Absolute Batman #15 Review

Absolute Batman #15 doesn’t just deliver a Joker origin it rolls up on you like Gotham chaos in a tuxedo, taps you on the shoulder, and whispers, “Surprise, papi.” Scott Snyder and Jock come back together like two mad geniuses who woke up and decided the Joker wasn’t terrifying enough. So they crafted an origin with depth, madness, and generational weirdness that makes you wonder how the Wayne family didn’t just pack up and move to Metropolis centuries ago.

What instantly grabs you is Alfred’s narration. Snyder nails Alfred’s voice so perfectly that you can practically feel the man polishing silverware while dropping ancient Gotham secrets like he’s tired of carrying the burden. Alfred talks like he’s hosting the classiest but most traumatized true-crime documentary, and every line lands with that signature calm-but-fed-up British elegance. You can hear him sigh between sentences: “Master Bruce, I hate to break it to you, but your greatest enemy has been wilding out since horse-and-carriage Gotham.”

From there, the issue dives into the Grimm family, and this crew makes Gotham’s other elite families look like background NPCs. Joseph Grimm becomes a clown street performer who, through a cocktail of ambition and red-flag behavior, builds a global empire called Just Kidding. The name alone tells you everything you just know HR at that company has seen things. The way the Grimm dynasty expands worldwide mirrors Wayne Enterprises, but with more psychological warfare and less philanthropy. And Jack Grimm the face of it all looks suspiciously like Bruce Wayne. It’s unsettling, like seeing your own reflection but with a smile that says, “I absolutely set that building on fire.”

Then we hit the big twist: the possibility that every Jack Grimm across history isn’t a descendant but the same man. Immortal? Cursed? Just too stubborn to die? The book doesn’t explain it fully, but it doesn’t need to. The concept alone turns Joker into a long-term global problem, the kind of villain your great-great-grandparents should’ve warned you about in a family letter. Even after getting pages of backstory, he somehow becomes more mysterious, which is peak Joker energy.

Jock’s artwork elevates everything. Every page feels tense, sharp, and atmospheric. Shadows creep. Smiles distort. Even the flashback scenes feel cursed, like you’re flipping through old photos you should’ve thrown into a fire. When Joker’s true form is teased, it’s not just a reveal it’s a chill. Jock doesn’t illustrate the Joker; he conjures him.

The only missed opportunity is the lack of deeper ties to Gotham’s founding families. Tapping into Gates of Gotham lore would have pushed the origin to another level and anchored the Grimm dynasty deeper into the city’s foundation. It’s a small gap, but noticeable because the concept is already so close to greatness!

Still, Absolute Batman #15 is a monster of an issue. It expands Joker’s mythology in a way that feels bold, fresh, and dangerous. Snyder and Jock don’t demystify the character they make him bigger, heavier, and more terrifying. If this is the version of Joker that Batman eventually faces, Bruce better stretch, pray, and maybe take a weekend off first.

SCORE:
4.5/5
Plus one big WEPA echoing through Gotham’s alleys!

Writer: Scott Snyder
Art by: Jock
Cover: Frank Martin
Nick Dragotta
Colorist: Frank Martin
Publisher: DC Comics

Author Profile

Al Mega

I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!