DC is finally fixing a sexist trend that has run throughout Batman history

Warning: Spoilers for Absolute Batman #1absolute Batman debuts a massive twist on the Batman story, finally addressing a sexist trend that has been running throughout the character’s history. The first issue of Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta’s new series introduces a new version of Batman with major changes to his world. Perhaps the biggest change to Batman in this world is the revelation that although Thomas Wayne was killed when Bruce was a child, his mother Martha is still alive and raised Bruce after Thomas’ death.

Martha’s survival and continued presence in Bruce’s life represent not only a huge twist in one of the fundamental aspects of Batman’s lore, but also addresses a sexist trend that has unfortunately become commonplace in the character’s history.

The vast majority of stories with flashbacks to Bruce’s childhood focus on his relationship with his father or Alfred. As a result, Martha often falls by the wayside in these stories beyond her death. Your survival in Absolute Batman #1 by Snyder, Dragotta, Frank Martin and Clayton Cowles and her role as a member of the book’s supporting cast ensure that Martha is finally given her due as a character.

Batman’s childhood flashbacks traditionally focus on his father

But Absolute Batman Keeps Martha in the present tense

In the main Batman canon, the men in Bruce’s early childhood are often given the greatest importance in his life. Bruce’s narrative often focuses on his late father, the best example of this being found in Batman: Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli, where he talks to a bust of his father before coming up with the idea for the Batman identity. Vice versa, Martha Wayne is only mentioned alongside Thomas in connection with her death and is rarely mentioned by Bruce on his own initiative. When Bruce talks about his mother, it’s the exception, not the norm.

The men who raised Batman receive significantly more attention than the women.

The trend often finds its way into alternative universes. The best example of this can be found in the Flashpoint universe, where Bruce dies in place of his parents, resulting in Thomas becoming a more brutal Batman and Martha becoming that universe’s Joker. Consequently, this means that Thomas gets the majority of the focus while Martha is relegated to an antagonistic role, with this version of Thomas Wayne even making his way into the main DC universe without Martha being mentioned. Martha Wayne is an essential character in Batman’s storybut she is rarely given as much attention as Thomas.

Learn more about the origins of the Flashpoint universe in the definitive series of events
Flash point
by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert, now available both digitally and in collected editions from DC Comics.

Thomas isn’t the only character this trend extends to Many flashbacks to Batman’s childhood also place heavy emphasis on Alfred supporting Bruce by the death of his parents. However, the end result remains the same, as the men who raised Batman are given significantly more attention than the women. Even Leslie Thompkins, herself a key figure in Bruce’s childhood, has become less prominent over the years.

Martha Wayne’s Survival puts her in the spotlight

Batman’s mother plays a big role

Absolute Batman The revelation that Martha Wayne is not only alive and well, but is still an integral part of Bruce’s life, changes this sexist narrative. The idea of The fact that only one of his parents is still alive is a shocking change for the character in itself, but the fact that his mother is the one who survived puts a whole new spotlight on her. Absolute Batman Martha Wayne is a version of the character who struggled with the death of her husband while raising her son after this tragedy. These circumstances alone create a strong dramatic hook that begs to be explored.

But above all Martha Wayne’s survival gives her the chance to be explored and developed as a character in a way that her mainstream counterpart did not. Her survival makes her an integral part of Batman’s support system and also provides her with the opportunity to discover that her son is Batman. And given her job as a social worker in the mayor’s office, it’s practically a given that she’ll be included as a major player in the story.

The revelation that Martha Wayne survived Absolute Batman sets DC Comics on course to correct a sexist trend that runs through all Batman stories by giving the narrative Martha the same focus that her husband received. While there is still a lot of work to be done, this is a big first step in changing this trend for the better. While many of the changes were set within the Absolute universe will likely stay there, hopefully a greater focus on Martha Wayne as a character will carry over into the main DC universe Batman stories.

Absolute Batman #1 is available now from DC Comics.