The world has been waiting to learn the secrets of DC’s new Absolute Joker, re-imagining the classic supervillain as a half-dragon, half-human, immortal monster. Now the mystery has finally been solved, rewriting the famous clown’s origin story as a billionaire playboy with a family legacy the original version of Batman would be jealous of.
The Joker’s Real Name & New Family Origin Are Massive Changes
Born as “Jack Grimm V,” The Joker’s Family is One of America’s Most Influential
The origin is revealed in the pages of Absolute Batman #15 releasing next week, but readers can unlock the history behind the Grimm family thanks to the first preview. Rising from street clowns to a media empire, this family line has all led to “Jack Grimm V,” the heir to a near-trillion-dollar tech and entertainment conglomerate, a top-tier philanthropist, and the demonic baby-absorbing dragon horror of DC’s Absolute Universe:
These preview pages from Absolute Batman #15 (with special guest artist Jock) help to explain the human side of the strange new Batman antagonist, wielding vast fortunes and military connections (allowing him to take control of Absolute Bane), while amassing a global web of clandestine villainy. Of course, readers will notice that the seemingly impossible rise to wealth and power of the original Joseph “Jack” Grimm brings a set of glowing red eyes along with it. Teasing a possible explanation for Joker’s other, dragon form.
Absolute Joker’s Dragon Form: The Curse of His Entire Family?
Get The Full Story in Absolute Batman #15 by Scott Snyder, Jock, Frank Martin
Considering the twisted secrets of Joker’s dragon form that Scott Snyder has revealed so far, and the outrageous extent of Absolute Batman‘s lunacy, the idea that the Grimm family might be ‘touched’ by evil is entirely possible. Especially if this rise to the heights of America’s wealthiest and most powerful families comes at a price, cursing the line of “Jacks” to take a more disturbing form. What that means for Joker’s immortality, his powers, or his mission remains to be seen, but fans arguably know more about this incarnation than any ever before seen in the pages of DC Comics.
Will this youngest Jack wrestle with his curse, becoming a villain against his will? Or are ther wild animals he’s hunting about to find out that this Joker has more teeth than they do? That will be revealed when Absolute Batman #15 arrives on December 10, from DC Comics.
- NAME
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Arthur Fleck
- Alias
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Red Hood, Clown Prince of Crime, Ace of Knaves
- Created By
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Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson
- POWERS
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Criminal Mastermind, Expert Chemist, Weaponized Props, Psychological Manipulation, Combat Skills, Unpredictability, High Pain Tolerance, Charisma, Escape Artist
- RELATIONSHIPS
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Batman (archenemy), Harley Quinn (former psychiatrist, on-and-off girlfriend), Penguin (frequent collaborator), Two-Face (frequent collaborator)
- HISTORY
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The Joker’s history has been depicted with various origin stories, the most common being his transformation into the Joker after falling into a vat of chemical waste that bleaches his skin white, turns his hair green, and lips bright red. This disfigurement drives him insane, leading him to become Batman’s greatest nemesis.
The Joker is a psychopathic criminal mastermind with a warped sense of humor. Initially introduced as a remorseless serial killer, the character evolved over time, often oscillating between a prankster and a homicidal maniac. His relationship with Batman is one of the most complex in comic book history, defined by their mutual obsession. Over the decades, the Joker has become an enduring icon of chaos and madness, embodying the antithesis of Batman’s order and justice.