Absolute Batman: Ark M (2026-) #1 (Absolute Batman

by Scott Snyder, Joshua Hixson (Artist), Frank Tieri

The origins of the enigmatic Ark M are explored! What terrible secrets lie within its walls, and just who is assigned to protect it from discovery?!

Genres: Comics, Batman, Dc Comics, Horror, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book, Graphic Novels

Kindle Edition

Published January 7, 2026

About the author

Scott Snyder is the Eisner and Harvey Award winning writer on DC Comics Batman, Swamp Thing, and his original series for Vertigo, American Vampire. He is also the author of the short story collection, Voodoo Heart, published by the Dial Press in 2006. The paperback version was published in the summer of 2007.

Reviews

[Brooke ☯︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The one laughing in the dark"

Another powerful origin story for Joker. The unique art work took me a second, I ended up really liking it!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ark M's origin story.
And it seems to be all mashed up with the Absolute Joker in (what turns out to be) a very interesting way.



But before the big reveal, Snyder takes us on a ride through the life of Dr. Arkam, his reasons for opening the asylum, and how no good deed goes unpunished.



There's also a fun sneak peek at another Absolute character at the very end.
Apparently, Deathstroke works for this universe's Joker. And he looks like a cypernetic vampire! lol
Ok, that could be kind of cool, though.





This was actually some pretty great storytelling, and I loved it!
Recommended.

[Machiavelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a moody, atmospheric deep dive that really leans into the horror side of the Absolute Batman universe. Instead of big superhero spectacle, it focuses on dread, history, and the twisted origins of Ark M, and that choice absolutely works. The story feels like peeling back layers of something rotten, letting the unease build page by page.

The art does a ton of heavy lifting here — dark, textured, and unsettling in a way that sells the tone perfectly. It’s more about mood and world-building than action, but that makes it feel richer and more deliberate. If you’re into Batman stories that flirt with gothic horror and psychological menace, this is a great companion piece to the main series.

[Bryham Fabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this comic, its atmosphere, its plot twist along with all the macabre context associated with the figure of the absolute joker and the grotesque nature of his link with Amadeus Arkham. Truth be told, apart from the construction of the Absolute Universe in general ( and Jack Grim in particular ), this story can be greatly appreciated as a horror story in its own right.

I just can't help but look forward to the next # of this craziness.

[MrGlassWontBreak · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the 1800s, Dr Amadeus Arkham was a child whose father had been away at war for a long time, leaving him, his siblings, and his mother very weary. A soldier shows up at the house bearing news of his father’s death, and his mother loses her shit, kills the soldier, his two siblings, and then herself.

He grows up wanting to help people like his mother, people with mental health issues, so he builds Arkham Asylum in Gotham and starts taking patients and doing well. He gets a particularly vile patient who had murdered multiple men, women, and children, and becomes devoted to helping him.

One day, a young boy appears at his doorstep covered in blood. He decides to raise the boy, who claimed to know nothing of how he came to be that way. The boy took an interest in Amadeus’ work, which made Amadeus see the boy ash his son. One night, the vile inmate breaks out, frees a bunch of other terrible inmates, kills a bunch of people, including Dr Amadeus’ young boy, and escapes.

After that incident, the Asylum stops doing well, and Dr Amadeus decides to sell it to a very interested, mysterious buyer various years later. When finalizing the sale, Amadeus tells the buyer the full story of the asylum, and the buyer reveals himself to be Amadeus’s young boy from before. Amadeus realizes that the boy was the one who freed the inmates and had killed the inmate who we thought did it, whom the boy was manipulating all along.

The boy had done all this as a mockery of everything Dr Amadeus believed in, and had now returned to buy the asylum from him. In case you haven’t realized by now, the boy is the Joker, and we see him in the present as he and Deathstroke discuss how to kill Batman. Wow! As if the Joker wasn’t bad enough already. We also see the names of Poison Ivy, Man-Bat, and others in the Joker's files. Great issue, very fun.

[Danii Savage · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was basically a gothic horror and I loved it.

[Sam Theriault · Rating 4 out of 5]

love when Snyder dips into Gothic horror even if it's ultimately MORE absolute Joker aura farming

[zachariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute Jeffery Epstein is here

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again for Absolute Satan laughing over there, Evil! Evil! Evil!

Absolute Arkham just attract pure evil. But it was fascinating to get the history of it from the Absolute Universe. Like any Gotham, this place is a breeding ground for the worst of the worst and it's no surprise Joker will involve in its creation.

Honestly, Batman is a better man than me, for real. The fact that he still actively tries to save this place and it's patients in every universe just proves what an incredible hero he is.

[dusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love the concept of this one shot. I’ve always been fascinated by Arkham Asylum and the chance to explore it more deeply, especially through the experiences of its patients and the origins behind how it came to be. There truly isn’t a better creator for a story like this than Scott Snyder, and I’m excited to see Arkham explored this deeply within the Absolute universe.

From the very first page, the theme of this issue is crystal clear. Fear, horror, tragedy, and pain drive everything forward. I really enjoyed how the story is told through Amadeus Arkham’s journal, and I loved learning more about his backstory. His desire to create hope out of a life filled with trauma and suffering felt powerful and sincere. Watching that hope slowly twist into something truly wicked, and seeing his own realization of what he had created, was incredibly effective.

This was a genuinely great first issue. The opening chapter is told with so much care, and it perfectly sets the stage for what’s to come. I LOVED this issue.

[spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when Batman leans into the horror

[Eddie B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A history of Arkham.
A history of Ark M.
A history of Amrk.

[Antonio Escobar · Rating 5 out of 5]

All ima say is this:

Once the absolute Batman series is finished and they turn it into a well polished animated series/movie, give it the love it deserves, this will be one of the top Batman work of arts ever produced

Absolute Batman just gets better and better after each new issue

[Michael Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott Snyder and Frank Tieri channel the ever loving fuck out of their inner Edgar Alan Poe for this wonderfully dark and twisted bit of Absolute Gotham history.

[Emiliano · Rating 5 out of 5]

holy fucking shit this issue is amazing I can’t believe it

Grabbed my attention immediately and it never slowed down. The origin of Ark M and it’s so great like it’s insane the levels of fear I have towards Joker. A literal demon that haunts everything in history to benefit himself and “order”. It sets up the next arc for Batman where he just straight up fights Ark M inmates, who happen to be iconic villains from his history. I love love LOVE!

[Ksenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I was going to love this after seeing the preview and, to the surprise of absolutely no one, I loved it! Somehow, Scott Snyder just keeps outdoing himself with the Absolute Universe. This is a stunning and oh-so well-crafted remix of the infamous Arkham Asylum's mythology and history. It has Scott's three favourite things: 1. Gothic Horror 2. Joker and 3. Homage to his mentor's seminal work. It got under my skin even more than Morrison's already disturbing tale of Amadeus Arkham did. And I love how Snyder subverted and inverted the main twist.

Ark M is very deliberately constructed as a classic horror story but it reminded me of Thomas Ligotti's work the most - it has that uncanny blend of distinctly modern but also of being firmly rooted in tradition. The art style is superb and very effective, there is something almost Munch-like about it. The storyboarding for Ark M overall is just on a different level. Can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy. An absolute favourite.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting story about Arkham asylum and it's history in the Absolute universe.

[Jordison Francisco · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Origem do Asilo Arkham no Universo Absolute

Nota: 2,5/5 (REGULAR)

Seja você fã ou não, é inegável que a DC Comics, até 2025, conseguiu vender impressionantes 8,5 milhões de exemplares do seu Universo Absolute. Desses, o Absolute Batman lidera com cerca de 3 milhões, consolidando a força do Homem-Morcego e suas inúmeras derivações, que até mesmo receberam uma renovação na numeração de sua revista principal. É natural que a editora tente capitalizar essa popularidade, acelerando lançamentos para aproveitar o momentum antes que a onda de sucesso esmoreça. Nesse contexto, Absolute Batman: Ark M surge como uma edição especial, autônoma e concentrada, seguindo a linha de outros one-shots como Absolute Evil e Absolute Batman: Anual 2025, marcando o início de 2026 com a promessa de mais novidades no mesmo estilo.

Apesar de minha opinião pessoal ser contrária — considerando Absolute Batman uma das piores publicações do novo universo — reconheço o mérito de algumas obras, como Absolute Mulher-Maravilha e, em menor escala, Absolute Superman. Sem falar na espetacular Absolute Caçador de Marte, uma publicação que parece transcender o mainstream. Assim, é claro que há valor nesse sucesso, embora talvez a HQ mais vendida em anos não seja exatamente uma obra-prima. De qualquer forma, Ark M se inspira no segundo arco de Absolute Batman, ao explorar a instalação secreta que mistura prisão, sanatório e laboratório de manipulação genética, onde Batman passa uma temporada. A narrativa revela a origem do local através do diário do Dr. Amadeus Arkham, que, em 1945, decide abandonar a instituição que fundou — inicialmente com intenções nobres — e entregá-la a um personagem quase anônimo até o final da história.

A verdadeira história, contudo, remonta ao fim da Guerra Civil, quando seu pai morre em uma batalha após a rendição dos Confederados. A tragédia se estende à mãe de Amadeus, levando-o, ao longo das décadas seguintes, a criar uma instituição para tratar problemas mentais, que evolui para um hospício destinado a criminosos insanos, incluindo o ainda misterioso Coringa deste universo. A trajetória de Arkham é marcada por dor, perdas e reviravoltas inteligentes — embora não espetaculares — que dão contexto à existência do diário utilizado na HQ, enriquecendo a narrativa e preparando o terreno para o que viria a ser o Ark M. A história salta abruptamente para o presente, onde Batman, mais brutal do que nunca, invade o local, e um supervilão famoso é apresentado em sua versão Absolute na última página. Isso sugere que a publicação parece mais uma introdução do que uma história de origem propriamente dita.

Ao contrário de Absolute Evil, que funciona como uma coletânea de vilões, Ark M parece mais um prelúdio para o terceiro arco de Absolute Batman, podendo até ser considerado uma narrativa à parte, sem a necessidade de um tratamento de edição única. Ainda assim, trata-se de uma história interessante, que acrescenta uma camada de ancestralidade ao mito de Gotham e ao próprio Coringa — aspecto reforçado pelo estilo de arte “antiquado” de Joshua Hixson. Contudo, essa estética não traz elementos relevantes que mudem o jogo. A narrativa funciona quase como um “entre parênteses”, abordando detalhes da criação do universo de Scott Snyder, aproveitando o sucesso do Universo Absolute. É uma estratégia compreensível e justificável, não meramente uma tentativa de explorar o hype, embora pudesse ter sido uma nota de rodapé mais sutil.

Em suma, Absolute Batman: Ark M é uma peça que, apesar de sua importância menor, contribui para o mosaico maior, mas que poderia ter sido uma leitura opcional, uma espécie de apêndice na história maior do que uma peça fundamental.

PS: Eu acho interessante observar como no Absolute Batman, o Snyder tá voltando lá atrás e resgatando muitas das ideias que ele já tinha apresentado lá na fase dele no Batman dos Novos 52 sob um nova embalagem. A ideia de uma elite corrupta governando Gotham City das sombras é basicamente ele refazendo a Corte das Corujas. O que era sugestão de o Coringa ser uma força quase (ou de fato) sobrenatural que assombra Gotham há gerações é trazida aqui pra concretude. Me pergunto o quanto mais de elementos (se são reciclagens, ou traços de identidade é outra discussão) veremos da passagem do Snyder no Batman regular nesse Absolute.

Sim, parece-me que é bem isso o que o Snyder está fazendo, só que, como ele não precisa dos mesmos freios do universo regular, acelera sem dó nem piedade no Universo Absolute e aí cria os exageros que temos visto em Absolute Batman...

[AviChaim Snyder · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings going into this issue. While I did enjoy it overall, it felt somewhat out of place within the larger Absolute Batman mythos. This stood out even more because the previous issue also focused heavily on a Joker origin, making the back-to-back approach feel a bit redundant.
I understand what Scott Snyder appears to be aiming for here. In the mainline continuity, the Joker has multiple possible origins, with even he himself unsure of which one is true. It seems like the Absolute Joker is being positioned similarly, with several competing origin stories that mirror that idea. Conceptually, I like this direction. My main issue is the timing. All of this feels like it is happening far too quickly. I would have preferred a slower rollout, with the Joker and his lore being introduced gradually over time. As it stands, this feels more like an information and lore dump meant to clear the board rather than something that unfolds naturally.
That said, I could very well be missing a larger narrative purpose here. If this groundwork pays off later, I would be happy to be proven wrong. As of now, though, I am not fully sold on how this information is being presented.

Putting those concerns aside, this individual issue was still interesting and enjoyable. It follows a storytelling structure similar to issue #15, where a character recounts a story that ultimately centers on the Joker. In this case, Arkham himself is the narrator. Learning about the origins of Arkham Asylum was engaging, and I liked the twist that the person initially presented as the Joker was actually just a mentally ill patient, while the child Arkham was raising turns out to be the real Joker.
The tone and creepiness of the story worked well, and while the art was generally fine, the burning scene in particular stood out as genuinely unsettling in a good way. The final page, which lists several rogues, also felt like another lore drop, though I will admit I am very excited about Absolute Deathstroke and am eager to see how he factors into the story moving forward.

Overall, I would recommend the issue, but it lands more in the “just okay” category for me.
Grade: C

[Neil Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2026, I'm trying to read at least 1 new comic a week in an attempt to rediscover the joy of reading synchronously with other comic fans but also in an attempt to see how accessible monthly comics are and whether they are even intended to be read outside of trade collections.

Top of my list this week was this absolute Batman one shot. There is a huge amount of hype around this title with many saying it has rejuvenated interest in DC comics from fans to creators. I've read and enjoyed the first issue of Absolute Batman when it released and while I was impressed by the art, felt like the story would work better in trade form. That and it would be significantly less expensive reading the trade which cannot be ignored when 1-2 single comics is the equivalent of a month's Spotify/Netflix/Amazon prime/marvel DC unlimited.

As this is billed as a one shot, I thought it would be a good place to dip into the world. Credit to the creators/editorial team is due as this was totally accessible. The only element I found slightly confusing was the chronology (it starts in the 1880s) which initially had me thinking the whole absolute universe is set in the late 20th century rather than being contemporary. I think the solution is that one of the classic Batman villains is much longer lived in this continuity. I also have no idea what Ark-M is - possibly an art gallery or company built on top of the original Arkham asylum?

The story itself doesn't really feature Batman and is instead a gothic horror with the style and twists of an Edgar Allen Poe story. I think this is a good angle when dealing with Arkham and the artwork supports this too.

There is a tease of what I presume will feature in the main series and this definitely had me curious about checking out future issues especially for the more monstrous Batman villains hinted at here.


Overall 4/5
Writing 4/5
Art 4/5
Will I read the next issue? NA but more inclined to check the main series if the next issue is a new arc.
Did I need to read previous issues/series? No
Will I read previous issues? Yes, in TPB

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me encanta que siempre que se pueda se siga trabajando creativamente en torno al manicomio Arkham. Más que un trasunto de prisión usual pero para la carnavelesca galería de villanos de Batman, una de las moradas más históricas de Gotham City para cierto mal y locura endémica de esta región custodiada por el Caballero Oscuro. Pensar en cómo sería la historia del "Ark M" del Universo Absolute ya pone los pelos de punta al haber asistido a su gestión moderna como centro de experimentación biogenética que está diseñando las variantes de personajes como Bane, Killer Croc, Poison Ivy... Pero Scott Snyder presenta con este especial una historia más terrorificamente clásica en recontar el interés de un hombre en construir un edificio con función de cuidar y tratar a los desequilibrados mentales espoleado por una desgracia familiar. Esta empresa se vuelve complicada a lo largo de las décadas, y un terrible evento se produce para poner en inactividad el complejo hasta la llegada de un hierático hombre que realmente oculta la sonrisa más perversa del mundo. Una, que el viejo Arkham realmente había conocido, más próxima de lo que creía. Manteniéndose como una sombra que esperaba engullirle cuando menos se esperase sumiendo todo en la oscuridad y las perversas carcajadas.

Me hubiese gustado un artista que se acercase algo a la retorcida e impensable imaginería de Arkham Asylum de Grant Morrison. O en el perfil de Frank Tieri, el dibujante Dani ya se había establecido como un artista ideal para arrancar lo inherentemente terrorífico de lo ligado al Arkham Asylum con la miniserie Arkham City: The Order of World.

Es genial como esto se complementa con la entrega dibujada por Jock para establecer el Absolute Joker

[Alexis Moreno · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique change of pace from the norm. I really appreciate stories that add to the world building via a different channel or medium. the story of a man trying to find himself and see his reflection in the work he has done for others. in the institution and people he keeps around himself to give what he could not have. Then he finds a match, someone who is equally trying to see nothing coherent and not make sense but in order to do see that manifest he must inflict it on the world. he is strengthened in his resolve by sharing and doing his work on the world. It’s the same basic underlying principle as the first, but the boy is destructive and corrosive to the most important facilities humans use.

[Jerry Aguirre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the TRUTH ABOUT Absolute Joker. Holy moly what a dark, twisted, horror book. Turns out the Joker was always evil. The question is , before he was an orphan, who was he ……

This was AWESOME ! And amazing Easter eggs!

I need to reread Batman 15.

Joker can easily kill him. But just like the OG Joker , and now the line “just to make a fool out of me” he might just be playing with Batman since he’s the only one that’s ever challenged him. He’s playing with his food. He’s having fun, and if he ever gets a lot, Deathstroke will be sent in

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5🌟
This first instalment of Absolute Batman: Ark M follows Amadeus Arkham and the origins of what I can assume is the absolute version of Arkham Asylum. Luckily for me, I’ve played through Batman: Arkham Asylum and collected all of the several Chronicles of Arkham, where we hear a different tale of the story presented in this single issue. This short story sets the tone for what is to come, an origin of absolute characters—including the one laughing in the dark. I really enjoyed this, especially a less deranged sounding version of Dr. Arkham, I felt so bad for him by the end of this.

[Keegan Schueler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snagged an early copy of this and gotta say this is a solid read overall for the Absolute universe. Gives some good context to the facility in Gotham with a more detailed history while also connecting a little bit to Absolute Batman 15 and where the series is also heading. Big fan of the ending of this issue with some awesome teases for what’s to come.

[Lizzy DeMarco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh... what an issue. I love that we got more of Jack Grimm's backstory. The reveal at the end? Wow. This joker is somehow creepier and much scarier than the Prime Earth Joker. So much worse in my opinion, in that way you want with this over the top Batman in the Absolute Universe. Just loving this series!

[Zoey · Rating 5 out of 5]

More of Grim’s dark past is uncovered, and it shows us just how twisted he is. He breaks the prisoners out just to dash the dreams of his surrogate father of making the world a better place.

It ends with Grim watching Batman and plotting against him. I wonder what creature he unleashed from his biomes.

[DonHeimscheißer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely peak, what an amazing comic. The story of how Arkham came to be is so interesting, and it had me wondering who the lil boy was and who Jack Doe was. I thought for sure one of them had to be the Joker and later on when it’s all revealed… shocked I was. Absolute Batman is the definition of peak. 🦇

[Nenad Dimovski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snyder keeps dropping bomb after bomb with this series. Even with a more simplistic art style, this is the most terrifying issue of Absolute Batman. Tieri’s art fits so well with the horror in this issue. Panel to panel, this is a crazy story. The writing on this is fantastic. Scott just keeps dangling the carrot in front of all of our faces and I will continue to follow.

[Isaac Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

weee
yo siempre fui fan del Arkham Asylum de Morrison, sobre todo del diario de Amadeus Arkham, posteriormente jugando el Batman Arkham me encantaba recolectar las grabaciones del diario... en cuanto empecé a leer me di cuenta que retomaba elementos de esto y lo integra de una manera tan buena al universo Absolute

probablemente mi issue favorito del mes, tampoco es que lea tantos