In the Absolute Universe, Bruce Wayne is neither a billionaire nor the heir to a vast fortune. An engineer from a working-class background in Gotham, he nevertheless chooses to become Batman and confront a city consumed by violence and corruption. With no manor, no wealth, and no Alfred serving at his side as a butler, he relies on his intelligence, physical strength, and equipment he designs himself. As Black Mask and the Party Animals spread terror across Gotham, Bruce also discovers that Alfred Pennyworth, a former MI6 agent, is pursuing objectives of his own. This new version of the Dark Knight reinvents his origins while preserving his defining obsession: protecting Gotham at any cost.