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Absolute Batman is a "stone big meatball of a guy," but this one thing made it click for Eric Canete
From one Absolute Batman artist to another, Nick Dragotta broke down what makes DC’s biggest Batman look distinct to guest artist Eric Canete
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Who is the biggest Batman of all? Absolute Batman. The guy is 6’6”, 250 lbs, and he’s taken the world by storm.
When artist Nick Dragotta’s design for Absolute Batman was revealed at San Diego Comic Con 2024, the reveal was met with shock and awe from the audience, because of how big and bold this version of Bruce Wayne is. While Nick Dragotta has been the main artist on Absolute Batman, the book has featured art for variant covers from a murderer’s row of other fine comic book artists today. And just recently, artist Eric Canete made his triumphant return to comics as the artist on two issues of Absolute Batman: issues 17 and 18.
At C2E2 2026, Canete revealed how Dragotta’s design for Absolute Batman was initially a challenge for him, as an artist hopping onto a massively successful series.
“Nick [Dragotta] has clearly established the look and feel for it. He established a pattern for just the things that fans have sort of grown accustomed to and obviously they love. And so I was struggling. I was psyching myself up, trying to understand how to draw this big, you know, stone big meatball of a guy that he had, and I didn't know how to draw it well. And Nick… gave me two concepts to wrap my mind around. Number one, when I realized that he was just doing his take on like manga/Akira, that unlocked something for me. And then he said, and I think it was a little less of a joke, more like, ‘Hey, try to wrap your mind around it’s Batman, but it's like the Hulk.’ And as soon as he said that, it clicked. I was like, ‘Oh, I get it, I get it,’” Canete said.
The Hulk is a great way to think about Absolute Batman’s physique. Traditionally, Batman’s form in comics has been defined by the Batsuit itself. But when you look at Absolute Batman, he’s all muscle and form - just like the Hulk.
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About C2E2
Comics, cosplay, gaming, authors, and anime abound in the only pop culture convention in the heart of Downtown Chicago! We've gathered your favorite celebrities, unique exhibitors, incredible comic creators, and larger-than-life literary authors into one place to celebrate the fandoms you love. From the halls of Artist Alley to the depths of the Show Floor, our goal is to provide a space of creativity and fun, but most importantly, one that cultivates a sense of belonging, safety, and inclusiveness.
Dates
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Location
Chicago's McCormick Place
United States
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