When DC announced the Absolute Universe, the promise was a total ground-up reimagining of our favorite icons. While the main Absolute Batman title features a massive, ‘brick-sized’ Bruce Wayne, Absolute Batman: Ark-M #1 (by Snyder, Tieri, and Hixson) veers sharply into the shadows, delivering a chilling gothic horror story that redefines the foundation of Gotham’s madness.
A Confession from the Grave
The story kicks off with an elderly, weary Dr. Amadeus Arkham. He’s giving a tour of his decaying asylum to a mysterious, wealthy buyer who’s looking to take the facility off his hands. Amadeus is ready to walk away, but he’s carrying a journal that serves as a confession and a warning.
Through this journal, we travel back to 1885 and 1886 to see the real origin of the madhouse. It all starts with Amadeus’s mother, whose mind was shattered after his father died in a pointless battle at the end of the Civil War. In a sequence that is pure nightmare fuel, she executes Amadeus’s siblings before taking her own life, leaving him as the sole survivor of a blood-soaked childhood.
Amadeus dedicates his life to healing the sick, but we know the Absolute Universe doesn’t do happy endings. He takes in an orphan boy as a surrogate son, believing the kid will carry on his legacy. At the same time, he’s trying to treat Jack Doe, a “vile” inmate Amadeus is convinced is actually Jack the Ripper.
The Twist That Changes Everything
The genius of Absolute Batman: Ark-M #1 is the massive pivot. For the whole issue, you’re led to believe Jack Doe is the ultimate evil. But the ending reveals that the bright orphan boy Amadeus loved was the true monster. The kid manipulated Jack Doe, murdered him, and hid his body behind a furnace wall decades ago. Fast-forward to 1945: the buyer is the same boy, now a man we know as Jack Grimm (Joker). He didn’t come back to “save” the asylum either; he came back to own the “monsters” he helped create.
The issue ends with a massive holy crap moment that is sure to make Batman’s life a living hell for the next few arcs.
The Visuals
Joshua Hixson’s linework is incredible. He leans heavily into the gothic aesthetic, using scratchy, detailed textures that make the asylum feel damp and oppressive. His character designs, especially the transformation of the innocent-looking orphan into a shadowed, sinister figure, are masterfully handled. The present segments in the high-tech Ark M contrast nicely with the 19th-century flashbacks, showing just how far the corruption has spread.
Roman Stevens uses a palette that is both Moody and evocative. The flashback sequences are bathed in eerie teals and deep purples, but when violence erupts (like the soldier’s blood pooling on the doorstep or the furnace room fires), the reds are startlingly vibrant. The colors here make the horror feel visceral, which is a great touch. Finally, Clayton Cowles deserves a shout-out for the way the journal entries are handled. The font for Amadeus’s writings feels personal and urgent, perfectly capturing the voice of a man losing his grip on his life’s work. It’s great work all around for the art team.
Final Verdict
Absolute Batman: Ark-M #1 is a triumph. If you like your comics with a heavy dose of atmosphere, psychological depth, and genuine scares, this is a must-read. Scott Snyder and his team have proven that the Absolute Universe is truly about bigger, bolder, and scarier ideas.
More KPB Comics’ Batman Reviews:
‘Absolute Batman: Ark-M’ #1 Delivers a Haunting Masterclass in Gothic Horror
Absolute Batman: Ark-M #1 is a triumph. If you like your comics with a heavy dose of atmosphere, psychological depth, and genuine scares, this is a must-read. Scott Snyder and his team have proven that the Absolute Universe is truly about bigger, bolder, and scarier ideas.
