Warning: spoilers for Absolute Batman #1!As DC introduces its wild new take on Batman lore, fans officially meet the a reality built on Darkseid's evil, introducing new versions of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman who are the underdogs against an entire world of darkness. Of course, these new heroes need new versions of their villains, and Absolute Batman #1 introduces the Joker.
On the final page of Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin and Clayton Cowles' Absolute Batman #1, fans encounter the Absolute Joker. The issue is told from the perspective of the Absolute Alfred Pennyworth - a version of Batman's butler who, in this reality, is a badass mercenary with a remit to take on the Dark Knight. As the story ends, word reaches him of his previous target - a deadly killer known as the Joker.
Fans only get a glimpse of Joker, but they learn a surprising amount. In this continuity, Joker is a billionaire who - like the mainstream Batman - has traveled the world honing his skills. The comic explains that he's called Joker because "the guy never laughs. Not at anything. Ever," with the implication that he's prone to killing anyone who shows a sense of humor in his presence. While the mainstream Joker never stops laughing and presents his murderous crimes as comedy, the new Absolute Joker is his opposite - a grim killer who won't allow any levity in his presence.
The new Joker fulfills the Absolute Universe's promise to remove every advantage DC's heroes have ever had.
Joker Finally Earned Redemption by Killing Batman's Descendant (& Becoming Gotham's New Dark Knight)
The Joker is a constant thorn in The Dark Knight's side, with an alternate DC Universe showing what would happen if Joker became the one true Batman.
Absolute Joker Never Laughs
... And He Punishes Those Who Do
The original Joker takes his name from the playing card theme that defines his aesthetic, though later stories established that the name also references his nihilistic philosophy, where life is the ultimate joke. Joker's white skin and green hair were the result of falling into a vat of chemicals during his first encounter with Batman, giving him a unique look inspired by the 1928 German Expressionist film The Man Who Laughs. Joker is considered DC's most sadistic villain, and multiple stories have made it clear that his endgame is to end human life on Earth... just as soon as he's done 'playing' with Batman.
It's therefore a tall order for the Absolute Universe to introduce a version of Joker who is different but still feels supremely evil. Interestingly, the comic has turned him into a Dark Bruce Wayne - a billionaire who has traveled the world honing his abilities (though in Joker's case, he kills his mentors once he's learned everything he can.) Absolute Joker also looks like a regular person, with only his green eyes matching the iconic version fans have known since 1940.
Joker has undergone constant reinvention in both comics and movies, with Joaquin Phoenix's Arthur Fleck and Heath Ledger's mysterious Dark Knight antagonist showing the many ways to interpret the villain. However, despite these varied versions, DC has never seriously presented fans with a Joker who hates comedy and laughter. It's interesting to see 'the Joker' presented as an ironic codename, and the reveal begins to establish how a Joker born in Darkseid's reality will differ from the original. One thing remains consistent - when the Joker walks into a room, everyone else suddenly becomes focused on surviving the experience.
The Absolute Joker is Darkseid's version of what Batman's nemesis would be in a world where evil is triumphant.
Absolute Batman Makes His Official Debut, With The Perfect Sentence to Describe His New Continuity
The Absolute Universe's Batman just made his first appearance, and it couldn't be a more fitting introduction to this bold new take on Bruce Wayne.
The Absolute Universe Is Built on Darkseid's Evil
Absolute Joker Is the God of Evil's Version of the Original
DC's Absolute Universe officially launched in DC All In Special #1. In that comic, Darkseid engineered his own death, escaping DC's mainstream reality and his fixed place in the cosmic order. With his spirit as the God of Evil escaping to a plane known as the Elseworld, Darkseid took control, warping reality until he had created a world where evil is the dominant force and heroism is "the villain, the opposing force." While this world has its heroes, they're defined by living at a disadvantage, with Darkseid declaring they will be "the small chaos, rather than the system itself."
In-keeping with Darkseid's vision, Absolute Batman #1 introduces Bruce Wayne as a city engineer who has spent his life in Gotham. While he's done all the studying and training to become Batman, he works with few resources save his genius mind, and is currently going up against the Party Animal gang, led by a new version of his underrated villain the Black Mask. Killing children and innocents on a whim, the Party Animals embody the vicious chaos that has long defined the Joker, making it clear just how different the new Clown Prince of Crime will have to be to stand out as a true force in this reality.
The comic does confirm that the Joker trained with - and subsequently slaughtered - Ra's al Ghul's League of Assassins, making it clear that he's already one of the most skilled and deadly people in the world. How he got his billions is still a mystery, but the comic shows him visiting the staff of a semiconductor manufacturing plant, suggesting he may be an industrialist. The imagery of Joker's helicopter pilot warning his co-pilot never to joke in the Joker's presence makes it clear just how feared he already is.
The iconic 'War of Jokes and Riddles' shows us what to expect from this new anti-humor Joker.
Absolute Superman Makes His Official Debut, As DC Sets the Stage for a More Powerful Hero Than the Original
The Absolute Universe is born and a new Superman has arrived, but what makes this Man of Steel so different from his Prime counterpart?
Joker Is at His Deadliest When He Stops Laughing
We've Seen a Miserable Joker Before and It Tore Gotham to Pieces
Joker's humor is a core aspect of the character, but he has stopped smiling before. Tom King and Mikel Janin's 'War of Jokes and Riddles' arc in Batman volume 3 followed a gang war that erupts between Riddler and Joker, caused by Joker losing his ability to laugh. While a laughing Joker is terrifying, a scowling one was even worse, as Joker forced Gotham's villains to pick a side and then pitted them against each other, turning the city into a war zone.
Countless innocents died, and the conflict pushed Batman so far that he ultimately tried to murder the Riddler, with only Joker stopping him from breaking the rule that has defined his quest as a hero (and subsequently recovering his sense of humor.) The Joker fans saw in 'The War of Jokes and Riddles' would do anything to find his joie de vivre again, and without the need to theme his crimes as gag, he was a ruthless and highly tactical gang leader. If Absolute Joker is anything like the same, Batman will face a force of nature when the two eventually clash.
Absolute Wonder Woman Makes Her Official Debut, With This Dark New Diana "Raised in Hell"
Fans can now get their FIRST in-narrative look at DC's ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN as she debuts as the Princess of the Underworld in the DC ALL IN SPECIAL.
Joker's Journey Has Only Just Begun
DC Is Setting the Joker Up as a Truly Unique Threat
It will be interesting to see how Absolute Batman grows Joker's character over subsequent issues. It's clear already that he'll be a long-game villain - someone who the comic visits periodically, building to his arrival in Gotham. It's possible that later in the story, Joker will undergo some kind of transformation, giving him the iconic look that fans know or a new variation on it. However, it's apparant that DC wants this new version to be as unique as possible, so he may remain a 'normal' human.
Absolute Batman actually introduces many versions of Batman's usual villains - including Killer Croc, Two-Face and Penguin - as Bruce Wayne's friends, making it clear just how far this reinvention is going to go. Because of that, nothing about the Absolute Joker can be assumed, making Gotham's ultimate villain a terrifying mystery once again.
Absolute Batman #1 is available now from DC Comics.
- NAME
- Arthur Fleck
- Alias
- Red Hood, Clown Prince of Crime, Ace of Knaves
- Created By
- Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson
- POWERS
- Criminal Mastermind, Expert Chemist, Weaponized Props, Psychological Manipulation, Combat Skills, Unpredictability, High Pain Tolerance, Charisma, Escape Artist
- RELATIONSHIPS
- Batman (archenemy), Harley Quinn (former psychiatrist, on-and-off girlfriend), Penguin (frequent collaborator), Two-Face (frequent collaborator)
- HISTORY
- The Joker's history has been depicted with various origin stories, the most common being his transformation into the Joker after falling into a vat of chemical waste that bleaches his skin white, turns his hair green, and lips bright red. This disfigurement drives him insane, leading him to become Batman's greatest nemesis.
The Joker is a psychopathic criminal mastermind with a warped sense of humor. Initially introduced as a remorseless serial killer, the character evolved over time, often oscillating between a prankster and a homicidal maniac. His relationship with Batman is one of the most complex in comic book history, defined by their mutual obsession. Over the decades, the Joker has become an enduring icon of chaos and madness, embodying the antithesis of Batman's order and justice.
