Absolute Batman Variant Sells for $18,850
A one-of-a-kind Absolute Batman #25 variant cover by Jim Lee, Nick Dragotta and Clay Mann sold on Whatnot.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Comic Books
The one-of-a-kind Absolute Batman #25 variant print sold on Whatnot for $18,850. Jim Lee, Nick Dragotta and Clay Mann created the piece, with Lee and Mann completing the coloring during the Whatnot livestream.
Why it matters
The sale shows how high prices can climb for unique comic art sold through live online auctions. It also highlights how collectors are engaging with creators directly through livestream platforms.
The print was a one-of-a-kind piece sold through a Whatnot auction for $18,850. Lee shared a rough cut of the image on Instagram just minutes before the auction went live.
The players
Jim Lee
Jim Lee is the current president of DC Comics and a longtime comic book artist known for his work on X-Men and Batman.
Whatnot
Whatnot is an online livestream marketplace platform where collectors buy and sell items in real-time auctions.
The details
The variant depicts Batman standing with Absolute Catwoman while The Bat kneels to aim a shotgun, with Nick Dragotta drawing the figure of Absolute Barbara Gordon's vigilante alter ego. The piece pays tribute to an Uncanny X-Men cover by Jim Lee showing Wolverine, Captain America and Black Widow.
Timeline
Absolute Batman #25 was published, with the variant sold on Whatnot around November 7, 2026.
Market Landscape
Live auctions on platforms like Whatnot have turned creator-led variant covers into a fast-growing secondary market for comic art. The $18,850 sale reflects how creator participation in livestreams can drive collector bidding.
Collectors interested in variant covers can monitor live auctions on platforms like Whatnot for similar pieces. Buyers should weigh the high prices of one-of-a-kind art against more widely available issues.
The takeaway
Live livestream auctions are opening new ways for collectors to acquire creator-made comic art directly. Readers interested in the market should compare auction results before bidding on high-priced variants.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in the Comic Books section for related collector and creator news.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBR.
