DC Comics has officially teased the first look at the new appearance of one of Batman’s most iconic villains. This Gotham rogue is notoriously known for a design that is simply grotesque and edges into body-horror territory. However, this sneak peek suggests DC is going in a completely different direction, one that strongly implies this eyesore of a villain is debuting a look that is pure woman-attracting rizz.
Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta’s Absolute Batman #21 is finally here, and calling it a bombshell of an issue would be an understatement. Alongside Batman’s highly anticipated battle against the Absolute Universe’s version of the Robins, the issue also features Bruce Wayne and Joker meeting face-to-face for the first time, Jim Gordon’s funeral, and a tense discussion between Bruce’s friends (Waylon, Oswald, Harvey, and Edward) as they debate whether to rally around their friend or abandon him in his time of need.
DC has finally given fans the moment they’ve been waiting for: the inevitable first meeting between Absolute Batman and the Absolute Joker.
It is this latter moment that is of particular note, as it once again highlights the group’s growing grievances with Bruce and the impact his life as Batman has had on them. Harvey Dent reveals that he has been stalking a man named "Victor," whom he had previously locked up for life, only for him to be released after Harvey’s hard-won convictions were called into question because of his association with Batman. It's here that it becomes clear the Victor that Harvey is referring to is none other than the Gotham rogue, Victor Zsasz.
Victor Zsasz has been a part of Batman’s rogues gallery since 1992 and has, for the most part, maintained a relatively consistent look. The sadomasochistic, psychopathic serial killer is best known for carving a tally mark into his own body for each of his victims, giving him one of the most grotesque and instantly recognizable designs in Batman’s lineup of villains. However, based on a panel from Absolute Batman #21, DC Comics may be on the verge of completely reinventing the character.
As previously mentioned, Harvey Dent rants that Victor Zsasz, a man he had locked away for life, is now out "living his best life." This is the result of Harvey helping Bruce Wayne with an unrelated matter, which established a connection between them. With Batman now a wanted man, Harvey’s association with Bruce has caused his own convictions (even those completely unrelated to Batman) to be called into question.
Harvey’s rant confirms that the Absolute Universe’s version of Victor is still a psychopath, one who specifically carves up his victims over the course of several days, starting at their feet. However, one panel from Harvey’s point of view casts Victor Zsasz in a very different light than his traditional portrayal. Although the panel shows only Zsasz from behind, it is clear that he is a tall, fit man with a full head of hair and a woman hanging from each arm.
The presence of these women suggests that, despite readers not being able to see Victor’s face, he must be relatively handsome and capable of maintaining a convincing façade of normalcy long enough to attract women. That would be nearly impossible for the mainstream version of the character, whose extensive scarring and obvious psychopathy tend to repel anyone who crosses his path.
While the modern comic book version of Zsasz is typically an eyesore, fans should remember that his original design featured an unscarred face and a full head of hair. In his earliest appearances, the character could easily pass as an ordinary man. As such, Batman fans may actually be witnessing a return to Zsasz’s original design in the Absolute Universe, though it will be impossible to know for certain until DC fully reveals the character.
Absolute Batman #21 from DC Comics is now available to read!
