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Absolute Batman #22 hit comic shops yesterday, and, as usual, Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta somehow found another gear.

This issue shifts the spotlight to Harley Quinn, completely reinventing her origin in a way that’s far darker, more disturbing, and far more horrifying than longtime Batman fans are probably expecting. The major reveal had already begun circulating thanks to future variant covers, which seems to be the unfortunate reality of modern comics, but even knowing it was coming didn’t lessen its impact. It’s one of those moments that fundamentally changes how you look at these characters going forward while continuing to lay the groundwork for the next major chapter of Snyder and Dragotta’s epic.

One of the things I’ve loved most about Absolute Batman is that it never feels content introducing just one villain at a time. Every arc peels back another layer of this terrifying new Gotham, revealing another member of Batman’s rogues gallery and slowly exposing the larger conspiracy lurking behind the curtain.

We’ve already learned that this universe’s Joker isn’t simply a criminal mastermind. He’s a billionaire wielding unimaginable wealth and influence to manufacture fear on a global scale. It’s an obvious reflection of the modern world, where fear has become one of the most powerful tools for maintaining control, and Bruce Wayne has found himself standing directly in its path.

That idea came to a head with Absolute Scarecrow, whose shocking revelation connected him directly to the murder of Bruce Wayne’s father in the series’ opening issue. Pulling back the curtain revealed that the real puppet master wasn’t Scarecrow at all. It was the Joker, manipulating events from the shadows and proving that every horrifying piece of this universe has been connected from the very beginning.

As incredible as all of that has been, I don’t think any of us were prepared for Clayface.

An early glimpse of the character leaked months ago through a Felix Comic Art exclusive that showcased Nick Dragotta‘s stunning design, but seeing him fully realized on the page is something else entirely. Equal parts monster movie and body horror nightmare, this version of Clayface immediately feels like one of the Absolute Universe’s most memorable reinventions.

Which brings us to today.

With Issue #22 officially on shelves, retailers have begun revealing the massive wave of variant covers for Absolute Batman #23, the issue that promises Batman’s first full confrontation with Clayface. The timing couldn’t be better, with Clayface also making the jump to the big screen in his own feature film next year, making the character one of DC’s hottest villains once again.

The first cover to stop me in my tracks comes from Martin Simmonds.

If you’ve followed Simmonds’ work, you already know his painterly style has a haunting, weathered quality that feels tailor-made for horror. But this might be one of his strongest Batman pieces yet. Every inch of the image feels drenched in dread, with Clayface rendered as a grotesque nightmare that’s impossible to look away from. It’s unsettling, beautiful, and exactly the kind of cover that collectors are going to regret passing on.

As I’ve written before, Absolute Batman isn’t slowing down. If anything, it feels like it’s accelerating.

Sales continue to be remarkably strong more than twenty issues into the run, something that’s virtually unheard of for a modern superhero relaunch. Every time it feels like the market might cool, Snyder and Dragotta introduce another major character, another unforgettable twist, or another must-own issue that sends collectors scrambling all over again.

That’s why I keep coming back to the same conclusion: we’re still in the early chapters of this phenomenon. The animated series has only just been announced. We haven’t seen footage, casting, a trailer, or even a release date yet. If the comic can maintain this level of momentum on its own, imagine what happens once millions of people are introduced to this universe through animation.

If Issue #22 is any indication, the Absolute Universe isn’t running out of steam.

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