Snyder and Jock deliver a chilling and inventive reimagining of the Joker's beginnings, using Bruce and Alfred's strained conversations as a powerful emotional anchor.Absolute Batman#15 marks a new high point for the series, proving it still has bold, surprising territory left to explore. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman #15 stands as one of the most harrowing and elegantly constructed issues in the series so far, despite not much happening. The combination of Snyders writing and Jocks unflinching art is a welcomed addition, and sets the tone of this arc and whats to come. Read Full Review

A dark, twisted masterpiece on every level of storytelling. Snyder pens a fresh and disturbing look at comics' most iconic villain. Jock's phenomenal art walks readers through history to a psychotic present and unstable future. Forget everything you know of The Joker. This issue redefines any previous notions. Highest possible recommendation. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman #15 is a truly terrifying issue, bringing us The Joker in a way nobody has ever seen. The art breathes life into this narrative, slow, slow-burning horror, filling it with panels that will leave you wincing. We are not ready for what's to come. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman Issue 15 reinvents Batman's ultimate nemesis. Joker had been transformed into something truly terrifying and more than just a clown obsessed with chaos. Read Full Review

Reading Absolute Batman #15 felt like listening to a horror story before bed. It's the kind of tale you probably shouldn't be hearing right before you sleep, but you're so enthralled you can't turn away. Read Full Review

Jock delivers fantastic art throughout the issue. I love the visuals and the reveal of the Joker is both terrifying and oddly beautiful. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman #15 is a monster of an issue. It expands Joker's mythology in a way that feels bold, fresh, and dangerous. Snyder and Jock don't demystify the character they make him bigger, heavier, and more terrifying. If this is the version of Joker that Batman eventually faces, Bruce better stretch, pray, and maybe take a weekend off first. Read Full Review

The story of Absolute Joker lives up to the hype, and the issue finds a very fun way to tell that story. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman #15 is a chilling masterclass in villain-building, merging historical myth, monstrous evolution, and psychological terror into one of the strongest chapters of the Absolute Universe. Snyder and Jock deliver a Joker story that feels ambitious, unsettling, and unforgettable. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman #15 nails what it aims to do: tell Absolute Joker's origin story. Scott Snyder and Jock do so much to provide even greater depth to Absolute Joker's character. At the same time there is still a mysterious and terrifying aura that radiates from Absolute Joker. It all helps build anticipation for what will happen when Absolute Batman and Joker finally clash in the future. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman #15 is a calculated risk that mostly lands. Snyder's decision to pivot from kinetic action into conspiracy thriller territory is bold, and the execution demonstrates skill in building atmosphere and emotional weight through dialogue and visual restraint. However, the issue sacrifices narrative momentum and tangible stakes in service of setup. Readers looking for payoff will find this issue frustrating; those willing to sit with mystery and speculation will find it intriguing. Whether the promised threat justifies the slow burn remains to be seen. For a reader with limited resources and finite pull list space, this issue is a qualified recommendation only for those already invested in the Snyder Absolute Batman line and willing to tolerate a full issue of setup before the confrontation begins. Read Full Review

And so the Joker is physically a monster in the Absolute Universe. It is not exactly being subtle with it. One of the more dark and senator aspects of the original character was the fact that he was a human who was clearly human, but there was something deeply twisted about him. There's a kind of clever horror about that that works on a whole bunch of different levels that the Absolute Universe version of the character just doesn't have a chance to engage in. And that's really too bad. Because so much of this world is shown to be so amplified on so many levels that it would be nice to see something that would be at least a little bit more nuanced. Read Full Review

A perfect Absolute origin story for one Jack Grimm. Absolutely chilling and horrific…and insanely compelling, all leading to a magnificent twist at the end! Snyder is firing on all cylinders this past year, and who knows where this journey will lead. What a ride! Jock’s art is perfection as well. I don’t think it’s a story that Nick Dragotta could’ve pulled off as effectively. This book just keeps getting better and better!

Gabe, you suck.

This was a much hyped issue and it delivers on the horror angle snd the reveal of this monstrous figure.

Snyder shows off his storytelling chops here, but keeps things simple. Hes playing on concepts that he's had for the Joker for some time, but he gives it a more modern, more timely take that reflects a lot of modern urban legends of corrupt, untouchable evil billionaires.

He takes the framework of Bruce Wayne that we know more traditionally as a billionaire with a strong sense of moral justice and empathy, and flips it up its head. Mixing it with a laughing clown, with the joke being all of those who incur his wrath in his lust for power.

This Joker is a guy who does seemingly good things all so he can use the world as his plaything. Its an introducing that manages to be intriguing, enticing, but also memorable. To a skeptic it may read as a second attempt at the Batman who Laughs. But the presentation here? Aided by the brilliant lineart of Jock, sells this as a fresh take on a very old villain, whilst sticking to Snyders tried and true strengths.

Jocks art is the perfect fit for this issue. I've heard critiques of his work saying that he is simply copying what worked from predecessors, but on a weaker level. I dont agree. I think he's some himself as a pretty great storyteller while crafting a visual trademark entirely his own. Simply no other books look like his do.

Excited to see where the series goes from here. more

Jock's art hits a lot harder thanks to the coloring, and while I can kind of piece together the origin of Joker using corpses of orphans to become this Dark Souls demon, it still works even with Scott Snyder's exposition. But I feel that it's more digestible than his cosmic exposition because it's not using any complex scientific words

I am happy this out there for the people that love it. I find the story just ok. I prefer both the current runs on Batman and Detective to this run. This just doesn’t feel like Batman or the Joker to me. My favorite issue of this run was the Bane origin issue. Because it still felt like Bane. Not a new creation.

Jock may arguably be the better artist, however this series in general loses points whenever Dragotta isn’t doing the art..
Asides from that, a fun little ‘non reliable’ narrative here.

Here we go with Snyder's favorite immortal uber-Joker again... with an end twist that could be interesting, but I really don't think this series can become exciting anymore.

+ Like • Comments (2)

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George - Dec 11, 2025

Hello! thought you were dropping this title. I tend to agree with you. Snyder and Joker, not my favorite combo.

flodid - Dec 12, 2025

I'm not buying the title anymore, but I still read it...

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