The villains of Absolute Batman are monsters. Not just in their physical form, but the things they have done and are willing to do. A perfect example is The Joker and his vest of babies (and his monster form that will debut in Absolute Batman No. 15 in December!). As terrifying as he looks, Writer Scott Snyder and artist Nick Dragotta are just getting started with the frightful possibilities of this universe.
There are a plethora of villains to introduce in this series. With that in mind, these ten are the ones that make the most sense. Like most of the Absolute Universe, they may be bigger, better, and scarier. However, a couple of the ones on this list could be goofier despite being darker.
On that note, let's look at each of them and figure out how the Absolute Universe could change them for better - or for worse! - to suit the franchise they could take part in.
Writer’s note: Absolute Deathstroke and KGBeast were mentioned in Absolute Batman No. 11. Poison Ivy and Clayface were “seen” in issue No. 10, and the name Langstrom (which could hint at Dr. Kirk Langstrom, aka Man-Bat) was mentioned in No. 10 too. Harley Quinn made her debut in issue No. 13. Taking that into account, we won't be referencing those characters on our list.
Court of Owls
The Court of Owls is already one of the Dark Knight’s deadliest group of villains, but they can be more dangerous if they make their presence felt in the Absolute Universe. Instead of wealth and privilege, they could be used like “The Soup Kitchen” in John Wick. They’d have eyes everywhere like the normal Court, but deadlier because you’d never know who and where they are.
Kite Man
Yes, we need Absolute Kite Man. The unique character should get some kind of upgrade for this universe, like metal wings that resemble something Apocalypse would make. He'd look tougher, but the kicker would be that he’d remain a joker who’s taken out in one punch. Maybe instead of “Hell yeah,” he could say “F*** YEAH," and be part of the process that made the Rogues in Absolute Flash.
Scarecrow
Jonathan Crane has had a few changes over the years, and they’ve all worked for the time period they were in. He's a timeless villain in that sense as he's always evolving and yet remaining relevant. In Darkseid’s twisted world, maybe seeing Crane’s face with crazy eyes instead of that infamous mask would be more alarming than a variation of a scarecrow. The only thing more bone-chilling would be him stalking people in a plague mask.
The Ventriloquist / Scarface
The Ventriloquist was a joke to a lot of comic book fans until Dan Watters showed readers his full potential in Batman: Dark Patterns. How could the Absolute Universe make him darker? Well, if Arnold Wesker (or a version of him) were to use body parts for his dummy, Scarface, that would be frightening. If The Joker can have a vest made of babies, Wesker can make a meat-suit dummy.
Ratcatcher
How could the Absolute Universe reinvent Ratcatcher? Try this: The entity wouldn't be a human body nor would there be a device controlling the rodents; just the creepiest ratking that’s formed like a human body. It doesn’t talk, but has a body like a human. And once Batman hits it, the rats reform. Does that send chills down your spine? Well, here's something even worse. After it’s defeated, what if there's no explanation for how or why it was created?
Anarky
In a Gotham City that’s worse than any other, Anarky could be a force for good. There would be destruction, injuries, and death throughout his crusade in this Gotham City, but some readers may think the ends justify the means. Since the Absolute Red Hood Gang resembles him in look, maybe Harley Quinn becomes Anarky. Or, what if Jason Todd is a member and starts an offshoot of the group against Harley’s wishes? The possibilities!
Professor Pyg
How do you make Professor Pyg more disturbing? You do nothing. He’s already among the creepiest villains Batman’s faced in any universe. Leaving him as is sends a message to readers that even Darkseid's vision can't make Professor Pyg more unsettling.
Calendar Man
Here’s a twist you may not have seen coming: What if Calendar Man isn’t a villain in the normal sense? He could be a clairvoyant who predicts violent events and documents them as holidays. Julian Day could help, but he'd rather let things play out. Think of him as a weirder Uatu (yes, the Watcher can be weirder).
Make it happen, DC!
Hugo Strange
In issue No. 10 of Absolute Batman, something called the Strange Corridor is mentioned. This is likely a reference to Hugo Strange. That means he is or was around for things in Ark M or a different Ark project. If he's gone, what awful experiments has he conducted to get a hallway named after him?
Maybe an eventual appearance from him is overdue!
Sofia Falcone
Last, but not least, there’s Sofia Falcone. The only thing needed here would be for Sofia to be more like Cristin Milioti's portrayal of the character in The Penguin. There may have been some differences to he character in Matt Reeves' The Batman universe - especially when compared to the version in Batman: The Long Halloween - but she was definitely deadlier than her comic book counterpart. And if Scott Snyder were to write for her in the Absolute Universe, Sofia Falcone's - or Sofia Gigante's - devious deeds would be ramped up to the max.
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