DC has finally given fans the moment they’ve been waiting for: the inevitable first meeting between Absolute Batman and the Absolute Joker. While this Darkseid-created Absolute Universe reimagines these iconic characters, Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta capture, in just a few pages, the classic dynamic that has made them pop culture’s most enduring hero-villain duo for decades.
Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta’s Absolute Batman #21 is finally here, and the issue is nothing short of exemplary, particularly in its final pages. So, if you haven’t read it yet and want to avoid spoilers, consider this your warning. In these closing moments, Bruce is at his day job, perched on a metal beam overlooking the city, when Jack Grimm, the Absolute Universe’s version of the Joker, approaches him.
It’s no surprise that Bruce is less than pleased once he realizes who is approaching, immediately recognizing the billionaire criminal. The two exchange some heated words, and the scene is nothing short of brilliant. Despite the ways the Absolute Universe has reimagined these characters, these pages strikingly re-establish their classic dynamic, paying tribute to the lore fans love while still giving it a fresh new edge.
In addition to establishing the duo’s dynamic, there’s the small matter of Joker revealing his true, demonic face to Bruce. And it goes over as well as fans might guess… that is, not well at all.
Absolute Joker & Absolute Batman Get Brilliant First Meeting, Returning to Classic Dynamic
Comic Pages Come from Scott Snyder’s Absolute Batman #21 (2026) – Art by Nick Dragotta
Posing as an investor on a tour of the building that Bruce is working on, Jack Grimm slips away from his group and approaches Bruce, greeting the man he has been locked in a battle of wits with and terrorizing with a far too casual: “Hello, Bruce. I’m Jack Grimm. So nice to finally meet you.” Realizing this is the man who has been pulling the strings and tormenting him, his friends, and Gotham as a whole, it’s understandable that Bruce’s response comes in the form of a closed fist.
Jack catches Bruce’s first, a nod to the character’s inhuman strength, and reprimands him for making a scene as Bruce yells that he knows what Jack “is.” Jack then calmly goes on to say, “Yes. I’m the man who made you. But back then, you were just meant to be this funny side project. A footnote. But what you’ve become… I love it. The truth is, I can’t imagine life without you anymore. You and me… I want to do this dance forever.”
Bold Reimagining · Alternate DC Universe Test Your DC Comics Absolute Universe Knowledge
♆SupermanReimagined
BatmanNo billions
Wonder WomanReforged
FlashSpeed
UniverseAbsolute
01
DC’s Absolute Universe is a new line of comics launched in late 2024 that reimagines iconic DC heroes in a world without the legacy advantages they traditionally have. Which DC event/storyline set up the creation of the Absolute Universe?
✓ Correct! The Absolute Universe was born from Darkseid rewriting reality in the current DC continuity. This cosmic act of villainy created a parallel world where DC’s greatest heroes exist without the advantages and support systems they traditionally rely on.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is Darkseid’s rewriting of the DC Multiverse. While Dark Crisis, Infinite Frontier, and Flashpoint Beyond are all significant DC events, it was Darkseid’s manipulation of reality that gave birth to the Absolute Universe.
02
In Absolute Superman, Kal-El’s origin is dramatically different from the main universe. Instead of being raised by the Kents in Smallville, how does Absolute Superman grow up?
✓ Correct! In the Absolute Universe, Kal-El lands not with the Kents but in an immigrant community, growing up without wealth or privilege. This reimagining strips away Superman’s traditional support system while keeping his core values of hope and justice intact.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is that he’s raised in an immigrant community with no wealth or privilege. The Absolute line is built on the concept of heroes without their traditional advantages, and Superman’s new upbringing reflects this perfectly.
03
Absolute Batman reimagines Bruce Wayne without his billionaire status. In this version, Bruce Wayne has a very different civilian occupation. What is Absolute Batman’s day job?
✓ Correct! In the Absolute Universe, Bruce Wayne works as an engineer and construction worker. Without the Wayne fortune or Wayne Enterprises, this Bruce builds his gear and gadgets with his own hands and working-class ingenuity, making him a truly self-made Batman.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is engineer / construction worker. Absolute Batman strips Bruce Wayne of his billionaire status entirely. This Bruce is a massive, imposing figure who uses his engineering skills and physical labor background to craft his own Batman arsenal.
04
Absolute Batman’s costume and physique are dramatically different from the traditional Batman. This version of Bruce Wayne is much larger and more imposing. Who is the writer of Absolute Batman?
✓ Correct! Scott Snyder, who previously wrote the acclaimed New 52 Batman run, is the writer of Absolute Batman. His bold reimagining of Bruce Wayne as a working-class hero without billions has been one of the breakout hits of the Absolute Universe line.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is Scott Snyder. Known for his legendary Batman run featuring the Court of Owls and other iconic storylines, Snyder returned to the Dark Knight with Absolute Batman, completely reinventing Bruce Wayne for this new universe.
05
Absolute Wonder Woman reimagines Diana in a significantly different setting. In this version, the character’s mythology and origin pull from different cultural influences. Who is the writer of Absolute Wonder Woman?
✓ Correct! Kelly Thompson writes Absolute Wonder Woman, bringing a fresh take on Diana’s mythology and origin. This version reimagines Wonder Woman’s world with different cultural influences while maintaining the warrior spirit at the core of the character.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is Kelly Thompson. While all four writers are acclaimed in the comics industry, it’s Thompson who helms Absolute Wonder Woman, crafting a bold new vision for Diana in the Absolute Universe.
06
The Absolute Universe was created as a result of Darkseid altering reality. A key difference is that in this universe, heroes don’t have the traditional advantages and support systems. What concept describes this — that these heroes exist without their usual “safety nets”?
✓ Correct! “Heroes without legacy” is the core concept of the Absolute Universe. These versions of DC’s iconic characters exist without the inherited advantages, mentors, wealth, and support networks that traditionally define them — forcing them to become heroes purely on their own terms.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is “Heroes without legacy.” The Absolute Universe is built on the idea that Darkseid stripped these heroes of their legacies — Batman has no fortune, Superman has no Kents, Wonder Woman has no Themyscira as we know it.
07
Absolute Flash reimagines Wally West in the Absolute Universe. In this version, the Flash’s connection to the Speed Force is portrayed differently. Who is the writer of Absolute Flash?
✓ Correct! Jeff Lemire, known for his deeply human storytelling in titles like Sweet Tooth and Animal Man, writes Absolute Flash. His take on Wally West reimagines the speedster’s relationship with the Speed Force in the context of the Absolute Universe’s stripped-down heroic landscape.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is Jeff Lemire. While Williamson, Waid, and Adams have all written excellent Flash stories in the main continuity, it’s Lemire who brings his unique storytelling vision to Absolute Flash.
08
Absolute Superman is written and drawn by a critically acclaimed creator who handles both the writing and art duties on the series. Who is this creator?
✓ Correct! Absolute Superman is written by Jason Aaron with art by Rafa Sandoval. Together they’ve crafted a powerful reimagining of Kal-El, placing him in an immigrant community without the Kent family’s support, creating one of the most compelling new takes on the character in years.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is Jason Aaron (writer) with Rafa Sandoval (art). While Jim Lee, Grant Morrison, and Jorge Jiménez are all legendary DC creators, it’s the Aaron and Sandoval team that brings Absolute Superman to life.
Analysis Complete Your Absolute Knowledge
/ 8
Are you an Absolute expert — or still in the main continuity?
These lines of dialogue are pure brilliance, as they immediately establish the fan-favorite classic dynamic between hero and villain, namely, the Joker’s defining obsession with Batman, seeing him as a worthy adversary and his one true match. What helps solidify this even further is the final line, “I want to do this dance forever,” which, as Joker fans know, is how the Joker typically refers to his and Batman’s relationship in the original main-universe comics.
Seeing Snyder respect the classic dynamic between the two characters, despite the major changes the Absolute Universe has brought to each of them, makes this upcoming “dance” all the more exciting.
Furthermore, this scene is also significant as Jack Grimm partially transforms into his monstrous form, revealing his true face to Batman. Bruce, in shock, stumbles off the skyscraper’s metal beam and would have fallen if the Joker hadn’t caught him by the arm and pulled him up. Joker then says, “You don’t get to do that yet, Bruce. Not until you see Batman reach his full potential. If you hear one thing I say today, let it be this. Batman isn’t yours to end. It’s mine.”
This alone is such a hard-hitting line, but it also once again establishes the classic and beloved dynamic between hero and villain, as the Joker is notorious for not wanting to kill Batman but rather to continue their “dance” together. Hence, if this issue has made one thing clear, it’s that with the success of the Absolute Batman title and the now-confirmed classic Batman and Joker dynamic, this feels like the start of a new golden era.
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Absolute Batman #21 from DC Comics is now available to read!
