Original ‘Absolute Batman’ Cover Art Fetches $100,000 at Heritage Auction

DC’s Absolute Batman is all the rage, breaking records and selling more than 8 million issues in 2025 alone. It’s the hottest comic book series I’ve ever seen, one that continues to get better, grow in popularity, and live up to all its hype. It’s one of the best comic books ever.

Modern comic book collecting has become increasingly daunting, especially for completionists trying to track down every version of a single issue. As Absolute Batman grows in popularity, the number of variant covers released for each issue continues to climb, with more retailers taking major risks to produce their own. Absolute Batman #17 alone has over 28 variants.

However, that level of excess occasionally yields true standouts, like artists such as Clay Mann who consistently deliver exceptional work with each exclusive release.

In this writer’s opinion, the best cover in the entire series – now spanning well over 250 pieces of artwork – is Dan Quintana’s Absolute Batman #16 for Heavy Mental Collectibles.

This jaw-dropping cover is derived from Quintana’s Renaissance-esque, hand-painted oil masterpiece on a 19″ x 30″ wood panel — a modern showstopper worthy of museum walls. It just hammered for $100,000 at a live Heritage auction.

The sheer scale of this art gives the meeting of Absolute Batman and Absolute Wonder Woman the impact it deserves! This issue completes the first crossover in the Absolute line, picking up directly from Absolute Wonder Woman #15. Batman, reimagined as a vigilante shaped by hard labor, holds the ground against corruption. Above him stands Wonder Woman, the Princess of Hell, sword raised in judgment with her undead Pegasus by her side. 

Quintana produced just ten acrylic signed copies of this issue, which has quickly become one of the most sought-after Absolute Batman collectibles on the market. The issue alone is selling for well over $250.

It’s never too late to jump on the Absolute Batman bandwagon. Join us.