Snyder and Dragotta’s explosive new vision of Batman follows a Dark Knight born from violence, now stalked by a vigilant MI6 agent who uncovers the hidden ties between Bruce Wayne’s isolated existence and the layered operations of the Black Mask Gang, setting the stage for a volatile clash between Batman and Alfred as their uneasy alliance forms just as Black Mask recruits dangerous new allies who descend on Gotham with catastrophic intent; meanwhile, Bruce confronts a devastating secret that shakes his identity, even as the origin of Absolute Batman unfolds through Gabriel Walta’s guest issue, revealing how childhood tragedy and paternal guidance forged a larger‑than‑life force whose past and future collide, leading to a penultimate showdown where a broken Bruce must decide whether to surrender himself and his morals to Black Mask or rise with something even bigger than himself, all while the mystery of Mayor James Gordon’s connection to young Bruce deepens and Gotham’s fate hangs in the balance.