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You'd be forgiven for thinking that DC Comics' Absolute line is rooted in grittifying well-known superheroes. The new Green Arrow is a slasher, for example, and Wonder Woman was literally raised in Hell. But the way one DC Absolute architect tells it, while putting characters in darker and edgier situations is a tool that the line often employs to tell stories, it's not the goal.

And as the author of Absolute Batman, Scott Snyder should know.

Snyder recently addressed this idea in his Best Jackett Press substack, where he has spoken many times about his current work at DC Comics. As you may recall Popverse reporting on previously, Snyder has used the platform to answer specific questions about the "canon" line of books which he is helping direct, but in his most recent entry, the American Vampire co-author dove into the big picture behind everyone's favorite alt-universe.

"The overarching thesis of Absolute," Snyder began, "Was—let’s make books we love and let’s say something. Let’s have these characters feel like underdogs and make them as heroic as possible given the world that we’re in right now. Pit them against things you’re afraid of right now. Pit them against things that make you worried about the future, about your kids, but make it fun and bombastic and over the top. Translate it into that comic book language."

"That’s what we’re going for," the Court of Owls co-creator continued, "It’s not, 'oh, it’s edgier. It’s darker. It’s indie artists.' All those things are there, but that’s all springing from this core set of values, which is creators having something to say that they believe will make these characters feel especially heroic right now. That’s the way all of them are developed—Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Catwoman, Green Arrow… That’s the assignment when you pitch for Absolute."

There you have it, DC fans. It's not that Absolute comics is all about presenting a grittier world - it's that our own real world is grittier, and that that's being reflected in the comic book medium.

Now, if only we had an Absolute Superman to deal with our problems as they do.

Here's an update to date guide on the Absolute Batman release schedule.