The origins of the enigmatic Ark M are explored! What terrible secrets lie within its walls, and just who is assigned to protect it from discovery?!
There is so much lore to explore in the Absolute Universe that the architects have begun experimenting with spinoffs. First came the Absolute Batman Annual, which let a trio of cartoonists freestyle with the character and his world, and now comes this one-shot as Scott Snyder gets an assist from his Arcbound collaborator Frank Tieri, and the latter puts out the best comic of his long career thanks to help from acclaimed horror artist Joshua Hixson. Read Full Review
The last issue of Absolute Batman laid down a few pieces that revealed the Joker to readers. However, Absolute Batman: Ark M Special #1 may shed light but so much is still obscured in shadow. This issue adds a new layer of mystery to the universe, but it also hints at some exciting things to come. Readers can look forward to meeting some Batman foes with familiar names, though we dont really know what to expect based on the series so far. Read Full Review
Absolute Batman Ark M #1 will send chills down your spine and leave your blood running cold. The horrors of this asylum and its history are captured in detail both through story and the art, and the way it reaches its climax was masterful. There are so many Easter eggs littered throughout that will both excite and frighten readers for what is to come! Read Full Review
The history of Ark-M is filled with terror and tragedy as it heads into a new avenue and a caped crusader waiting in the wings. Snyder and Tieri deliver on an intense horror tale via phenomenal writing. Hixson and Stevens' art structures a somber landscape based on broken dreams and no hope. Just when you think Batman's world couldn't get any more Dark, this chapter screams how it hasn't scratched the surface yet. Don't miss this one. Read Full Review
Absolute Batman: Ark-M #1 is a triumph. If you like your comics with a heavy dose of atmosphere, psychological depth, and genuine scares, this is a must-read. Scott Snyder and his team have proven that the Absolute Universe is truly about bigger, bolder, and scarier ideas. Read Full Review
Absolute Batman Ark M #1 is a chilling, lore-rich one-shot that trades action for atmosphere, successfully transforming Arkham's origins into a tragic horror story while laying dangerous groundwork for what's coming next. It's not flashy, but it's purposeful, and the final act makes it essential reading for Absolute Batman fans. Read Full Review
To be fair, we did just get some major reveals with Decembers Absolute Batman #15, which gave us some shocking details about the Jokers perplexing history. And yet, when it comes to things like his shadowy Ark M project, weve mostly been left in the dark. Thankfully, Snyder has teamed up with Frank Tieri and Josh Hixon for a new one-shot that dives into the history of this worlds Arkham Asylum and sets up the dangers to come in the next exciting year of Absolute Batman. Read Full Review
Absolute Batman: Ark M Special #1 is a solid psychological horror story that asks meaningful questions about the nature of evil and institutional failure, wrapped in atmospheric artwork and clever narrative structure. The problem is that it's also a half-answered question masquerading as a complete story. The twist lands effectively and the tragedy is genuinely tragic, but readers finish the issue knowing they've gotten the setup rather than the payoff. If you're hunting for a Batman comic that explores the asylum's dark roots and doesn't rely on familiar rogues gallery appearances, this delivers. Read Full Review
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