Finally, we meet the ABSOLUTE version of The Joker.

Yes, we’ve seen him teased within the pages of ABSOLUTE BATMAN over the course of the title’s first 15 issues.  And of course, DC Comics and writer Scott Snyder have provided fans with a couple of looks at the full-on version of the character recently (much to the shock/horror/disdain of some fans 😆).

Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect other than that he’s rich, doesn’t laugh, and appeared to have been pulling the strings of, well, everything that’s happened to date in this comic book.

Now, here we are.  The Joker has (almost) fully arrived in the ABSOLUTE universe and will soon clash with its Batman.  To that I say…

LFG!

This issue’s story has Batman ally Alfred Pennyworth (who has been on the trail of this man/monster for years) recounting the terrifying history of The Joker – whose name is Jack Grimm (unless it isn’t) – to Bruce Wayne.  As I said, he’s wealthy, yet he was never a failed comedian, low-level mobster, nor does his background riff off previous ones of The Joker.  Furthermore, it’s possible that he could be centuries old and appears to be a supernatural entity sprung from an evil clown ancestry. I get a Pennywise from IT vibe from this Joker, but it’s too early to know for sure, as Snyder has been very good at throwing curveballs and surprises when it comes to the characters and story.  What seems obvious just ain’t so obvious in the end.

Even though this Joker is very different from what we’re used to, there is something familiar here that feels “Jokerish,” for lack of a better term.  I believe there’s something more to Ben Grimm’s clown lineage than meets the eye.  What’s Snyder got cooking here?

I’d be remiss to mention that Jock provides the art for this issue, and it is, as one would expect, fantastic.  Glad to see Snyder and Jock back together again on Batman.

One issue into this arc and I’m already hooked and looking forward to seeing where this goes…especially the conflict with Batman.

LFG, indeed! – Bill “Jett” Ramey

GRADE: A

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