We’re less than a month away from DC All In Special No. 1. As DC.com explains, “The fallout from Absolute Power, the DC Super Heroes’ battle against the Trinity of Evil, will result in seismic changes to DC’s comics this October!” That fallout happens because Darkseid returns (this happens in Batman No. 152). Once Superman finds out, he brings his Justice League to stop them.
The Absolute Universe will have new and darker versions of Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman. That means their villains will be altered. The heroes can’t change without the villains doing the same. It would be weird and cause readers to become uninterested in the project.
This article will highlight the Dark Knight villains we should see and how this writer thinks they should differ from their counterparts. Let's start with the most obvious.
Joker
There has to be a Joker in this universe. Instead of making him all jokes and laughs, he should be more like Heath Ledger’s version of the Clown Prince of Crime. He’ll still have his quips, but he’ll be darker. Maybe Absolute Batman kills this version of his nemesis.
Riddler
There have been multiple versions of the Riddler over the years. He’s been cowardly, a genius, goofy, and deranged. Which one should we get in the Absolute Universe? None of them. What if he’s more like The Question than The Riddler? Someone who sees that this universe is wrong and tries to solve the riddle of the world.
It should be mentioned that Scott Snyder says Riddler is someone with the resources that Batman lacks. That being said, who knows what that means.
Kite Man
Kite Man? Hell yeah, Kite Man! Not the incompetent one seen in the recent DC Comics and Harley Quinn. People forget that Charles Brown (yes, his name is Charlie Brown) created his costume and his functional kites that allowed him to fly. That takes a level of intellect above the average person. Let’s hope we see Kite Man and he’s Batman’s biggest and most dangerous rival.
Deadshot
Bring on the Deadshot from Suicide Squad: Kill Justice League! The Absolute Universe seems like it will be a downer. That means this series will need levity. What better than a comical villain that kills? It’s a very Gotham thing.
Alexis Kaye (not Punchline)
All In could take Alexis Kaye and get rid of Punchline. Keep her devious skillset, give her a new codename, and, most importantly, keep her away from Joker. She doesn't need him now or in the Absolute Universe. She was always going to be evil. The wrapper is the only thing that would have changed.
Her knowledge of social media to make money and manipulate people will always be a relevant storyline. This would force Batman to fight a problem he can’t punch and use his detective skills to shut her down.
It would be interesting if she’s not doing something illegal, just morally wrong. This would put Batman in a weird position on how to proceed. Some of the public may appreciate it while others call for his head.
Jason Todd
What if Bruce Wayne never helped Jason Todd? Maybe he becomes the scariest mob boss ever, the original Red Hood instead of Joker, or, and this may sound sad, he could follow in his father’s footsteps and be another henchman for hire. All of these are possible in this backward, gothic universe.
Sofia Falcone
Sofia Falcone should have been one of the villains Batman fights in regular continuity. DC Comics All In is an opportunity to correct this mistake. She's big, strong, and cunning. We can move away from Carmine Falcone and make his daughter the head of the family. If Sofia appears, she should murder her father to get him out of the way.
Poison Ivy
While I said that you should change characters in this universe, it’s hard to change on perfection and Dr. Pamela Isley is flawless. So much that the only thing to differ is her transformation. She can be an eco-terrorist without special abilities. She’ll be more dangerous since she won't need her control over plants.
Bane
I have a theory that Batman is on Venom or tried it. If that’s the case, Bane should be his dealer. It would be a twist to breaking the Bat. Instead of destroying him with a backbreaker, he does it with narcotics.
This could highlight a topic of addiction that plagues people around the world. If Batman can overcome it, so can you. He may be a fictional character, but the message is still relevant.
Scarecrow
Absolute Batman is built like he does nothing but lift weights and eat steaks. In a world where he lives without his billions, Alfred, or his parents, it makes you wonder what frightens someone of that size who’s lived the life he has. Scarecrow should be the one to expose that and be Batman’s first villain. Learning about his fears could be a theme throughout DC All In.