For weeks — nay, months — now, Absolute Batman writer Scott Snyder has been teasing a huge surprise in the pages of Absolute Batman #13. He’s talked about other aspects of the issue, from Batman and Catwoman’s fight against the monstrous Bane, to the fact that he wrote an explicit sex scene for Bruce and Selina (or, as explicit as 15+ rated comic is going to get). But yep, sure enough, there is one big surprise waiting in the pages. Spoilers past this point, but Absolute Batman #13 introduces none other than Absolute Harley Quinn. And she’s… The Red Hood?
To take a step back, we’ve seen mentions of Red Hood since Absolute Batman #2. In the mainline DC Universe, it’s a moniker that’s been held by everyone from The Joker to Jason Todd, usually indicating someone on the wrong side of the law. That holds true in the Absolute Universe as well, where Bruce Wayne — as Batman — has been meeting with the gang for a while behind the scenes.
In Absolute Batman #12, we were told that Batman asked them to stand down in his ongoing fight with Bane. But in this week’s issue, Bruce and Selina go to visit them at — where else — a theme park/carnival type area, reminiscent of Coney Island or Santa Monica Pier. Landing there, Batman explains further, that, “They’re called the Red Hood. They’re an outlaw collective. Hacking, disruption… We had a loose alliance.”
And that loose alliance is immediately tested, thanks to the group insisting nobody gives them orders, not least of which, Batman. A fight ensues, the Venom Bane put in Batman’s body activates, and it looks like things are going from bad to worse… Until Batman deescalates the situation by explaining he’s going to take down Bane, destroy him, Ark M (aka the secret facility/prison Bane uses to experiment on people), and “burn it all to the… ground.”
That’s what gets the attention of the leader of the Red Hood gang. “I was never sure about you,” she says, taking off her hood. “I’m still not. But if you’re really talking about burning down Ark M… Now you’re speakin’ my [expletive] language. Names’ Harley Quinn. Leader of the Red Hood. So what’s the plan?”
We’re not going to post the page here (unlike some other sites), but Harley is, per the usual for the Absolute Universe, completely different from her mainstream counterpart. A shaved head, what looks like the Harlequin diamonds either grease-painted or tattooed on her eyes, and a checkerboard pattern definitely tattooed up her neck… She’s brandishing nunchucks, and wearing a loose fitting suit under her red hoodie.
We also don’t get to see how Harley and the Red Hood gang play into Batman’s plan — that’s for the showdown with Bane in Absolute Batman #14 — but to be absolutely clear (no pun intended)… This is Harley Quinn, not The Red Hood. It’s possible she could take on that name, but for fans worried that Jason Todd won’t show up at some point? He definitely will. In fact, all of the Robins other than Damian Wayne will be popping up in Absolute Batman, and DW only won’t be there because this is a much younger Bruce in this book.
Pure speculation here, but while Harley Quinn is the leader of Red Hood, there’s nothing that says Jason Todd can’t also be a member of the gang. And given the character’s mainline origin as a kid who robbed the hubcaps off Batman’s Batmobile, having him be part of a hacker collective as well makes a lot of sense.
That’s TBD, though. For now, Harley Quinn has arrived in the Absolute Universe. And with Absolute Joker about to make his move on Batman starting with Absolute Batman #15… Will Harley be reunited, or united, with her puddin’?
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