Snyder
- Artist: Nick Dragotta
- Colorist: Frank Martin
- Letterer: Tom Napolitano
- Editor: Katie Kubert
More Comics You Might Like
Absolute Batman #20 FAQ
Q. What happens in Absolute Batman #20?
A. Bruce Wayne, Batman, tries to make sense of the files that he received from Jim Gordon before his death. He appears to be part of a decades-old conspiracy called "The Batman Project" with ties to his mother, Martha, who was a member of the Court of Owls. Then he runs into a giant robot Robin.
Q. What makes Absolute Batman #20 good?
A. The unique Absolute Batman dark art style, dense page layouts, and layered writing make Absolute Batman a good read. The "Absolute" universe's connection to modern-day "dread" and conspiracies beyond the scope of any one person makes it relatable.
Q. Where can I read Absolute Batman #20?
A. Absolute Batman #20 is available as a "floppy" paper comic book from DC Comics, and as a digital download from DC.
Q. Who is Robin in Absolute Batman #20?
A. Robin comprises five individuals in robot armor. It is unclear, specifically, who each of them is.
