Absolute Batman # 15 Second Printing Cvr D Jock Foil Variant BN

Absolute Batman #15, published in December 2025, focuses on the origin of the Absolute Joker, a mysterious, immortal billionaire named Jack Grimm V who is a twisted mirror image of Bruce Wayne. The issue shifts from action to a psychological horror narrative as Alfred reveals his investigation into this new, terrifying villain. 

Absolute Joker's Origin and Plot Summary 

The entire issue is framed as a conversation where Alfred Pennyworth recounts to Bruce Wayne the history of the "man who never laughs". 

• The Grimm Dynasty: The official story traces the Grimm family fortune back to 1888 with Joseph "Jack" Grimm I, a street orphan and clown who used nitrous oxide to manipulate people into giving him money. Over generations, his descendants built a media and gaming empire, with the current Jack Grimm V becoming a trillionaire.
• The Dark Truth: Alfred's investigation reveals a far more sinister reality: the Grimms have secretly funded both sides of conflicts, profiting from chaos and using their remote, private islands as hunting grounds for their enemies. Alfred theorizes that there is no family line, but rather a single, immortal entity who has perpetuated the identity for over a century.
• A Twisted Reflection: The issue ends with the revelation of Jack Grimm's monstrous, cannibalistic form as he hunts an old FBI agent on his island. He then returns to Gotham, where it is shown he has his own manor, a butler, and a secret entrance to his own "cave" behind a grandfather clock, a dark parallel to Batman's own origin and base of operations. This sets the stage for a major confrontation in the ongoing Absolute Universe storyline.