Absolute Batman, Vol. 3: Devil's Workshop

Absolute Batman (2024)

by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta (Illustrator)

Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta’s Absolute Batman continues to gain momentum, as The Joker, Poison Ivy, and the Court of Owls join the New York Times bestselling series!

Batman won his explosive battle with Bane, but his friends will never be the same—and he might not be able to help them, even if he crosses worlds and enlists the help of a god to do it.

Meanwhile, another of Ark M’s residents will be unleashed on Gotham. And the biggest question of all still remains…what is the true identity of the man behind everything? Legendary artist Jock reunites with writer Scott Snyder to tell one version of the story Alfred’s been chasing for years, and a one-shot explores the origins of Ark M!

Volume 3 collects the Absolute Batman 2025 Annual, Absolute Batman: Ark M, and Absolute Batman #15-18.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Batman, Fiction, Horror, Superheroes

208 pages, Hardcover

Published September 8, 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

[Nicolo · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

The third volume of the Absolute Batman series of collected graphic novels contains individual issues I would rate highly on its own, but it's not a singular story arc. It's a mishmash of one-shots and shorter arcs with a theme on transformation. It is mostly Joker-centric given the cover, but it also contains the Annual, an Absolute Wonder Woman crossover, and an Absolute Poison Ivy two-parter.

It is certainly a handy way to read these issues without digging thru my storage. Regular artist Nick Dragotta only illustrates one issue in this collection and the rest by talented artists whose interpretations of Dragotta's character designs adds to the visual lore of Absolute Batman.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been quite cold on Absolute Batman thus far (but it’s cool that the series has really captured fan passion - good to see something has) - Black Mask as the antagonist for the first book and Bane in the second? They’re ok villains but I’m a big fan of Joker and that’s the character I’ve been wanting to see get the ABSOLUTE treatment, he’s the guy I want to read about in this strange new world, so I’ve stuck with the series only to get to the Joker part.

And here we are at last - or at least what we get here is the beginning of the Joker story in Absolute Batman. It’s pretty decent as well. Didn’t love all of it, but enjoyed what we got so far and look forward to more. It’s just a shame that Absolute Batman, Volume 3: Devil’s Workshop isn’t all Joker - instead it’s a mish-mash of various spin-off pieces cobbled together to create an uneven reading experience.

We open with the Annual which is mostly Daniel Warren Johnson’s loud, violent story of Absolute Batman fighting white supremacists. What’s amazing is how much Johnson’s able to make his art resemble the series main artist’s, Nick Dragotta, while also retaining his own recognisable style - what a huge talent this guy is.

The story is a little basic - obviously Absolute Batman decimates the white supremacists - but it definitely has energy to it and there’s an attempt at nuance with the flashbacks to Bruce’s youth when he’s talking with his dad. Absolute Batman is so much more vicious than the “real” Batman but you also see that he has to be that way due to the exaggerated level of threats he’s facing - but also that his youth means his solutions to these threats aren’t as mature or sophisticated as they could be yet.

It’s not a brilliant story but it’s a fine opener. More than anything it shows that when Scott Snyder walks away from this title, the first choice to take up the reins is Daniel Warren Johnson - this issue shows that this guy can do it. The annual rounds out with stories from James Harren and Meredith McLaren, both of which have great art but not much else.

Then we’re into the main event and one of Snyder’s long-time artistic collaborators, Jock, joins him to tell the story of Absolute Joker. Without giving away too much, I liked the telling and retelling of the generations of “Jack Grimm”, changing it with each retelling, and the surprise inversion of the ending. Then - of course because this is ABSOLUTE and everything has to be dialled up to 11 - Snyder takes it too far and - well, you can see the cover. Joker’s literally a monster. It’s an imaginative origin but I would’ve preferred it without the supernatural elements - still compelling though.

Also included is the Ark M special which is Absolute Amadeus Arkham’s story and ties into Joker’s own. I could see the twist coming a mile off and there’s overreach in making Absolute Joker even more evil (he’s Jack the Ripper too!), but it’s still an interesting read. The underrated Frank Tieri co-writes with Snyder and The Deviant artist Joshua Hixson lends his skills for the issue.

Disappointingly, that’s it for the Joker material in a book I thought was going to be all Joker. There’s a crossover issue with Absolute Wonder Woman that’s not very interesting - Bruce tries to win his friends back with magic - but it’s good to see Dragotta back on art duties. The issue looks fantastic but magic doesn’t belong in Batman and I’m not a fan of Absolute Wonder Woman so the issue didn’t do much for me.

The book closes out with the very poor two-part Poison Ivy/Court of Owls storyline, The Seventh Kingdom. Ivy’s plants have (as always) taken over part of Gotham and Martha has gone to talk to the Owls for some reason. Not all Batman villains are created equal and these are some of his weakest.

Eric Canete is the artist for this story and Ivy’s design is, you’ve guessed it, ABSOLUTE to the MAAAAXXX! meaning over-the-top and very strange - Canete’s Absolute Batman looks great though. Like most times when Ivy takes centre stage, the story is very dull and I don’t care about her origins one bit. And, like trying to make Joker Jack the Ripper, the reveal of Martha’s past is too much. A weak ending to the book.

I would’ve preferred more focus on Joker but what we got on him here was satisfactory and whets the appetite for more - now we’ve got the introductory set-up out of the way, I’m looking forward to these versions of Batman and Joker finally crossing paths. The surrounding non-Joker material varied from middling to crap but the myriad art teams created a consistently engaging visual treat throughout the book. Absolute Batman remains THE Batman book to be reading instead of the main title which is underwhelmingly written by Matt Fraction. It isn’t saying much but Absolute Batman, Volume 3: Devil’s Workshop is the best book in the series to date.

[Jordan Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 2 volumes of Scott Snyder’s fully original new take on Batman were shockingly good. Usually subverting the expectations of fans doesn’t work out (The Last Jedi anyone?) but with a fully new origin story for Bruce Wayne and a completely reworked set of familiar characters, Snyder somehow managed to make Batman feel fully new and exciting again.

Then comes volume 3, which, if we are being honest, is a swing and a miss. It’s not that it’s terrible (there are still some interesting ideas peppered throughout these issues)…it’s just that it’s not really all that good…or at least not executed well enough. Joker is now an immortal shapeshifter and Poison Ivy is some weird plant/animal chimera that should be super cool and freaky but the art just makes her look like something I would have drawn in 3rd grade. There’s also a fully pointless Absolute Wonderwoman pseudo-crossover that, as others have said, felt shoehorned in as a publisher demand, rather than a totally necessary issue to further the plot. What saves this collection is the Absolute Batman annual that shows just how bad ass this new version of Bruce Wayne is, as well as the Ark M special which, once again, totally changes the past established lore, but in a good way.

I really am hoping this was just a bit of slump and Snyder can get this series back to the 5-star caliber story it was originally because this really is a great concept that works when executed correctly.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even with Nick Dragotta only drawing two of the issues here, it's great. Snyder is building up these horror versions of Batman's rogues and it's glorious. We get our first teasers into the Joker. Poison Ivy is especially cool. All of Batman's friends who are rogues in another life, now refuse to see him after they all got seriously hurt during the Ark-M / Bane story.

[Gabriel Calderón · Rating 5 out of 5]

This continues to be one of my favorite Batman series I have ever read, so unique and original.

The villains so far have been super interesting.

Especially the Joker issue was insanely good, that dude came straight up from my worst nightmares bruh

Also the final 2 poison Ivy issues were probably my favorite depiction of the poison ivy character in any Batman media, her design alone was super cool and looked like a damn dark souls boss 😭

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third volume of Absolute Batman pumps the brakes a little so we can find out a bit more about the big villain of the piece before Bruce punches a plant lady for a bit.

We open with the 2025 Annual, which features Batman snapping a Nazi's arm and then kicking the shit out of them all. Five stars for this one, even without the excellent back-up stories and the moral of the story being surprisingly good too.

Issue 15 of the main series gives us the history of the Absolute Joker in a truly chilling tale from Jock, before we head over to the Ark M Special for a flashback story that reinforces how fucked up this guy is compared to the normal Joker - I don't think we needed both of these stories so close together, but they're very good separately.

Issue 16 is the Absolute Wonder Woman crossover, which features Bats heading to Hades to fight a centaur to try and save Killer Croc, the only issue here with series artist Nick Dragotta involved, before Eric Canete steps in for the Poison Ivy two-parter that brings up the rear. Honestly, the stuff about Bruce's supporting cast peppered in around the Ivy story is almost better than the Ivy story itself.

A little slow on the overall plot progression, but the world building is still top notch.

[Scott Rhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott Snyder's Absolute Batman graphic novel series is like nothing I expected when I first started reading it. It's better. This is not a superhero comic book. This is a horror series, which is what, in its best iterations, Batman should be.

In Volume 3: Batman learns more about who---or, more to the point---what the Joker is; Batman, with the help of Wonder Woman, travels to Hell to help a friend; Poison Ivy makes her appearance.



Who knew I'd ever dig Batman again...

[Jordi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bon 'setting' pel que ha de venir i que sembla serà molt gros. Molt i molt bona aproximació a dos personatges importants. M'ha sobrat l'especial de l'inici i el crossover forçat amb un altre personatge de l'univers Absolute. Amb ganes de més Dragotta.

[Khurram · Rating 4 out of 5]

He is here the Absoulte Joker. Who is he? What is his origin? This is starting to be explained her. A bit of a filler issue, but it did move the story forward also a team up between Absolute Batman and Wonder Woman.

Bruce and Batman's worlds are falling apart. Bruce's friend were horribly mutilated both physically and mentally by Bane. The all blame Bruce and nothing he can do can make it right. Worse Batman now has the full attention of the Absolute Joker. However this is nit the biggest secret being kept from Bruce. The annual contains a few shorter stories of Batman despencing hard justice.

A good book that has setup a lot of things to come. A slightly slower pace then the other two volumes, apart from the annuals and last couple of issues/chapters it is more about Bruce than Batman. The book finishes with a variant cover gallery.

[Owen Weitzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nick Dragotta is incredible

[Caleb Succo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute Batman continues to amaze!
Unfortunately this volume suffers a lack of cohesion as it includes the Annual and Ark M special, with only having four mainline issues.
I quite enjoy Daniel Warren Johnson’s Batman tale and he draws Batman beautifully here. (I would love more Batman from him.) Less good is Jock having an issue, winch is one of the worst artists in the current comic industry by my standards.
(I am sad we only get one issue by Nick Dragotta but that issue rocks by having a crossover with Wonder Woman in it.)
Regardless, the writing here is unsettling and gruesome with the Joker and is highly intriguing. The implications have me on the edge of anxiety. Scott Snyder continues to be incredible weaving all these ideas throughout. Overall the highs way more than make up for the lower art styles.

[Bruder Jakob · Rating 4 out of 5]

That demon is not human

[Siona Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so so cool. I think the best volume yet. I love the evolution of the character and the changes from the OG batman are so refreshing. I hope this isn’t the last we see of Poison Ivy

[Frank-Intergalactic Bookdragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the previous two volumes were full arcs, this was a more episodic mix of lore and nasty ass situations.

[Tan]

read the single issues but i cba to track all that x

[Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I was liking this one better than the first two volumes. I starts with Batman beating up nazis, what's not to love ? The Joker issue was cool, if a little derivative of what he already did in his original Batman run. The Wonder Woman crossover was fun. And then it dived right back into everything I hated about the series with Poison Ivy. Shame. Watch me buy volume 4 still...

[Rory Wilding · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the beginning of DC’s Absolute Universe, Absolute Batman has arguably been the best title from this initiative and even during this current age of exciting new Batman comics, the current series by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta reigns supreme. During the first year, the series has devoted to arcs that ran for six or more issues, in which the physically bulked Bruce Wayne battle the likes of Black Mask and Bane. However, this volume takes a more episodic approach with the number of stories that Snyder, Dragotta and other creative forces can conjure up, such as the best single issue of the whole series, and it’s not even one from Snyder or Dragotta.

Written and drawn by Daniel Warren Johnson for the 2025 Annual, the main story opens with Bruce picking up supplies in Slaughter Swamp, only to discover a white supremacist group attacking innocents. While you can see DWJ taking cues from what Snyder has doing on the main series by mixing real-world parallels with absurd comic-book fun – this Batman performing wrestling moves on neo-Nazis is very satisfying – he is also putting his own stamp with his striking art (coloured by frequent collaborator Mike Spicer, as well as his sincere writing that touches upon Bruce’s relationship with his father, and wondering if he is making a difference like his old man that he admired so much.

As previously stated, this volume is more episodic than its predecessors, but there are recurring themes, such as Bruce wanting that one last chat with his father. From the trauma that shaped him into becoming Batman, Bruce is still that frightened child as issue #16 showcases. Technically the second half of a two-part crossover with Absolute Wonder Woman, Bruce may be enlisting Diana Prince’s help of acquiring a magical artefact capable of reversing Waylon Jones’ transformation into Killer Croc, but the most touching sequence is that brief reunion with his dad and realising what it truly means to save someone.

Another recurring theme is Batman himself being a divisive symbol, a subject that countless creators have touched upon over the decades. While the two-issue arc that concludes the volume resolves around a conflict with Poison Ivy, it flashes back to Bruce’s own internal struggle with what his vigilante persona should represent, as well as the consequences that have come out following his actions, most notably his closest friends becoming part of his rogues gallery. Despite his high intelligence, the twenty-something Bruce is still learning what it means to be a hero and how much he is willing to ally himself with others in his war against crime.

Whilst Bruce is still trying to figure who he is supposed to be, the Joker knows exactly who he is, even if we, the readership, have no clue, which makes him terrifying. With Snyder reuniting with one of his recurring collaborators Jock, issue #15 presents the ambiguous history of Jack Grimm AKA The Joker, showing a rise of power not only showcases a wealthy lifestyle that Bruce Wayne would’ve had in the main DC continuity – including his own cave – but there is also the suggestion that he is perhaps supernatural.

While Snyder has always kept the Joker as a mystery, even going back to his Batman run during The New 52, he often writes him like he is the devil and pushes that concept further here from his immense wealth and power to corrupt others, to transforming into a literal clown-like monster that Jock takes sick pleasure of drawing. Snyder’s love of horror and history is also apparent in the Ark M Special (co-written by Frank Tieri and art by Joshua Hixson) which primarily is about the origins of Arkham Asylum through the writings of its founder Dr Amadeus Arkham, whilst adding a new wrinkle to the Joker.

Due to the episodic nature of this volume, there are a variety of art-styles throughout, all of which are not only high-quality, but show how diverse the world of Absolute Batman can be. You do familiar artistic works such as the main artist Nick Dragotta who only draws one issue, while rockstars Jock and Daniel Warren Johnson leave a strong first impression in tackling the series, guest artist Eric Canete may lack the polish of those artists, but embraces the body horror of this bold and tragic version of Poison Ivy, as well as Batman going full Chainsaw Man to hack-and-slash his way through the peril.

Certainly a change of pace, compared to the previous volumes, but Absolute Batman continues to be the most exciting title from the Absolute Universe, which makes me excited to see what other invention of the Bat-mythos that Snyder and his team have planned.

[Viktor Logi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still incredible and just keeps getting better!

Love the new take on Joker! Without spoiling, I just think it all works, the backstory and the design. The design is crazy but it just works! Can't wait for more Joker.

Absolutely loved the chapter about Amadeus Arkham! Really creepy and heartbreaking, a really cool short story.

Also, I loved Daniel Warren Johnson's one-shot! Batman beating up white supremacists, what's not to love?

I am loving this series and hope it keeps going on as long as possible if the quality can be as good!

5☆

[Zachary Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just such an amazing adaptation of the Batman world, that’s somehow both incredibly dark but also human and hopeful. The absolute line is amazing!

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many back stories, not enough bones breaking.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.1 stars

[John Frakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has not had a bad issue yet, plus the crazy evil demon eldritch god Joker is quite scary and I’m interested to learn more about him.

[Ric Miller · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

(4.25 Stars) This series continues to not miss. Despite being more of a set-up volume, far less focused than the first two, it does a much better job expanding the Absolute Universes' lore. It felt like a good break from the fast paced story shown in the previous volumes, actually letting it's characters breathe more. It was great seeing so much time spent setting up the joker to be the most horrifying depiction of the character we've seen yet, and I know his eventual meeting with batman will be one for the ages.

[Danilo Otte · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

Absolute Batman Vol. 3 voelde voor mij vooral als een soort tussenverhaaltje. Het hoofdverhaal was redelijk vermakelijk, maar een bepaalde sideplot voelde nogal random en geforceerd aan. Daardoor kwam het geheel een stuk minder sterk over dan het vorige deel, dat naar mijn mening een veel duidelijker en beter verhaal had. Nog steeds leuk om te lezen, maar wel een stap terug.

[Tyler Kostiuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joker is nightmare fuel (just look at the cover art) and his origin story is unbelievably layered. He is the star of the show this volume and the reason I still rate it highly. He is going to be a brutal villain and I’m looking forward to more of him.

The intro antagonist was serviceable and we got to see Batman snap. The final antagonist just didn’t do it for me, it seemed too random and abstract. Also the jarring wonder woman appearance kind of annoyed me. I signed up to read Batman, don’t give me absolute wonder woman homework to understand the lore. But I got past it quickly after I realized the lore was seemingly inconsequential and kept reading accepting my experience for what it was.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first time I've felt a little disappointed by AbsBats.

This iteration of the Joker is horrible enough, not sure they had to make him a seemingly immortal shape-shifting demon on top of it all.

The one-off issue of Bruce versus the Flyover Fascists was pretty good, especially from an art standpoint (you really FEEL those bodyblows land) but the confrontation with Ivy felt like a return to what Snyder already did in the New 52 days, just ratcheted up to 11.

Still, this book has become a proper phenomenon and I will stick with it.

[Samuel Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.5/10

This volume felt more like a set up of whats to come, but as usual, was very well written and has laid the groundworks for a payoff i hope it will be able to avheive

[Mik Cope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read as individual issues. Not as good as the other volumes but still pretty cool. Joker as supernatural entity was a new one. Clever how "Jack Grimm" returned to Gotham and the manor while Bruce carries on working construction.

[Nicholas Dehler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Batman beating the actual fuck out of a group of white supremecists in Daniel Warren Johnson’s art style with Mike Spicer coloring is a strong contender for coolest single issue I’ve ever read that was so ridiculously sick lol. The Ark M special was also super interesting. As far as the main issues, I thought the Joker story was amazing. Totally different from any other Joker depiction and serving as a fucked up what-if scenario of mainline Bruce Wayne’s lifestyle, that shit worked incredibly to me. The crossover issue with Absolute Wonder Woman was only alright but it had some good moments and I honestly loved seeing her in an Absolute Batman issue, she is so awesome. The Poison Ivy arc was pretty quick but went hard and she immediately became a contender for my favorite Absolute design. Overall frickin sick volume

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scott Snyder and Jock's Absolute Batman Vol. 3: Devil’s Workshop keeps the momentum of the line rolling by widening the scope of the Absolute Universe in some genuinely thrilling ways. Bringing heavy-hitters like the Joker, Poison Ivy, and the Court of Owls into the fold gives the collection a massive sense of scale, and pairing Snyder back up with Jock delivers an absolute masterclass in tense, atmospheric storytelling. While some of the world-building and setup across the issues can feel a bit heavy, the sheer ambition, unique character designs, and relentless pacing make it a thoroughly compelling read that easily deserves a solid 4 stars.