Absolute Joker’s Monstrous Origin Calls Back to One Of Batman’s Best Unused Ideas

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The Joker is arguably DC’s most recognizable villain, and he’s Batman’s ultimate enemy. He consistently challenges Batman like no other, and is famous for raising the question of why Batman won’t kill. He’s also been central to some of the most compelling Batman stories. Now, with the new Absolute Universe, it seems the Joker will continue to be that driving force. While the Absolute Universe reimagines heroes by stripping away key elements of their past, the villains remain fundamentally the same, and the Joker is a prime example of that.

The villains in the Absolute universe are more powerful and brutal than their regular versions. They’ve been deliberately changed to highlight the strengths of the Absolute heroes. A great example is the Absolute Joker, who isn’t just a force of chaos, but a ruler who imposed order through violence. Issue #15 of Absolute Batman explored the Joker’s backstory and his nature, creating a frightening portrayal of Batman’s enemy and revisiting an interesting, previously unused idea from Absolute Batman writer Scott Snyder.

The Grimm Ghost of Gotham

This issue begins with Alfred sharing his research on the Joker with Batman, revealing a surprising family history. The Joker’s real name is Jack Grimm, and he’s the fifth in a line of Jack Grimms stretching back to 1888. The original Jack Grimm was a clown who performed on the streets before building a successful media company called Just Kidding. Over generations, the Grimms became incredibly wealthy, known publicly for their generosity but secretly building their fortune by manipulating conflicts – from business competition to world wars – always playing both sides to their advantage.

Alfred explained that the Grimms, despite leading entertainment companies, only found humor in terrible events, like the testing of atomic bombs. When Bruce pushed him for more, Alfred confessed his most unsettling fear: there was no Grimm family. He believed there had only ever been one man, Jack Grimm, who achieved immortality by using the blood of children – through either advanced science or dark magic. This man was the Joker, a timeless monster who enjoyed nothing more than human suffering and wanted to prove everyone foolish by masking his monstrous nature with a cheerful facade.

Alfred was right to be afraid. The Absolute Joker is a terrifying, seemingly immortal being who traps his enemies on remote islands, only to hunt them down and consume them decades later. He sustains his unending life by using the blood of children and possesses the same vast resources as the main Bruce Wayne, even having his own hidden base beneath his mansion. This truly monstrous version of the Joker is a fantastic concept that DC should have explored years ago.

The Pale Man

Scott Snyder’s popular run writing Batman (starting in 2011) dramatically changed the character of the Joker, turning him into a truly frightening villain. A prime example of this is the story of the Pale Man. During the “Endgame” storyline, the Joker attempted to convince Batman that he was an ancient, supernatural being who had haunted Gotham for centuries. He wanted Batman to think he was an immortal evil born from the darkness within people. While this turned out to be a lie the regular Joker told to prove his importance to Batman, it’s entirely possible this could be true for the more powerful “Absolute” version of the Joker.

The disturbing backstory of the Absolute Joker appears to be connected to the concept of the Pale Man. While DC would likely never establish such a demonic origin for the main Joker – he’s too central a character to alter so drastically – it works perfectly within an alternate universe like the Absolute Universe. It allows for an exploration of a different kind of evil than the one embodied by the classic Joker, yet still provides a compelling reason for Batman to fight against it.

As a huge cinema fan, I’ve always been fascinated by the Joker. What really gets under my skin about the ‘Prime’ Joker – the one who was once a regular guy – is the terrifying idea that anyone could be pushed to that breaking point. He does awful things, and it’s scary because he could have been any of us. But when it comes to the ‘Absolute’ Joker, this new take on a demonic entity? It totally works. It feels like the natural, horrifying endpoint of everything Scott Snyder was building towards. Honestly, for that version, a supernatural origin feels right.

Absolute Batman #15 is on sale now!

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2025-12-13 03:44