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If you thought Gotham City was a scary place before, wait until you see the villains of Absolute Batman. The best-selling comic series, which is set in an alternate universe, features twisted redesigns of some of Batman’s classic villains. Writer Scott Snyder and artist Nick Dragotta lean heavily into body horror to give us a version of Joker who resembles a monster, a version of Freeze who feels like a zombie, and a Bane that makes all the other versions of the character look frail. Interestingly enough, Absolute Batman also blurs the line between the Dark Knight’s allies and enemies, making most of his villains Bruce’s childhood friends.

This guide breaks down the most iconic villains of Absolute Batman. It should be noted that this article doesn’t cover every thug, gang member, or criminal Batman ever fought, as there simply isn’t enough space. However, this will give you a rundown of the main villains, and how Snyder, Dragotta, and their collaborators twisted them into something truly terrifying.

Black Mask

First Appearance: Absolute Batman #1

Roman Sionis is an agent of Jack Grimm, and the leader of a group known as the Concierge. Sionis is a collector of death masks, including the chilling black mask he wears to intimidate his enemies and subordinates. Working behind the scenes, Black Mask used the Party Animals gang to destabilize Gotham, paving the way for Jack Grimm and the Ark M’s twisted experiments. He is the first major villain of the Absolute Batman series, using his calculated mind and vast reach to give the Dark Knight a run for his money.   

Mr. Freeze

First Appearance: Absolute Batman #7

Victor Fries Jr. is the son of Victor and Nora Fries, two scientists who studied cryogenics. When young Victor contracted an illness, his parents cryogenically froze him until they could administer a cure. The process mutated Victor, who eventually came of age and took over his parents’ company V-Core. Victor is a tall gangly monster who can freeze anything he touches. He’s also experimented on unwitting volunteers, turning them into his own army of ice zombies. Oh, and he keeps his own parents frozen so he could find a cure for their disease.

Yeah, he’s creepy.

Bane

First Appearance: Absolute Batman #9

Bane is an unnamed former prisoner who became one of Jack Grimm’s top enforcers. Using a drug known as Venom, Bane’s strength and intellect grew, in addition to his size. At his peak, Bane was over 16 feet tall, making him more than a match for Batman. Bane is so sadistic that he used his medical knowledge to break every bone he could in Oswald Cobblepot’s body without damaging any critical organs, keeping him alive and in great pain. Bane eventually overdosed on Venom, turning him into a liquid pile of meat and organs. Miraculously Bane is still alive, but for now he has no physical body.

Killer Croc

First Appearance: (as Waylon Jones) Absolute Batman #1, (as Killer Croc) Absolute Batman #10

Waylon Jones is a former professional fighter and one of Bruce Wayne’s childhood friends. Jones was kidnapped and experimented on at Ark M, which mutated him into a massive creature resembling a crocodile. As Killer Croc, Waylon almost attacked Batman, but he was able to fight against his animal urges. Waylon helped Batman defeat Bane before disappearing into the sewers. A magic arrowhead obtained by Batman has allowed Waylon to remain in human form. However, Waylon will transform back into Killer Croc if the arrowhead is ever removed. In other words, the threat is far from over.

Catwoman

First Appearance: (as Selina Kyle) Absolute Batman #1, (as Catwoman) Absolute Batman #13

Selina Kyle is a childhood friend (and ex-girlfriend) of Bruce Wayne who grew up to become the international jewel thief known as Catwoman. Her costume contains an AI system named Jonesy, a portable EMP generator, a detachable tail that can be used as a bo staff, and a catlike helmet visor with radiographic sensors. Although she and Batman operate on different sides of the law, they remain close. In fact, Catwoman was instrumental in helping Batman survive his encounter with Bane.

The Joker

First Appearance: (as Jack Grimm) Absolute Batman #1, (as Joker) Absolute Batman #15

The world at large thinks Jack Grimm is a billionaire philanthropist, but behind that façade lies a deranged maniac. In reality, Grimm is a killer who used the blood of children to extend his lifespan, making him at least 150 years old or older. Years of genetic experimentation has given Jack the ability to transform into a large monstrous creature with claws, fangs, and superhuman strength. As Jack he’s secretly pulled the strings behind most of Gotham’s recent threats, such as the Party Animals and Bane. It’s hard to tell who is scarier, Jack with his ruthless mind and vast resources, or Joker with his nightmare fueled look. 

Poison Ivy

First Appearance: Absolute Batman: Ark M #1

Pamela Isley is a biologist who combined her DNA with the cells of plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria. Ivy can appear as a human redhead, but her true form is a monstrous and misshapen human-plant hybrid. Ivy’s mutated DNA allows her to regrow herself from a single cell, making her essentially immortal. She can also use her spores to infect her enemies, giving them a grisly and painful death.

Scarecrow

First Appearance: Absolute Batman #19

Dr. Jonathan Crane is a scientist who claims he has spent years working alongside the Joker to manipulate Bruce Wayne’s life behind the scenes, although how much of this is true remains to be seen. In addition to his fear toxins, Crane uses psychological manipulation to control and torture his victims. Crane is responsible for countless murders, and he usually manipulates his victims into taking their own lives, or tricking others into killing them for him. Scarecrow is closely followed by a group of crows who obey his every command.

Riddler

First Appearance: (as Edward Nygma) Absolute Batman #1, (as Riddler) Absolute Batman #20

Edward Nygma is a nerdy tech genius who has been one of Bruce Wayne’s best friends since childhood. The villain targeted Eddie in an attempt to hurt Bruce, challenging the genius to a riddle contest, and violently beating him when he lost. Bane violently shook Eddie’s head, gouged out his eyes, and permanently damaged his brain. The cerebral damage shattered Eddie’s psyche, causing him to no longer accept anything as an absolute fact and turn everything into riddles. Nygma tried to save his brain by using cybernetics to connect to his computer system. Eddie then donned a green jumpsuit and began calling himself the Riddler. In other words, the attack from Bane gave him some serious issues.

Two-Face

First Appearance: (as Harvey Dent) Absolute Batman #1, (as Two-Face) Absolute Batman #21

Harvey Dent is a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne who grew up to become a prosecutor. In an effort to demoralize Batman, the villain Bane attacked Harvey, cracking his skull and burning half his body. This left Harvey disfigured and brain damaged, resulting in the emergence of a split personality. Dent became Two-Face, a vigilante who hunts criminals. As Two-Face, Harvey is unsure how he feels about Batman, saying he only hates him half the time.

Penguin

First Appearance: (as Oswald Cobblepot) Absolute Batman #1, (as Penguin) Absolute Batman #21

Oswald Cobblepot is a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne who grew up to become a minor criminal. An attack from the villain Bane left Oswald deformed and disfigured, forcing him to stand in a hunch and walk with crutches. Since then, Oswald has taken up the persona Penguin and become a larger mover and shaker in the criminal underworld. Oh, and his crutches double as guns, which is a little badass.

Here's an updated guide on the Absolute Batman release schedule and a guide to all the Absolute Batman villains so far.