Remember that time Batman kicked a kid? If you’re on TikTok, it’s hard to forget, because that scene is all over the social media platform. If you’re one of the few people who hasn’t seen the viral panel, the scene comes from Absolute Batman #6. Batman normally doesn’t kick children, but this was a child named Kiddo who was a part of Black Mask’s criminal organization known as the Party Animals. During a fight on a yacht, Batman slaps a life jacket on him and punts him into the water. The image went viral and the rest is history.
According to Absolute Batman writer Scott Snyder, the original version of the scene was far less chaotic. “I pitched it to [Absolute Batman artist Nick Dragotta] and I didn’t think he would do it. I did it smaller. I wasn’t that crazy. And then [Nick] did it and had Bruce wind up his leg.” Scott Snyder says during an Absolute Universe spotlight panel at San Diego Comic Con 2026.
Dragotta explained that he was reluctant to draw another fight scene, so he had suggested having the Party Animals jump ship. “We were like, what do we do with the kid,” Nick Dragotta says. “We were like, he’ll punt him. And we just started cracking up. I remember I drew it, and I said, Scott, I don’t know. And Scott was like, no, it’s happening.”
Speaking of kids in the Absolute Universe, during the panel we learned that the DC imprint would be introducing its own version of the Teen Titans. “We want to start bringing in more teenage heroes and the first one comes up in [Absolute Flash #20],” Absolute Flash writer Jeff Lemire says before unveiling a first look at Absolute Cyborg. As the audience took in the image, Lemire teased that Victor Stone wouldn’t be the only Teen Titan coming to the title. No word on who the other Titans might be, but in this writer’s opinion you can’t have Cyborg without Beast Boy.
However, Lemire admits that nothing he can come up with will top the iconic Absolute Batman child punt. “I don’t think we can top kicking a baby, but I can try.” That’s the spirit Jeff.
Absolute Universe fans will also be pleased to learn that Cassandra Cain will be getting her own one-shot, written by Che Grayson and penciled by Matias Bergara. “We get to not only know about Cassandra Cain’s genesis, but we also get to know about the League of Assassins’ backstory,” Grayson says. No word on if Cassandra will be punting children as well. We’ll just have to find out when Absolute Cassandra Cain: The Shadow’s Hand hits shelves on September 9.
It should go without saying, but Multiverse of Color does not condone kicking children, even if you give them a life jacket beforehand. For more on the Absolute Universe, and the child-kicking-Dark Knight himself, keep your eyes peeled to Multiverse of Color.