Absolute Batman #24 hit comic shops September 23, 2026, and reveals Barbara Gordon suiting up as The Bat — her own Batsuit, built from her late father’s trenchcoat, GCPD know-how and a non-lethal bat-shotgun. Writer Scott Snyder and artist Nick Dragotta say the turn was built into the series’ plan from the start.
The issue shipped two weeks later than its original September 9 date after DC pushed the “Straw Man” arc’s finale from #24 to #25. Reviews from AIPT, ComicBook.com and Bleeding Cool went up the same morning, and the cover — Barbara in the coat, gun raised, cowl pulled low — is a deliberate homage to Absolute Batman #1’s original launch cover.
Why Barbara Gordon Becomes The Bat
In this Absolute-universe timeline, Barbara is Mayor Jim Gordon’s daughter, not Commissioner Gordon’s. After Scarecrow kills her father earlier in the series, she joins the GCPD hoping to fix it from inside — and instead sees how deep the corruption runs. “She sees all these things that are wrong with it everywhere,” Snyder said of the arc at HeroesCon 2026, describing Barbara’s mission and origin as feeling “almost more Batman than Batman” himself. Dragotta has said the idea for the character has been part of the book’s design “since whenever we began the book.”
Her gear reflects that split from Bruce’s methods: a bat-shotgun that fires electrified, non-lethal batarang pellets. “It is non-lethal, but at the same time it is super badass,” Snyder said.
Barbara’s Bat Gear vs. Bruce’s
| Bruce Wayne’s Batman | Barbara Gordon’s The Bat | |
|---|---|---|
| Base gear | Homemade armor, grapple, cowl | Father’s GCPD trenchcoat over batsuit |
| Signature weapon | Batarangs, fists | Bat-shotgun firing electrified batarang pellets |
| Lethality | Non-lethal, brute-force takedowns | Non-lethal by design, built for crowd control |
| Motivation | Avenge his parents’ murder | Avenge her father, reform a corrupt GCPD from within |
Where This Leaves the Series
Snyder and Dragotta have framed Barbara’s rise as timed to Bruce’s own arc: “As Bruce is kind of losing, she’s going to come in.” Issue #24 lands three weeks before Absolute Batman goes on hiatus after issue #25 on October 28, so Barbara’s debut as The Bat is one of the last major beats before the best-selling ongoing series pauses into 2027.
The book’s sales track record gives the character launch weight beyond the story itself: issue #20 passed 500,000 copies sold as of June 7, 2026, per Snyder, tying Batman #1 (2025) as the best-selling Batman comic ever printed — and the Absolute Universe line has anchored DC’s Batman Day 2025 sales push since launch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is The Bat in Absolute Batman #24?
Barbara Gordon. In this Absolute-universe continuity, she is Mayor Jim Gordon’s daughter, and she takes up her own batsuit after his death and her disillusionment with the GCPD.
What weapon does Barbara Gordon use as The Bat?
A bat-shotgun that fires electrified, non-lethal batarang pellets, designed for crowd control rather than lethal force.
When did Absolute Batman #24 come out?
September 23, 2026, two weeks later than its original September 9 date after DC delayed the issue.
Is Barbara Gordon Batgirl in Absolute Batman?
She’s referred to in coverage as suiting up in Batgirl-adjacent gear, but her official in-story name is The Bat, distinct from the mainline DC Universe’s Batgirl.
Does Absolute Batman #24 connect to the series’ hiatus?
Yes. Issue #25, out October 28, closes the current arc and the series then pauses until 2027 — making Barbara’s debut one of the last major story beats before the break.
Sources
- AIPT — Absolute Batman #24 review
- Bleeding Cool — Barbara Gordon is The Absolute Bat
- Popverse — Snyder and Dragotta on Barbara’s origin
- ComicBook.com — Absolute Batman #24 review
