Absolute Batman Annual 1 - Art & Story By Daniel Warren Johnson

Daniel Warren Johnson leads the annual with a raw, kinetic story that sets Batman against a white supremacist militia operating outside Gotham. It’s an inspired choice—both timely and uncomfortable. Johnson’s Batman isn’t just a symbol of vengeance here; he’s a study in endurance, conviction, and flawed humanity.

In one of the story’s most haunting exchanges, a priest tending to an injured Bruce Wayne describes the militia’s leader:

“He’s been filling the holes in the hearts of our boys. Of all the men here, really. He’s given them a dark place to go.”

The moment captures everything that makes Johnson’s take so resonant—his ability to pair mythic action with intimate reflection. Colorist Mike Spicer amplifies the tension with a palette of fiery reds and bruised shadows, making every panel feel combustible.