DC’s ‘Absolute Batman” Introduces Race-Swapped Version Of Future Batgirl Barbara Gordon
In the latest case of ‘redhead race-swapping’, DC’s Absolute Batman #1 has revealed that the Absolute Universe incarnation of original Batgirl Barbara Gordon has a much darker complexion than her original Earth-0 counterpart.
The first official entry in the publisher’s new universe, the Scott Snyder penned and Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin, and Clayton Cowles illustrated Absolute Batman #1 presents readers with their first look at the setting’s familiar-yet-far-more-desolate take on DC’s catalog of costumed heroes and villians, as brought into existence courtesy of Darkseid’s manipulations.
Given it’s focus on the Caped Crusader, it should come as no surprise that these introductions begin with the residents of Gotham, such as Waylon Jones, who in this universe has not yet mutated into Killer Croc and instead attempts to make a living as a slightly-shady-but-good-natured entrepreneur:
Alfred Pennyworth, here still serving as a special military operative rather than the Waynes’ butler:
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And of course, Bruce Wayne himself, who rather than having access to a vast fortune with which to fund his mission instead builds all of his own tools with whatever he has at hand (and is also built like an absolute brick sh-t house).
However, outside of Bruce’s physique, Gotham’s most notable residents share a stark physical resemblance to their namesakes.
That is, except for the aforementioned Girl Who Would Be Batgirl.
(It should be noted that while a childhood photo of Bruce and Waylon with their friends and fellow orphans shows Selina Kyle, otherwise known on Earth-0 as Catwoman, with dark skin, this is presumed to come from her half-Latin, half-Irish ethnicity (as established in 2000’s Catwoman Vol. 2 #81) rather than a Julie Neymar-style race-swap)
As seen during the Party Animal Gang’s run on Gotham City Hall, after hitting the floor to dodge a barrage of their bullets, Commissioner Gordon reaches for the hand of a black police officer, who responds to the commotion by yelling out “Dad!” before he tells her “Barbara! Just get everyone out of here! Now!”
Based on the art’s issue alone, it’s unclear if Gordon himself is of black descent à la Matt Reeves’ cinematic The Batman, or if Barbara gets her skin color from her mother.
Of course, as Bat-fans already know, this new aspect to Barbara’s identity marks a stark deviation from her usual comic book depiction as a white red-head.
Notably, this is not the first time Barabara has been race-swapped by DC, as she previously received the treatment in both the YA graphic novel Gotham High, the LEGO Batman Movie, and in the shelved-and-destined-never-to-see-the-light-of-day Batgirl solo film, wherein she was set to be portrayed by the ethnically Dominican Leslie Grace.
This bit of ‘modern audience updating’ aside, Absolute Batman #1 is a solid first outing for DC’s Absolute Universe, and is currently on sale now at whatever comic book stores still remain.
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