Image by Scoot Allan
Published May 21, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT
Jason is an award-winning journalist whose writing career dates back to when he developed the ability to use a crayon. He, most notably, worked previously as a "professional fan," as he likes to call it, at CinemaBlend, for which he wrote about anything and everything under the pop culture umbrella... especially Batman. His passion for the art of cinema began even earlier, stemming from repeat viewings of The Wizard of Oz.
This initially led him to pursue a career in filmmaking -- and even work briefly in the industry as an extra in the straight-to-video family film, Alice Upside Down -- before deciding that his talents would be better served discussing and showing appreciation for the various forms of entertainment he is passionate about.
With his barbaric costume design, larger-than-life frame, and chilling stoicism, Absolute Batman might just be the most intimidating iteration of The Dark Knight that DC Comics has ever introduced. However, the vigilante has never been quite as scary as in a recently unveiled image that horror fans are sure to play with.
Artist Dexter Soy shared on social media his variant cover for Absolute Batman #21, which clearly pays homage to Stephen King's iconic horror movie, The Shining.
The wraparound cover design, which will be exclusively available from the online comic book retailer Big Time Collectibles, sees Absolute Batman using his iconic axe, made with his chest emblem, to chop through a door. Behind said door is Absolute Two-Face screeching in fear with a knife in hand, with Absolute Penguin cowering behind him.
Even those who might not consider themselves fans of the spookier corners of cinema history should be able to instantly recognize this illustration as a recreation of one of the most seminal moments from The Shining, starring an unbelievably unhinged Jack Nicholson. He stars in Stanley Kubrick's 1980 adaptation of King's novel as an author who is slowly driven mad by the malevolent spirits inhabiting the empty ski lodge that he and his family are tasked with looking after during the winter.
The legendary moment that Soy takes inspiration from involves Nicholson's fully homicidal Jack Torrance taking an axe to his hotel room's bathroom door as his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall), sobs in hysterics with a knife in her hand. This is the moment where the film's famous "Here's Johnny!" quote originates from.
Seeing Batman channel his inner Nicholson with Two-Face perfectly matching Duvall's terrified expression is more than enough to make this Absolute Batman #21 cover a winning homage to The Shining. However, the icing on the cake is the carpet pattern underneath the vigilante's feet, which perfectly matches the unmistakable floor design from within the Overlook Hotel, where the acclaimed Stephen King movie is set.
The next chapter of Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta's smash-hit series, based on its official synopsis, sees Bruce Wayne's growing conflict with his childhood friends Harvey Dent and Oswald Cobblepot, following Bane's mutilation of them at Ark M, reaching the point of no return as they fully accept their criminal destinies. Meanwhile, the Absolute Scarecrow's "reign of terror" only makes things worse.
Absolute Batman Has A History Of Horror Easter Eggs
Image via DC ComicsThe unsettling design of Absolute Scarecrow is actually one of the most essential instances of Absolute Batman fully embracing its more fearful elements, not to mention the beastly Absolute Joker. However, the comic has also paid homage to specific classic horror movies and terrifying tales from other media.
For instance, in Absolute Batman #17, the eponymous hero busts his way through Absolute Poison Ivy's rooftop jungle with dual chainsaws worn on his wrists, a la Bruce Campbell's Ash from the Evil Dead franchise (who, of course, had to fully replace his right hand with the power tool in Evil Dead II). Then again, Clay Mann's variant cover reimagines the image as a tribute to the gory manga, Chainsaw Man.
The aforementioned Dexter Soy would also reference a popular creepy manga with his variant cover for Absolute Batman #19. The illustration recreates the first issue of Death Note, with Absolute Scarecrow, holding Batman's axe, in place of Light Yagami, with Absolute Joker filling in for Ryuk in the background.
Absolute Batman #21 hits the shelves on June 17.
Writer Scott Snyder
Penciler Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Nick Dragotta
Colorist Frank Martin
Publisher(s) DC
English (US) · 