Did Absolute Batman Just get his Most Monstrous Ally?

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In the debut of Absolute Batman #1, DC Comics presents an intriguing and unexpected take on one of their most iconic characters, the Dark Knight. The Batman in this Absolute Universe is a blue-collar hero who stands up for his community and those he cares about deeply. A major shift in the Batman lore in this universe lies in the radical reinvention of Batman’s rogues gallery of adversaries, and their relationship with him. In this universe, Bruce Wayne grew up alongside Edward, Harvey, Selina, Oswald, and Waylon, who are not his enemies as they are in the main universe but rather his closest friends – namely, the Riddler (Edward Nigma), Two-Face (Harvey Dent), Catwoman (Selina Kyle), Penguin (Oswald Cobblepot), and Killer Croc (Waylon Jones).

These characters – Eddie, Harvey, Selina, Ozzie, and Waylon – have played crucial roles in supporting and aiding Bruce Wayne in his mission as the vigilante known as Batman. Eddie imparted knowledge about electronics to Bruce. Harvey provided insights into Gotham’s law enforcement and political systems. Selina honed his skills in acrobatics and stealth, while Ozzie kept him informed about the city’s criminal underworld. Lastly, Waylon trained him to be a formidable fighter. Initially, they were unaware of Bruce’s secret intentions for acquiring these skills, but upon learning that he was Batman, each one of them stood by his side as partners in his fight against crime and became vital sources of information for the Caped Crusader.

Introducing Killer Croc into the Absolute Universe in “Absolute Batman #10” raises a question: Will Waylon continue to be one of Bruce’s dearest friends, or will he revert back to the monstrous creature he is in the main universe?

Who is Waylon Jones?

Since the release of “Absolute Batman #1,” fans have been pondering when or if any of Bruce’s former foes-turned-allies might revert to their evil selves from the main universe. Among all the rogues gallery villains who have become Batman’s allies in the Absolute Universe, Waylon is the most intriguing because he has the least similarity to his counterpart in the primary universe. In the Absolute Universe, he is a respected professional fighter and gym owner, and unlike his original version, in this universe, Waylon Jones, also known as Killer Croc, doesn’t have the distinctive skin condition that gives him a crocodilian appearance, including scales and sharp teeth.

In the main universe, Waylon, marked by physical abnormalities, found solace in a circus’ freak show. Years of mistreatment pushed him over the edge, leading him to abandon his old life for a new one in Gotham City filled with illicit activities. His deformity only intensified his monstrous nature. As he matured, he grew larger and stronger, with some stories suggesting he even grew a tail. His superhuman strength increased over time, while his behavior became more beast-like. Nowadays, he haunts the sewers of Gotham as a ruthless, flesh-eating killer, exhibiting traits that are more animal than human.

Despite initially being an ordinary and amiable individual in the Absolute Universe, Waylon’s life takes an unexpected turn, leading him to follow the reptilian path trodden by his counterpart from the primary universe.

How Waylan Jones Became Killer Croc in the Absolute Universe

In the vast cosmos known as the Absolute Universe, Gotham city encounters a grave danger from the secluded prison called Ark M, situated near its shores. Batman delved into whispers suggesting that Ark M was subjecting prisoners to cruel and inhumane tests. These whispers were validated, with Waylon becoming the most recent test subject. This ordeal unfolds across Absolute Batman issues 8 and 10.

Batman tirelessly searched for his friend, Waylon, for two weeks before challenging Ark M’s chief enforcer, Bane. The formidable Bane overpowered Bruce, leading him to the clutches of Ark M’s scientists for further experiments. In Absolute Batman #10, after enduring three harrowing months of torment and confinement, Bruce found a way to break free from his cell utilizing his Batsuit. However, Bane obstructed his attempts to flee, and the ensuing struggle left Bruce severely beaten. Just as Bane was about to deliver the finishing blow, an extraordinary event transpired: a massive egg in a neighboring cage hatched, revealing Waylon Jones, who had transformed into a colossal humanoid crocodile monster.

This revamped King Croc is an intimidating sight, boasting an enormous tail, razor-sharp claws, and a jaw that descends to his chest for powerful bites. In this form, Waylon ranks among the largest and most dangerous iterations of Killer Croc yet imagined. He’s so strong he can topple the equally massive Bane with a single sweep of his tail. What’s chilling is that Waylon devours several Ark M scientists in one bite from his jaws. However, contrary to his fearsome appearance and actions, Waylon is capable of recognizing Bruce and, more importantly, responds to him as a friend. In an exhilarating sequence, Killer Croc allows Bruce to ride on his back, both of them escaping Ark M by navigating the sewers together.

What’s Next for Batman and Killer Croc?

In contrast to Killer Croc’s intimidating new appearance in the All-Encompassing Realm and his protective behavior towards Batman, hinting at diverse paths for Killer Croc’s character development in upcoming tales, it is evident that after Waylon’s metamorphosis back into Killer Croc at Ark M, he appears to be controlled by primal urges, aggressively assaulting the scientists and growling like a beast. Simultaneously, despite lacking apparent communication skills or advanced reasoning abilities, Killer Croc displays a human impulse to aid Batman, his long-time companion, in escaping from Ark M. These contrasting aspects of Killer Croc’s personality suggest that there are at least two main avenues the writers may explore for his character evolution in future narratives.

The most unfortunate outcome would be if Waylon’s aggressive nature takes over, transforming him into a beast who compels Batman to treat him as an adversary. In this case, Waylon might develop a condition similar to Marvel’s Curt Connors, also known as the Lizard, which causes him to transform into a reptilian creature. Despite his attempts to suppress these primal instincts, they may prove too strong for him to handle. If this were to happen, Waylon would likely feel profound regret and fear over his new state, but his cravings for human flesh could lead him to attack innocent citizens. As a result, while Bruce seeks a cure for Killer Croc’s predicament in his capacity as the guardian of Gotham City, he may be compelled to confront Waylon as any other danger or criminal would. Struggling with the conflict between his mammalian and reptilian psyche, Waylon will experience moments of pain and remorse before eventually giving in to the cold-blooded instincts dominating him.

In a potentially positive turn of events, Waylon’s assistance to Bruce might signal the formation of an alliance between them. In the Universe of Absolute, Waylon appears more monstrous than other versions of Killer Croc, but he has demonstrated some traces of humanity and memories, such as helping Bruce escape. There’s a chance that while Bruce and his companions search for a cure for Waylon, they establish Waylon’s hideout among Gotham’s many lairs. In this scenario, Waylon, with his superhuman strength and agility, could be a formidable ally against Gotham’s criminals. However, Waylon’s instinctual tendencies might lead to dramatic character development as he struggles to control his aggressive impulses. Notably, Bruce would need to keep a close watch on these urges given that Waylon has already displayed no qualms about consuming the Ark M scientists.

The course of their friendship might change drastically for Bruce and Waylon in the future, given their shared past with Ark M’s cruel tests. As a result, Waylon could serve as a powerful catalyst for Bruce’s quest for vengeance against those responsible for the experiments. However, the intrigue surrounding their story is bound to intensify: Waylon may evolve into a tragic antagonist like his original counterpart or rise above his instincts and become the reptilian hero that Gotham desperately needs.

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2025-07-26 00:10