Ever since The Joker was introduced in Absolute Batman No. 1, people have wondered what his story is. He’s mysterious and, most importantly, doesn’t laugh at anything. Then, the pictures of his dragon/demon-like form were released. After that, the curiosity increased.
In Absolute Batman No. 15, Scott Snyder reveals the Joker’s tale, and it’s more horrifying than you could imagine.
Absolute Batman No. 15 creative team
- Writer: Scott Snyder
- Artist: Jock
- Colors: Frank Martin
First, Alfred Pennyworth tells Bruce the story that everyone knows about the man called Joker. His empire started with Joseph Grimm the First, a.k.a. “Jack,” as a street performing clown. It’s said that you could hear the people's laughter for blocks. The idea of profit from laughter continues to his kids and their kids. As their legacy grows, so does their fortune. However, they didn’t just accumulate money. They donated a large amount of their funds to things like children and making the world laugh.
"They might be the most powerful crime family in history, playing everyone against each other. Profiting off the chaos they sow. Loyal to no country, no principle... nothing but power."Alfred Pennyworth
That’s the story the public is aware of. In reality, he’s more of a monster than the image above. Beyond the things readers have seen in Absolute Batman and Absolute Evil, Joseph Grimm has funded both sides of various wars (among them being World War II), had a hand in creating the atomic bomb, and so many more atrocities.
In the previous paragraph, notice I didn’t say "them" - as in the Grimm lineage. That’s because Alfred believes that the Jack Grimms from history are one person. He isn’t sure if The Joker has been using “infernal” science or dark magic or both. Nevertheless, Alfred resides in the belief that the first Jack from way back is the same one who’s running things today.
As Alfred tells Bruce what he knows and believes, readers see Joker in the present. He’s on a private island and hunting someone. Alfred thinks that Jack takes his enemies and puts them on his land for his amusement. And when he needs to release, he goes to one of them and hunts. But it isn’t just with multiple weapons. Jack unleashes his demonic appearance and kills his prey. The part that should scare you is that this probably isn’t his final form.
It gets better at the end. After leaving Alfred, Batman travels in the skies of Gotham to see Waylon (Killer Croc). As the Dark Knight travels in the air, Joker is on the ground looking up. Jack then heads back to his manor and tells his butler that he’s heading to his cave. So, not only does Joker have the riches and influence that Bruce Wayne has on Earth-Prime, he has a Batcave too. Or is it the CackleCave, Laugh Lair, or Clown Cavern?
As a final note, the last battle Absolute Batman fought was against a Bane the size of an apartment complex with the mind of multiple military leaders (Absolute Batman No. 14). To beat Bane, Bruce had to drop a building on him, Alfred slammed the Batmobile into his back, and Catwoman overloaded his system with venom. That was the guy working for Joker. Batman will need even more than that to defeat this devil who probably scares Satan. Stay tuned to Bam Smack Pow to see how that battle goes.
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