REVIEW: ‘Absolute Batman: Ark-M Special’ Issue 1

Absolute Batman Ark-M Special Issue 1 is published by DC Comics and written by Scott Snyder and Frank Tieri, art by Joshua Hixon, colors by Roman Stevens, and letters by Clayton Cowles. 

The history of Ark M is revealed from its very foundations.

This issue is a spin on a very particular genre of Batman story. The history of Arkham Asylum has been crucial to one of the most iconic locations in all of comics, explored in games and comics alike. Snyder and Tieri put an Absolute twist on the concept.

There’s a terrific structure, with a smooth pacing. Absolute Batman Ark-M Special Issue 1 starts at the origins of the city itself, following the traumatic and troubled upbringing of Amadeus Arkham. It shows a man creating a building for the most insane members of society, spending time with them, and trying to treat their conditions.

It’s this part that is familiar. Absolute Batman Ark-M Special Issue 1 is an extremely dark and somber tale that is then given some changes by the writers. It takes a severely insidious turn, highlighting a merciless world and turning the classic story on its head. And, shown through sporadic visits, another figure becomes involved with the asylum. This figure has become increasingly present in this universe, across multiple books, and has been active in this world much longer than expected.

The whole of Absolute Batman Ark-M Special Issue 1 has a sinister tone, reveling in being unnerving. The majority of this nefarious story takes place long ago, yet it has a direct connection to the present day and even the future of Absolute Batman, as it paves the way for the next wave of villains. 

The characters at the centre of this comic play an intriguing role. Amadeus Arkham is the narrator, a well-spoken, intelligent man. This very narration is well known and weirdly comforting. It’s been spoken of in the Arkham Asylum game and in other stories. But that’s what builds familiarity and gets readers ready for the twists. There’s a haunting, gothic feeling to the narration. Arkham can describe the most awful events with a matter-of-fact tone, which makes it even more horrifying.

As the years pass, Amadeus ages, but crucially, he doesn’t seem to be dying at any point. As he witnesses a devastating tragedy, the man becomes something new as the other character enters the frame.Absolute Batman Ark-M Special Issue 1 is a horror comic, and Arkham becomes a horror character, blending many ideas into one terrifying mixture. 

The art thrives on being disturbing from the beginning of Absolute Batman Ark M Issue 1. Hixon makes every character look haunted and creepy, whether they actually are or not. Those cursed with madness look inhuman, with twisted faces contorted into horror. The building itself isn’t as iconic as the classic version; in fact, we never get a full shot. What you see are the cellblocks and those inside, faces twisted in pain and mania.

Absolute Batman Ark-M Special Issue 1 is a violent, scary book, with frightening imagery on almost every page. The device that reveals the passage of time is Arkham himself, from a boy to an old man. He doesn’t age gracefully, looking dead behind his sunken eyes. Batman only appears briefly in this issue, but Hixon captures the excessive violence brilliantly. Bodies fold and break around him. Batman is not illustrated quite as bulky as he often has been, but he’s still imposing. 

The colors are pivotal towards building a constant, sickly, unpleasant atmosphere. There isn’t a location or moment when the characters are comfortable. When Arkham and his benefactor walk through the cellblocks, it’s cold and decrepit. Even his skin gets paler, looking devoid of life. The only times a tinge of vibrancy appears are in moments of intensity, violence, fire, or other shades of red that signify danger. The lettering uses a faux handwriting font, but it’s very legible and easy to read. 

Absolute Batman Ark-M Special Issue 1 combines a common past with a new history. Scott Snyder and Frank Tieri lean on expectations to divert and create something new. The legend of Arkham and the original inhabitants had become such a fabric of Gotham’s history, retold in countless forms. But stitched into this one are traumatic twists. It’s a captivating read because it delves into the history of a city we know so little about. And through it, the next chapter of Absolute Batman begins.

Absolute Batman Ark-M Special Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.