Scott Snyder understandably prefers not to distinguish the Absolute Universe from other DC Comics timelines as simply “darker” or “grittier.” Yet, would he at least agree that he and Nick Dragotta have crafted one of the scariest depictions of Gotham City with Absolute Batman?
The smash-hit series has been known to be especially terrifying for its reinterpretation of Batman’s rogues’ gallery, with even variant covers featuring Absolute Clayface making a pretty compelling case on their own lately. However, the most haunting edition yet may have just gone on sale.
New Absolute Batman #23 Variant Cover Out-Scares The Rest
The practice of comic book retailers selling exclusive variant covers for upcoming releases has never been more popular than now, with much of the credit going to the success of Absolute Batman. Eastside Comics is getting in on the action with a cover for Absolute Batman #23 that surely must have had fans shaking at the sight of it from the retailer’s Instagram post.
The design features Absolute Clayface assuming the appearance of Bruce Wayne’s alter ego, much like in Nick Dragotta’s main cover art, but as a facial close-up that shows him supposedly crying out in agony, as if using his shapeshifting abilities causes him pain. Along with the missing “ear” on his cowl and uneven texture surrounding him, especially around his blank eyes, this achieves an image that is a nightmare to look at, but somehow impossible to look away from.
The unnerving cover art comes courtesy of Philip Tan, who has delivered a few other striking Absolute Batman variant covers in his day, including one for the series’ debut issue that homages the original character’s debut issue, Detective Comics #27. He has also designed covers for the likes of Uncanny X-Men and Spawn, and his interior work includes Grant Morrison’s run of Batman and Robin.
Tan’s creepy Absolute Batman #23 variant became available on pre-sale through Eastside Comics on July 19 in a limited supply of 500 copies at $24.99 a piece. It could also be purchased in a twin set with the black-and-white virgin edition of the design for $59.99, but with only 300 available.
Fear Is A Trend With Absolute Batman #23 Variant Covers
Philip Tan’s Absolute Batman #23 variant cover certainly has a good shot at going down in history as one of the most disturbing images designed for the upcoming comic. That being said, the competition has been anything but light.
Up until Tan’s design was revealed, it seemed that the all-time scariest depiction of Clayface had been delivered from a pair of covers by Bjorn Barends & Martin Simmonds. The latter sees a visibly frightened Absolute Batman surrounded by the shapeshifter’s multiple arms as he towers above the vigilante from behind, while the other earns extra points for a photorealistic image of the villain in a dreary room adorned with skulls and snake-like patterns.
Artist Mark Brooks also had DC fans and horror obsessives alike in awe of his image inspired by John Carpenter’s The Thing, which sees Clayface taking multiple forms at once, including Batman armed with his battleaxe and a whole group of people with expressions of torment. Absolute Superman artist Rafa Sandoval channeled his own Scarecrow-prominent Absolute Batman #19 variant cover with a design that shows the vigilante trapped in the mouth of Clayface’s tendriled, skeletal face.
Absolute Batman #23 is said to mark the official debut of Absolute Clayface, unless it turns out that he was the emaciated prisoner identified by Scarecrow as the believed-dead Thomas Wayne at the shocking end of Absolute Batman #22, as fan theories have suggested. Regardless, the villain’s rise from the mud has been hinted at multiple times already, namely during one of Bruce Wayne’s Ark M escape attempts, in Absolute Batman: Ark M #1, and in the last panel of Absolute Batman #21.
Absolute Batman #23 hits the shelves on Aug. 12, 2026.
- Writer
-
Scott Snyder
- Penciler
-
Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Nick Dragotta
- Colorist
-
Frank Martin
- Publisher(s)
-
DC
