DC Reinvents Batman and The Joker's First Meeting With An Unsettling Twist

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Michael Keaton as Batman and Jack Nicholson as The Joker in Batman

Published Jun 19, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT

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The following article contains spoilers for Absolute Batman #21.

Since the debut of Absolute Batman, readers have been eagerly awaiting the moment that finally sees this universe's version of Bruce Wayne cross paths with Absolute Joker. The day has finally come.

The inevitable meeting of Bruce and Jack Grimm takes place in Absolute Batman #21. The run-in is every bit as sinister as one would expect, and even more so.

Absolute Batman and Absolute Joker Come Face To Face

The long-awaited moment occurs in the final pages of the latest chapter of Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta's smash-hit series. Bruce Wayne is having a contemplative moment at a Gotham City construction site when he is approached by someone claiming to be an investor in his company's latest venture.

As it turns out, the suit is none other than Jack Grimm V, better known to readers as the terrifying Absolute Joker, who expresses what a pleasure it is to meet the man behind the mask. The feeling is not mutual, as Bruce delivers a punch that Grimm intercepts with absolutely no sign of struggle.

That is only the first bit of evidence of Grimm's true nature that Bruce witnesses during this exchange, as the billionaire flashes his demonic grin, confirming Wayne's monstrous suspicions of the villain as fact right before his eyes. Despite the secret vigilante's claims that he does not fear his enemy, Joker manages to startle him right off the beam the pair stand on.

That moment might have been the end of Absolute Batman if it were not for Grimm pulling him back to safety, but not as an act of sentiment. The monster walks away from his adversary, promising Wayne that his reign as the Caped Crusader will only end with his permission.

The concluding panels of Absolute Batman #21 also hint at the upcoming debut of Absolute Clayface, which was previously confirmed when DC unveiled an early preview of the cover art for Issue #23. At first glance, it appears to show Batman quarreling with his own clone, but subtle clues allude to it really being the shapeshifting villain, with the image of a cowl emerging from a pool of clay confirming it.

Absolute Batman Honors The Dark Knight and Joker's Signature Dynamic

Jack Grimm and Bruce Wayne in Absolute Batman #21

It should come as no surprise that the meeting of Absolute Batman and Absolute Joker introduces a few amendments to the iconic hero-villain pairing's relationship. Such is the modus operandi of the Absolute Universe, which aims to reinvent classic DC characters by stripping them of their typical advantages.

Scott Snyder has openly noted how he switched Bruce Wayne and Joker's roles in Gotham City, with the former being a working-class agent of chaos (in the pursuit of justice, of course) and the latter being known as the billionaire philanthropist (despite corrupt intentions and a monstrous alter ego). Therein lies a power struggle that traditional depictions of Batman have never experienced when facing off against The Joker, worsened by the horrifying discovery that Wayne's vigilante evolution was part of Grimm's own elaborate scheme.

However, that all being said, this instantly iconic scene is still a classic Batman and Joker moment at its core. The way Grimm tells Bruce that he wants "to do this dance forever" echoes one of the defining aspects of the Clown Prince of Crime's war with the Dark Knight.

The Joker indulges in his many battles with his longtime adversary, as if the vigilante's existence gives the criminal's own life purpose, which has been overtly acknowledged in screen adaptations like Batman: The Animated Series and Christopher Nolan's 2008 blockbuster, The Dark Knight. Absolute Batman may introduce a wildly twisted take on these two DC heavies at face value, but the long-honored characteristics of their dynamic are thankfully kept intact.

Absolute Batman #21 is now available where comic books are sold.