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/15.webp "Absolute Batman #15")
Hello! thought you were dropping this title. I tend to agree with you. Snyder and Joker, not my favorite combo.
Absolute Batman #15
| Writer | Scott Snyder |
| Artist | Jock |
| Cover Price | $4.99 |
Alfred reveals to Bruce the story of the man he's been chasing for years. Enter: Joker! Scott Snyder and Jock reunite for an epic tale in the Absolute Universe!
CRITIC REVIEWS Back to Top
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10
Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield
Dec 10, 2025This feels like an expansion on what Snyder did during his past Joker stories, making the Clown Prince of Crime a more supernatural being with a centuries-old backstory. And no surprise, from this book it's brilliant. Read Full Review
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10
Get Your Comic On - Neil Vagg
Dec 10, 2025Snyder 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
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10
Comic Watch - Kevin Rossi
Dec 10, 2025Absolute 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
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10
Fanlight Zone - Ken M.
Dec 10, 2025A 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
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10
Nerd Initiative - Matthew Roth
Dec 10, 2025Absolute 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
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10
But Why Tho? - William Tucker
Dec 10, 2025Absolute 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
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10
Graphic Policy - Logan Dalton
Dec 14, 2025Scott Snyder, Jock, and Frank Martin do the nigh-impossible and put a fresh, frightening spin on the Clown Prince of Crime in Absolute Batman #15. Read Full Review
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10
DC Comics News - Steven Brown
Feb 04, 2026Absolute Batman #15 gives you a chilling first look at the history of Scott Snyder's latest rendition of The Joker. Here in the Absolute universe, The Joker is a cold, calculating villain who has the wealth and resources to do anything he wants. It's revealed that he was the one behind Bane, Black Mask, the construction of Ark M, and more. These islands are revealed to be his private hunting grounds, for not just animals, but also for people. I must admit that I'm loving this version of The Joker and I can't wait for his first encounter with Batman. Read Full Review
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9.6
SciFiPulse - Ian Cullen
Dec 17, 2025This first arc featuring this new incarnation of the Joker gets off to a brilliant start. I particularly enjoyed Alfred's remark about Batman's interest in Wonder Woman, as it neatly sows the seeds for how she will factor into the wider story arc. It feels like deliberate, confident groundwork rather than a throwaway line, and it adds an extra layer of anticipation to what's coming next. The issue left me genuinely looking forward to the next chapter, especially with the story continuing in Absolute Wonder Woman. Read Full Review
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9.6
The Fandom Post - Chris Beveridge
Dec 24, 2025It was a given that any exploration of the Joker would be both a big thing and something you couldn't trust. I always liked the way that you couldn't pin down the Joker's past in various iterations, and that the man himself may not even know at this point. It just added to the disturbed aspect of the character in a way that I liked. So a new iteration of it here as a kind of semi-immortal alternate of Batman and Bruce himself is just perfect for the Absolue timeline. There is a lot of dialogue here, a lot of good narration to be clear, and some fantastic artwork that takes us through the kind of layered takes on who this person is. It's a slow build to an expected end, but it's an absolutely fantastic journey that really does just start us off with this character. I'm definitely more intrigued than I expected based on the minor nods from before and the cover artwork that we got here. It's got more potential than I expected at this point, so I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing how it' Read Full Review
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9.5
KPB Comics - Phillip Creary
Dec 10, 2025Reading 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
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9.2
The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally
Dec 10, 2025Jock 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
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9.0
AIPT - David Brooke
Dec 10, 2025Absolute 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
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9.0
Comic Book Revolution - Kevin Lainez
Dec 10, 2025Absolute 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
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9.0
Comic Crusaders - Al Mega
Dec 11, 2025Absolute 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
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9.0
Henchman-4-Hire - Sean Ian Mills
Dec 13, 2025The story of Absolute Joker lives up to the hype, and the issue finds a very fun way to tell that story. Read Full Review
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7.0
Weird Science - Gabe Hernandez
Dec 10, 2025Absolute 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
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5.0
You Don't Read Comics - Russ Bickerstaff
Dec 10, 2025And 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
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N/A
The Batman Universe - BJ Shea
Dec 11, 2025I know there's a Wonder Woman crossover coming up but feels too soon for Batman to go from fighting Super Giant Bane to Super Monster Joker. It feels like too much of the same and a bit too repetitive for me. Read Full Review
USER REVIEWS Back to Top
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10
Gabe, you suck.
+ Like • Comment• Likes (1) -
10
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!
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10
Horrific.
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9.0
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
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9.0
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 pla more
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9.0
Jock always shines. I guess there is someone who can bring Snyder's script to life other than Dragotta. While not as grotesque and explosive as Dragotta's issues, this really leans into the macabre and horrifying. AS we slowly go through the lives of the Joker's ancestors(?) we're treated to increasingly terrifying depictions of the same individuals. His transformation is shocking to see and while I understand apprehension from readers whenever Snyder approaches the Joker, I'm more than ready to accept whatever insane thing he has kicked up here. We're in a new universe. The Laughing Man didn't work well in the New 52 because it seemingly erased decades of continuity. People don't want that even if it was never true, just what the Joker wan more
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8.0
Art: 4/5 Story: 4/5 Total: 8/10
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8.0
I liked the art. The story was good to an extent. I guess I just expected more. I didn't like the repetitive nature of the book. The whole repeating What does Alfred believe just got a little old. I think the Ark M special and the hints throughout the series did a better job of introducing joker.
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7.5
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.
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7.0
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.
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5.0
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.
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4.5
I must have a read a different book than everyone else because I thought this issue was trash. Its a tell don't show issue, which is completely backwards. With Batman doing a Grease number "Tell me more, tell me more." I was completely bored reading this with just tons and tons of text tell us the backstory of this character, rather than having Batman discovering it through investigative means. My Review Channel - https://youtu.be/zk0uW_9bYKw
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