Overview
- Published December 10, the chapter by Scott Snyder and Jock (with Frank Martin and Clayton Cowles) centers the long-teased antagonist in a self-contained, horror-leaning spotlight.
- Told as an Alfred Pennyworth briefing to Bruce Wayne, the narrative withholds the villain’s inner thoughts while layering historical flashbacks over present-day action.
- The story presents the Joker as an apparently ageless figure who preys on vulnerability through philanthropic fronts, leaving the mechanics of his longevity deliberately ambiguous.
- It details a vast media-and-entertainment empire that profits by playing both sides of conflicts, positioning the villain as a system-level manipulator rather than a street-level menace.
- Final pages steer Batman toward Gateway City, with outside reporting indicating this tees up a crossover touchpoint in Absolute Wonder Woman #15 on December 24.