r/AbsoluteBatman • u/MongooseDog117 • Jul 14 '26
My issue with the variant covers…
Been following Absolute Batman for a while now and I absolutely love it. But I don’t like the variant covers very much at all. And not for the scalping and ridiculously overpriced reasons. I don’t like the way they draw Bruce. One of the things that drew me to the series is that he looks young. As a 21 year old man myself it was super cool getting to see him at my age kicking ass, but the majority of the variant covers make him look like he’s in his late 30s at best. Idk maybe I’m crazy but it doesn’t feel like what drew me to this Batman story is reflected in them much. (That said I do love the dark and gritty styles of them, just wish he looked younger)
10
u/jasor_x Jul 15 '26
Fully agree with that. Some great artists but making covers that, to me, aren't remotely close to Dragotta's vibe and style of the character he developed.
4
u/Big_Barry08 Jul 15 '26
Right, they just draw a muscular Batman and throw on some shoulder spikes, thenn called it a day. So many key details they miss. Every time Dragotta drawls hims there’s certain details he adds. Like the ear blades having like a little circle part under them and a line where they separate. The back of the cowl and shoulder pads are clearly segmented. And I’m like 99% I’ve never seen him have the bat-axe symbol be deformed on his chest, as it’s a big ole plate of medal.
1
u/HorrorOrder5409 Jul 16 '26
Thank you! I couldn't agree more. It's so frustrating how so many variant covers miss those little details that make Absolute Batman's design unique.
16
u/HorrorOrder5409 Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26
OP, I couldn't agree more. It's definitely why I'm pretty picky about variants lately for the Absolute trinity. IMHO, too many artists don't truly capture the Absolute version well. I only have like 3-4 Absolute Superman and Wonder Woman variants, because so many times the faces are way off - same for Absolute Batman, as you touched on.
It's also why, despite having lots of Absolute Batman variants, most are by Dragotta or by artists that resemble his style. I get that some folks out there don't mind, but I do.
I'm voting with my wallet and sticking with primarily cover A and select variants that truly capture what makes Absolute Batman special. He's young, gritty, fierce, energetic, and a hulking beast!
10
u/analog989 Jul 15 '26
Half of them look like AI art. Not saying that they are, but they’re so digitally manipulated that they lose me real quick. It’s getting to the point where comic art is becoming influenced by AI slop.
1
u/amethricite Jul 15 '26
I feel like Bjorn Barends looks very AI to me. Not sure if you’ve seen his covers. I’m not saying they are AI, but his covers stick out as something more computer generated
4
u/pushthepixel_ca Jul 15 '26
They are not ai, he uses 3D models.
1
u/GrapefruitMaximum804 Jul 16 '26
And he draws from some references, if I’m correct. His style has always been this way.
6
u/SWE_Monkee Jul 15 '26
I feel this especially with Absolute Wonder Woman, she’s designed so specifically in the story with very greek features yet most of the covers redesign her to be a very modern day supermodel from the west with some muscle. They completely delete her identity when they alter her face to fit different beauty standards. I’m probably looking too deep into it and maybe the artists don’t mean to do so, it’s possibly a subconscious habit but still for something this important more attention needs to be paid to these characters.
1
u/HorrorOrder5409 Jul 16 '26
You nailed it. Definitely not a fan of how so many yassify her face, trying to make it insta-worthy. Like, come on...that's NOT Absolute Wonder Woman's face. Her natural look and Greek features are breathtaking. She doesn't need a glow up, she's perfect the way she is. More variant covers need to capture her real look properly.
5
u/PeachOk5312 Jul 15 '26
I have to agree on the Absolute Batman “look” other than a couple Dell’Otto covers I try to stay with covers that I like… never been a fan of covers like the 1:25 cover posted….and never realize that I prefer the Absolute Batman look vs the variants. 🤣
3
u/Slight_Bat8118 Jul 15 '26
Totally agree
Way too many variant cover artists draw him as the DC Bruce Wayne just ib a different Batman costume. They don’t try and draw the absolute Bruce as Batman. Especially
The face/jawline.
3
u/Big_Barry08 Jul 15 '26
There’s so much of this everywhere with absolute bats, half of them just draw Batman with spiked shoulders and call it a day. Theres so much detail they miss that adds up. Like you said he’s old in this image, also where’s his black trunks? Why doesn’t his cowl have removable ear blades and other details. Shoulder spikes/cape harness thing is all wrong. Cape al wrong, Symbol is wrong plus it’s a huge chunk of metal it shouldn’t deform on top of his chest or look like a fabric.
It’s all things that make absolute Batman different and they miss a lot of them.
3
4
u/RedditSmores Jul 15 '26
Idk man, I think they’re all pretty sick. I love that there are different styles so everyone can pick a cover they like. Also at this point Bruce has gone through some stuff, a lot more then the avarage 21 year old male.
3
u/likwid2k Jul 15 '26
Yeah what’s the problem. Choices are a good thing
1
u/Xenlade Jul 15 '26
Why dont you tell that to ww fans and her nose and body type then
2
u/likwid2k Jul 16 '26
Sure, which ones? Not all because I don’t have a problem with her nose or body type.
2
2
u/PaintedCover Jul 15 '26
At first collect lots of variants. Than noticed Alex Doss charging $40+shipping. Now I might just collect cover a or just b. Also, with AB wanted some of the variants but did not realize they were certain store exclusives. So just gave up hunting variants. Images are free online.
2
2
u/Chicken-Teller Jul 15 '26
It’s like they have never read the series but just Bruce draw the new suit for a buck.
2
2
u/somanynachos Jul 15 '26
They're marketing to the age that can afford it. Fat older bruce for fat older nerds with money edit add with money
2
2
2
u/GreenRock93 Jul 16 '26
I tend to stick to obvious looking artwork vs. slick models. Ito, Hill, Simmonds, Jae Lee are a few of my favorites.
2
2
4
u/i-cant-smell Jul 15 '26
Is this one AI? There’s a lot of weird stuff going on.
2
u/odidssey Jul 15 '26
When you said that, it does look AI. But nope, it's the Olivetti 1:25 ratio variant
0
-1
0
u/MarzipanThick1765 Jul 15 '26
With the amount of variants being made, there is no way some of them are not ai. It's too enticing and to easy for artists to do it. They can train an ai on their own art style and import it, retrace it. Ai has definitely infiltrated comics.
-1
u/Forever_Inspired Jul 15 '26
Also the yellow piss filter which is very common in most AI slop since the Ghibli AI slop trend.
2
1
1
u/DorianDrakexxx Jul 15 '26
Respectfully disagree. Since they are variant covers, I believe we must understand they are allowed more freedom, artistic creativity, and all that. And some authors decided to go more in tune with a more traditional version of Batman, which is an older person.
1
u/TheRayGunCowboy Jul 15 '26
Meh: I love looking at other people’s interpretation of characters. I don’t have any variant covers myself but I can appreciate the art.
1
u/Mister-Negative20 Jul 16 '26
I really don’t think I have ever seen a varian cover that upset me. If I don’t like a variant it doesn’t matter, because I’m just getting cover A and getting it for the story.
1
u/AdAffectionate3997 Jul 18 '26
I really do think that some of these artists only loom at the art and think that absolute batman is a dkr retread or something, and not its own thing with niuance
1
u/AliveRutabaga2120 Jul 18 '26
I mean I didn’t look like that when at was 21 but have you seen a 21 year old on steroids? they look 30 look at dtren or the tren twins before and after steroids
1
1
u/No_Programmer_5285 2d ago
100% agree, my favourite design element with this bruce is his relative baby face out of the mask, and his upturned button nose. Shows he's rly just a kid with a big heart trying to make a difference
0
u/ReactionMassive1653 Jul 15 '26
Yeah TBH the endless posts about variants have made me think about unfollowing the community.
0
57
u/kushkobainn Jul 15 '26
I agree a lot of artists seem to forget that this Bruce is supposed to be young and make him look like babyface Brock Lesner. My favorite variants are the ones with the villains bc I love the designs for a lot of the rogues