Absolute Batman: Ark M #1 – Scott Snyder/Frank Tieri, Writers; Joshua Hixson, Artist; Roman Stevens, Colorist
Ray – 10/10
Ray: There is so much lore to explore in the Absolute Universe that the architects have begun experimenting with spinoffs. First came the Absolute Batman Annual, which let a trio of cartoonists freestyle with the character and his world, and now comes this one-shot – as Scott Snyder gets an assist from his Arcbound collaborator Frank Tieri, and the latter puts out the best comic of his long career thanks to help from acclaimed horror artist Joshua Hixson. How did Arkham Asylum become the twisted supervillain factory Ark M in this world? The tale goes back to the civil war, as a young Amadeus Arkham saw his mother snap after the death of her husband in combat, turning the gun on an innocent soldier and her own children, before killing herself – and sparing only him.
Arkham dedicated his life to the field of mental health, building Arkham from the ground up as a haven for mental health – but his fortitude was tested by one patient, Jack Doe. This deranged serial killer frequently broke out, killing the guards and other inmates as will. When Arkham adopted a son, the killer began targeting him as well. Now, in 1945 as the story begins, Arkham is a very old man and the asylum is a shadow of his former self. He’s ready to sell, and he meets with an interested potential buyer – the asylum’s long-time financial benefactor, a very wealthy man by the name of Jack Grim.
We know what’s going on here, even if Arkham doesn’t, and that makes this issue a deeply unsettling read in the best way possible. There’s a sense of dread through the issue as Grim preys on Arkham’s best intentions and the tale of how Arkham Asylum unraveled is slowly revealed. Snyder has played with the idea of an immortal Joker before, but this take creates a sense of uncertainty throughout – this is a character who has reinvented himself time and time again, each time designed to create more pain in the world. So we have a slow march to a shocking reveal, and another escalation as it becomes clear Joker isn’t just coming for Batman – he’s a threat to this whole universe, maybe the ultimate one.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes
