DC Comics' Absolute version of theJokermay have a shocking connection to Arkham Asylum in the fledgling continuity, further redefining the legendary villain in sharp contrast to the Clown Prince of Crime readers recognize. With a subtle reveal,Absolute Batmanflips one of the oldest critiques of Batman stories on its head, instead applying it to one of his greatest villains, while giving the Asylum a new, terrifying purpose.
Absolute Batman#3 – written by Scott Snyder, with art by Nick Draggotta – reveals details about the “Ark-M fund,” which Bruce Wayne uncovered in the previous issue. Ark-M is revealed to be a large secret prison set to be constructed in Gotham City.
When Bruce asked Harvey Dent to look into it, it is revealed that the fund is being paid for by a company named J.K. Holdings, which specializes in building private prisons. With the name “Ark-M”, it is apparent thatthis is the Absolute Universe’s Arkham Asylum, and J.K. is a clear reference to the Joker.
In DC’s New Absolute Canon, The Joker Doesn’t Just Rule Arkham Asylum – He Runs It
Absolute Batman#3 – Written By Scott Snyder; Art By Nick Draggotta; Color By Frank Martin; Lettering By Clayton Cowles
While there’s no concrete evidence, it is a reasonable assumption to make that J.K. Holdings is owned by the Absolute Universe’sversion of the Joker. Joker is already established as a billionaire in the Absolute Universe, giving him the resources to own J.K. Holdings. In addition,his appearance at the end ofAbsolute Batman#1 featured him visiting a facility similar to Ark-M in Manila.“J.K,” of course, is often an abbreviation for “just kidding,” making the connection apparent, though this Joker is decidedly less humorous thanother iterations of the character.
Absolute Batman Makes Arkham Asylum Even More Terrifying, Turning the Prison Into the Stuff of My Nightmares
Arkham Asylum has always been one of the worst places in the DC Universe, and somehow, it’s managed to get even worse in the Absolute Universe.
The Joker’s new billionaire status also adds to the tone of the Absolute Universe. Darkseid created the Absolute Universe as a place where evil has the advantage while good is constantly against the ropes. Making Joker into a billionaire, while getting rid of Batman’s wealth, illustrates this aspect of the Absolute Universe perfectly, giving the villain enough resources to be untouchable, while Batman is forced to fight from the bottom of society. Giving the Joker his own private prison helps display the disparity between the pair, as well as their differing natures.
Arkham Asylum Has Always Created Supervillains By Accident – Now It Does So By Design
Absolute BatmanContinues To Subvert Expectations
Arkham Asylum has always had a reputationas a villain factory. The institution has historically been of little help to its patients, ever since being introduced in 1974. It has even gotten to the point where Arkham creates more supervillains than it contains, including characters such as Harley Quinn,and the Great White Shark; in some continuities, Arkham plays a direct role in turning Jonathan Crane into the Scarecrow.Absolute Batmanacknowledges this, while turning it completely on its head;now, Joker is seemingly using his “black site” facilities to create supervillains intentionally.
The Joker may very well be responsible for the eventual rise of costumed super villains inAbsolute Batman.
Assuming the Joker is running Ark-M, now reimagined as a private prison, then the facility becomes his greatest weapon yet, allowing him to create villain after villain to send at Batman. With his wealth, skills, and resources in the Absolute Universe, Joker is uniquely equipped to fund a whole new kind of criminal in Gotham. In fact, the Joker may very well be responsible for the eventual rise of costumed super villains inAbsolute Batman, using Ark-M to make the worst individuals in Gotham even worse, rather than attempting to rehabilitate them.
The Joker Is Still The “Absolute” Worst Of Batman’s Villains, But In A Totally New Way
A New Angle On A Classic Dynamic
This new twist on Arkham, as established inAbsolute Batman#3, also addresses a common criticism of Batman: that he creates his own villains. The argument is that Batman’s actions inspire others to take up arms against him, leading to a never-ending series of conflicts, because Batman and his foes are locked in an endless cycle. The escalation – which, according to this argument, Batman invites into Gotham – creates his iconic enemies, and thus no positive change can be achieved.Absolute Batmanmakes this an active force Batman must work against.
While only time will tell what the future holds, Ark-M promises something grim forAbsolute Batman.
The Absolute Universe has the chance to flip this argument on its head,setting up a world where the Joker – due to his funding of Ark-M –creates the villains which Batman will have to face.They then become the product of an apathetic society and a broken down justice system, which the Joker only exacerbates in the Absolute Universe, by funding a major part of the broken system. It creates a new commentary on the escalation which is inherent to Batman’s activities in Gotham City, regardless of the continuity.
The Joker may have been handed Arkham Asylum inthe pages ofAbsolute Batman, and Ark-M may become his greatest weapon. With this, he’ll essentially have the keys to the conditions which create Batman’s villains, before sending them off into Gotham. While only time will tell what the future holds, Ark-M promises something grim forAbsolute Batman. Longtime fans of the Batmanvs.Jokerrivalry should check out the new series now, as a unique take on their perennial conflict is being set up in the book’s early issues.
The Joker
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.
