In October, DC Comics is releasing its first Absolute Universe special with Absolute Evil #1, which brings together the villains of the alternate DC Universe. But they won’t be stopping there… As revealed by Absolute Batman writer Scott Snyder, coming soon is an Absolute Arkham special, as well.
The news comes via the latest edition of Snyder’s newsletter, which includes a ton of information about his plans for Absolute Batman, as well as a lengthy clarification about how Absolute Catwoman is, indeed, a woman of color — just there’s been some confusion about that due to different artists attempting different coloring jobs on both interiors and covers.
However, the news bomb is right at the end of the newsletter, where Snyder drops the following:
Then we’re going to be announcing soon, so I guess I’m spoiling it, but we have an Arkham special, Absolute Arkham. It’s me and Frank Tieri writing it. And it’s Josh Hixson of The Deviant and just an unbelievable artist. And it’s straight up horror, but it gives like a real surprise about Arkham. A couple of big surprises. So I can’t wait for you to see that.
In the continuity of Absolute Batman, Snyder has introduced “Ark M” outside Gotham City, one of many “Arks” or secret detention facilities littered around the world. In the Gotham one, Batman has found himself broken by Bane, and his friend Waylon Jones was changed into a giant crocodile, among other monstrosities.
Given that Snyder’s newsletter is transcribed from his speech, it’s possible the special could be titled Absolute Ark M instead of Absolute Arkham. But I guess we’ll wait until it’s announced, which definitely didn’t just happen the second Snyder mentioned it.
Elsewhere in the newsletter, Snyder laid out the next few issues of Absolute Batman, noting that the next issue, Absolute Batman #13, has “a really big surprise in the issue that we’re not going to spoil, but we’ll definitely get people talking. It’s the introduction of a character that I really don’t think people see coming, hopefully, but that you’ll all be really thrilled to see. It’s our take, and we’ve thought a lot about it.” Absolute Batman #13 also has what Snyder considers the first real love scene he’s ever written, and “we had to get censored a little bit for it already,” so homina homina, I guess.
Then, in Absolute Batman #14, Batman takes on Bane, and Snyder says it’s “f**king nuts. You’re going to be cheering.” Absolute Batman #15 is one he calls “the most straight-up horror issue I’ve written for the series by far with Jock drawing it,” and focuses on the Absolute Universe version of Joker. That’s followed by Absolute Batman #16, where Batman heads to Gateway City and meets Wonder Woman.
But wait, there’s more! As teased earlier, Absolute Batman #17 through #19 is an arc focused on Scarecrow, but also seems to include Joker, who is “in town as the handsome, rich Bruce Wayne socialite-type and he is making a campaign against Batman. And in doing so, we break Bruce down again after he’s triumphant in the one before.”
Where does the Absolute Arkham special get released in there? TBA.
Comic Book Club Live Info:
Discover more from Comic Book Club
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.