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Absolute Batman #19 release date: Absolute Joker teams up with Absolute Scarecrow in a new arc

Absolute Batman #19 marks the first appearance of Absolute Scarecrow

A variant cover for Absolute Batman #19 by Stephen Segovia — Image credit: DC Comics

Guides by Chris Arrant, Editor-in-Chief

Published on Mon Apr 06 2026

The cover of Absolute Batman #19 — Image credit: DC Comics

DC's Absolute Universe has become, pound-for-pound, the most popular superhero line in comic book stores. How? By taking its most recognizable characters and reimagining them for today's world, keeping all that matters, but being unafraid of changing the rest to meet readers where they are here and now. In the flagship title, Absolute Batman, they are doubling on that with the debut of a vicious new version of Scarecrow, who looks scarier than ever.

In April 15's Absolute Batman #19, series writer Scott Snyder and series colorist Frank Martin reunite with series artist Nick Dragotta for a new arc featuring the first appearance of the Absolute Universe's Scarecrow (also known as Dr. Jonathan Crane). The solicit for the issue notes that Dr. Jonathan Crane is a doctor at the ARK M facility, because of course he is. And it shouldn't be a surprise, then, that Absolute Joker is seeking to form an alliance with Dr. Crane against Batman.

Absolute Batman won't be going it alone, however. He's hoping to get an alliance with Barbara Gordon off the ground. And, as we can see in the solicit, "there's one more alliance formed in this issue." Who could it be? You've got some time to speculate.

This is the beginning of an arc that will rock Absolute Batman's world. In Absolute Batman #20, "Robins enter the scene ready to hunt and more than one secret will be revealed in this seminal issue." But let's not get ahead of ourselves here.

Absolute Batman release schedule

If you want to get the big picture on when all the next Absolute Batman books are, we have you covered. Take a look, and why not pre-order through your favorite book dealer?

Absolute Batman #19 release date: April 15, 2026
Absolute Batman #20 release date: May 13, 2026
Absolute Batman #21 release date: June 10, 2026

Absolute Batman collected editions

DC has already collected the first 14 issues of Absolute Batman in two collections, Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo and Absolute Batman Vol. 2: Abomination. Absolute Batman Vol. 3 is now available for preorder and will be released on September 8.

How often will Absolute Batman come out?

DC is aiming for Absolute Batman to be released monthly. To help with that, series artist Nick Dragotta is taking breaks between arcs with other artists filling in, such as with Gabriel Hernandez Walta on issue #4, Marcos Martin on issues #7 and #8, Clay Mann on issue #11, Jock on issue #15, and Eric Canete on issues #17 and #18. Issues 19 through 21 will be drawn by Nick Dragotta.

How many issues are there in Absolute Batman?

Absolute Batman #5 main cover — Image credit: Nick Dragotta (DC)

Currently, there are 18 issues of the main Absolute Batman title out, with announced plans for new issues to be released monthly - at least through June. Outside of the main title, there have been two specials (Absolute Batman 2025 Annual #1, Absolute Batman: Ark M), and titles in the broader Absolute DC Universe.

Here is a full Absolute DC Universe list of books:

DC All In Special one-shot (2024)
Absolute Batman ongoing series
Absolute Wonder Woman ongoing series
Absolute Superman ongoing series
Absolute Flash ongoing series
Absolute Green Lantern ongoing series
Absolute Martian Manhunter 12-issue series
Absolute Green Arrow 6-issue series
Absolute Catwoman 6-issue series
DC All In/Absolute Universe Special Edition (2025)
Absolute Evil

What is the plot of Absolute Batman?

Forget what you know about Batman. In the Absolute DC Universe, Bruce Wayne is a 20-something engineer who carries the trauma of seeing his father killed in a mass shooting years ago. As a terrorist organization known as the Party Animals descends on Gotham, Wayne goes to stop it under the guise of Batman - complete with a combat vehicle that you can call the Batmobile, but is really a retrofitted dump truck.

Successful in his first official outing, Wayne begins to regularly go out to save the people of Gotham through different actions, including investigating a mysterious black site constructed to house the most dangerous of criminals, and discovers that it's been co-opted, with it now making Gotham's most dangerous even more dangerous.

What is the setting of Absolute Batman?

Absolute Batman still lives in Gotham, but it's even darker than you have seen it elsewhere - beginning with the lack of a Wayne Enterprises as benefactor and funder for someone like Batman. No Batcave, No Batmoney. In essence, every street is Crime Alley - and Bruce Wayne lives at the center of it. Whereas there was a time when James Gordon was the mayor, he was ousted with a corrupt replacement named Hamilton Hill in his place.

Is Absolute Batman a different universe?

Absolute Batman is set in a different universe inside the DC Multiverse and began with October 2024's DC All-In Special. This title co-exists in that Absolute Universe with other current titles bearing the Absolute moniker, such as Absolute Wonder Woman and Absolute Superman, among others. Although it exists in a separate universe, plans are already in place for it to crossover with DC Comics' main universe.

How old is Bruce in Absolute Batman?

According to an easter egg in Absolute Batman #1, Bruce Wayne was born on February 19, 2004, and the series is currently set in the present day of 2026 - making Bruce 24 years old.

Where can I read Absolute Batman digitally?

New issues of Absolute Batman are released simultaneously to their print debut on several platforms, including Amazon's Kindle and comiXology services. DC's own internal subscription service, DC Universe Infinite, adds issues of Absolute Batman several weeks after release.

Batman is the most well-known superhero in the world — surprisingly, given how much he loves hanging out in the dark. But between his comics, TV shows, movies, games, and more, DC's Dark Knight is the hero this city/country/world/universe needs, and we have all you need to enjoy him even more:

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Chris Arrant: Chris Arrant is the Popverse's Editor-in-Chief. He has written about pop culture for USA Today, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher's Weekly, Marvel, Newsarama, CBR, and more. He has acted as a judge for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Harvey Awards, and the Stan Lee Awards. (He/him)