Absolute Batman Announces Monstrous Joker Redesign Debuting December

The Absolute Batman series, written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Nick Dragotta, introduces a dramatically redesigned Joker who debuts in issue #15, set for release in December 2025. This Joker is depicted as a monstrous, towering figure around 15 feet tall, with reptilian features, horns, a pointed tail, and rows of sharp teeth, making him far more terrifying than previous iterations and even the giant Bane from the same series. The Absolute Universe reimagines Batman as a 24-year-old civil engineer from a working-class background, facing adversaries who are physically larger and more extreme. Fans have reacted strongly to the Joker's grotesque new appearance, which fits the series' darker, horror-inspired tone and raises questions about how Batman can survive such a formidable foe. The upcoming issue promises to explore Joker's backstory and build toward an epic confrontation with Batman, with variant covers by well-known artists further spotlighting the character. This fresh take aligns with the series' trend of reimagining classic villains with larger, more intimidating forms, as seen with Killer Croc and Bane, and continues to surprise readers with its bold artistic direction.