Absolute Batman's Manga Era Is Finally Confirmed, With A Surprising Twist

Image via DC Comics Published Sep 29, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT John Dodge is an MTV Writer for CBR who specializes in movies, television, comics, and pop culture. He has a deep knowledge of franchises like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel, and DC Comics, along with a passion for indie and horror titles. An expert on obscure productions from the ’80s and ’90s, John is known for his encyclopedic recall of cult classics like Beetleborgs. Sign in to your CBR account Absolute Batman is going manga to celebrate its next major milestone issue, and collectors won't want to miss out on it. One of the most exciting variant covers for Absolute Batman #25 has just been revealed, and it is nothing like what readers would expect. Crafted by artists Clay Mann and Nick Dragotta, the cover reimagines Absolute Batman as Japanese zasshi magazine, stylized similarly to tiles like Weekly Shōnen Jump or Kera, the latter of which helped to establish the very same design aesthetic exuded by the variant cover seen below. Absolute Batman #25 Will Have Some of the Best Covers of All Time Image via Clay Mann/DC Comics Apart from the mashup of characters and iconography in Mann and ...