Absolute Scarecrow’s First Look Pushes the Character in a Disturbing New Direction

1 week ago 10

Published Jan 28, 2026, 11:00 AM EST

John Dodge is an MTV Writer for CBR who specializes in movies, television, comics, and pop culture. He has a deep knowledge of franchises like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel, and DC Comics, along with a passion for indie and horror titles. An expert on obscure productions from the ’80s and ’90s, John is known for his encyclopedic recall of cult classics like Beetleborgs.

Absolute Batman fans just got their first look at the scariest Scarecrow yet.

In a recent Twitter post from fan and news account DCU Updates, fans got a sneak peek at two upcoming covers for Absolute Batman #19, which will mark the debut of the Absolute Scarecrow. The character can be glimpsed in reflections caught in Batman's blades on artist Nick Dragotta's main cover for the issue, wearing a well-fitting suit that belies his button eyes, sewn together mouth, and stitched on head.

The official solicit synopsis for Absolute Batman #19 from DC Comics reads, "Poison Ivy proved to be just one of the many horrors within the bowels of the ARK M facility, and as Joker sets his sights on Absolute Batman, he decides to enlist the help of one of the center's most terrifying doctors, Dr. Jonathan Crane. While Bruce Wayne tries to align himself with Barbara Gordon, there's more than one alliance formed in this issue. New debuts, new villains, new arc starts here."

Doctor Jonathan Crane, better known as the Scarecrow, is one of Batman's oldest and most iconic villains. First seen in the closing story from 1941's World's Finest #3, "The Riddle of the Scarecrow" by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson, the classic version of the character was a university professor who weaponized fear itself in his efforts to commit brazen robberies.

Over the years, Scarecrow has been reimagined and reintroduced as a more malevolent version of himself time and time again. The current, Prime Earth iteration of Scarecrow, like most other versions of the character, quickly cemented his place in Gotham City's underworld thanks to his numerous attacks on both specific targets and the city at large.

The Absolute Scarecrow is set to make his comic book debut shortly after another iconic Batman villain, specifically Poison Ivy, who is slated to appear in the pages of Absolute Batman #17. Back in November, Absolute Batman writer Scott Snyder promised fans that the debut of the Absolute Poison Ivy would be just one of two major developments that will take place in the same issue.

Snyder also opened up about the future of the series, explaining that he and artist Nick Dragotta "know the big final chapter of it." Snyder went on to state that Absolute Batman can be expected to run between 35 and 40 issues before it comes to a close, seemingly along with the rest of the Absolute line as a whole.

"I hope it reminds people that these characters are meant to be renewed," Snyder stated at the time "They're meant to be burned down and put together. Batman weaponizes his trauma to make the world better, that's how he wins."

Absolute Batman #19 from DC Comics goes on sale this June.