"The Worst Things You've Ever Seen": The New Joker Is Ready to Take Batman to Lows We've Never Imagined
DC Comics has finally launched its brand new comic continuity dubbed the Absolute Universe, with the Dark Knight himself, Batman, getting a complete overhaul from his origin story to his character design all the way down to his grassroots tactics on the streets of Gotham. Meanwhile, his arch-nemesis, The Joker, has yet to officially meet his better half on the page, with Absolute Batman’s writer revealing that when he does, Joker will challenge Batman in ways that are “bigger than anything we’ve seen before.”
Getting a brief cameo in Absolute Batman #1, this Joker hasn’t yet succumbed to the theatrical life of crime his main continuity counterpart is known for, with his real name and motivations still a mystery in this reality, despite it already being revealed that he’s a billionaire serial killer who no one has ever heard laugh out loud.
The Joker is always sort of the opposite of Batman. If this version of Batman is someone who believes in the collective, he believes in the power of somebody to change things, and it's this very heroic belief, then the Joker, on the other hand, has all of the resources, has all of the money. He's like a generational billionaire, and he's going to have all these resources to do the worst things you've ever seen.
If you scale Batman, if you put Batman into the Joker's position -- where Batman is almost the one that wants to disrupt things because the system is broken and Joker is the system -- then it feels like Joker is going to bring all of these things to bear on Batman in a way that's bigger than anything we've seen before.
In a recent interview with CBR, Absolute Batman writer Scott Snyder talks about the upcoming debut of the Absolute Universe’s Joker and why his “generational billionaire” status will spell doom for Batman once he officially makes his presence known in Gotham City.
Absolute Batman Will Face a Completely Reinvented Joker Distinct From His “Main” Comics Counterpart
According to CBR’s Interview With Scott Snyder
Reiterating how Joker is the opposite of Batman, Snyder explains how this Joker is "a generational billionaire, and he's going to have all these resources to do the worst things you've ever seen.” Snyder continues, saying, “...if you put Batman into the Joker's position — where Batman is almost the one that wants to disrupt things because the system is broken and Joker is the system — then it feels like Joker is going to bring all of these things to bear on Batman in a way that's bigger than anything we've seen before,” perfectly laying out what makes Absolute Joker different.
Batman Isn't a Fan of Guns, But He Made a "Once-in-a-Lifetime Exception" For One Awful Villain
Batman is famous for his stringent "no gun" rule while fighting crime in Gotham, with one exception coming during DC Comics' epic Final Crisis event.
Considering this version of the Joker now has the kinds of resources, connections, and finely-tuned skills that Batman has always been associated with, Snyder hinting here that Joker can now do “the worst things you’ve ever seen” is a terrifying promise that can be capitalized on in ways that previous iterations of the pair haven’t explored before, putting Batman at a disadvantage he’s not used to having. Additionally, with the kind of money and influence Absolute Joker has, he’ll easily rival Batman’s usual arsenal of weapons, gadgets, and vehicles, essentially creating a new kind of Joker without any perceivable limits.
Absolute Joker Has More Resources Than Batman in DC’s New Continuity
Batman Is Usually the One With All the Wonderful Toys
Absolute Joker’s transition into a proper member of Batman’s rogues gallery hasn’t even technically begun yet, with his billionaire status and similarly sociopathic nature ensuring that when his true Clown Prince of Crime persona debuts, it’ll be a terrifyingly fresh take on a villainous character who always seems ripe for a good reimagining. It remains to be seen what Absolute Joker will eventually look and act like and what kind of hell he’ll drag Batman through when the pair finally meet face-to-face, so fans should check out the next issue of Absolute Batman when it hits comic shelves in March.
Source: CBR
- Created By
- Bob Kane, Bill Finger
- First Appearance
- Detective Comics
- Alias
- Bruce Wayne
- Alliance
- Justice League, Outsiders, Batman Family
- Race
- Human
- Franchise
- D.C.
- Created By
- Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson
- Cast
- Cesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, Mark Hamill, Heath Ledger, Jared Leto, Joaquin Phoenix, Barry Keoghan
- First Appearance
- Batman (1940)
- Alias
- Red Hood, Clown Prince of Crime, Ace of Knaves
- RELATIONSHIPS
- Batman (archenemy), Harley Quinn (former psychiatrist, on-and-off girlfriend), Penguin (frequent collaborator), Two-Face (frequent collaborator)
- Alliance
- Injustice League, Legion of Doom, Injustice Gang
