DC’s Radical New Take on Absolute Harley Quinn Sets Up a Stunning Batman Twist

by

Absolute Universe is known for putting fresh, unique spins on classic DC characters, and *Absolute Batman* continues that trend. This version of Bruce Wayne is a struggling, everyday worker battling widespread corruption, with few friends left and even more dangerous enemies. Now, a new development promises to drastically alter Batman’s story, with potentially devastating consequences for everyone.

The latest issue of *Absolute Batman* has revealed a new version of Harley Quinn. In this universe, while the Joker is still a major threat, Harley isn’t his accomplice. She’s actually leading a group determined to defeat him, and she’s taken on the Joker’s old alias – Red Hood. This is a huge change for the character, and it creates a terrifying possibility: if Batman captures Harley, the Joker might retaliate by going after Robin.

The Absolute Red Hood

Recently, it came to light that Batman had been collaborating with the Red Hood gang to maintain order in Gotham. This group is made up of many young people who feel powerless and want to fight back against the established order. They’re easily identifiable by their red hoodies and primarily focus on causing disruption through hacking and other means – and there are a lot of them. Even when Batman, deeply affected by the trauma he experienced in Arkham Asylum, asked them to stand down, they ignored him. They were only using Batman for convenience, believing they had the drive and ability to achieve their goals independently.

Okay, so this issue sees Batman and Catwoman back at their hideout – an old, abandoned amusement park. There’s a quick scuffle, but Batman manages to convince them he’s on their side, and the leader seems to buy it. Then comes the big reveal: Harley Quinn is *running* the Red Hood gang! Honestly, this is a huge shake-up for her character. She’s completely distanced herself from the Joker and any medical background, and it’s a really unsettling development. It feels like this is setting up a truly disastrous situation for Nightwing, Batman’s usual partner. This isn’t just a change in alliances; it’s a complete character overhaul with potentially dire consequences.

The Looming Absolute Robin

As a longtime Batman fan, I’ve been waiting for the reveal of Absolute Robin ever since we heard whispers about it. It felt inevitable – Batman *always* has a Robin, right? We got a little breadcrumb dropped earlier with what looked a lot like a young Dick Grayson appearing as a paramedic, but honestly, the latest issue threw me for a loop. Seeing Harley Quinn siding with Batman? Wild. And the fact that Batman is now working with Red Hood, while the Joker is building his *own* Justice League? It’s flipped the script completely. Now, I’m starting to seriously wonder if the Joker isn’t planning on creating his *own* version of Robin. It’s a bold move, and I’m here for the chaos.

Now that Harley Quinn is gone, the Joker needs a new partner. Realizing even someone as powerful as Bane couldn’t defeat Batman, he’ll likely try a different approach – creating his own costumed sidekick. Considering their past in the main DC Universe, the Joker might try to recruit a young Jason Todd, turning him into a twisted version of Robin designed to finally destroy Batman. He could break Jason down, molding him into a ruthless killer, and potentially even lead to his death. This would also fit Jason’s established story arc, as he might eventually betray the Joker, switch sides, and become Red Hood.

Joker might try to build his own team of Robins, potentially recruiting former ones like Dick Grayson, or even other characters from Batman’s world. He could easily manipulate a skilled fighter like Cassandra Cain to do his bidding, or even try to clone Batman – possibly resulting in the creation of Damian. There are many possibilities, but it seems highly likely that Joker will end up with a Robin of his own.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

Absolute Batman #13 is on sale now!

https://comicbook.com/comics/news/7-old-batman-villains-you-want-to-forget-but-cant/embed/#

Read More

2025-10-08 23:10