Notice! Spoilers for Absolute Batman #3!The DC Universe has a lot of scary locations, but few are as miserable and terrifying to me as Arkham Asylum. Home to some of the worst villains ever Batman ever faced, Arkham Asylum has a reputation for creating more villains than it rehabilitates. It's never been a good place to be in the main universe, and now we know it's even worse in the Absolute Universe, as we've all learned that Arkham Asylum has gone global.
Many things are different in the Absolute Universe, but one of the most horrible changes, in my opinion, was revealed in Absolute Batman #3 by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta. In this edition, Alfred reveals the existence of the Arks: clandestine prisons run by governments around the world. The first was known as Arca A and was in Santa Prisca. Now, it appears that the largest of the Arks – Ark M – is being built in Gotham City.
If Batman doesn't want his home to become the site of an illegal prison, he will have to use everything he can to try and destroy Ark M before it is opened. But the biggest concern is that Arks are all over the world. Considering Arkham's penchant for creating supervillains, there could be villains being created in every major country on Earth, which is a threat Batman can't stop alone.
Arkham is more dangerous than ever in the absolute universe as a series of prisons in black locations
Absolute Batman #3 by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin and Clayton Cowles
There's a lot to dislike about Arkham Asylum. After all these years of reading comics, I still can't believe their complete inability to keep criminals after they're captured. The Joker even mocked this incompetence by giving Batman a revolving door as a gift. Arkham Asylum aims to rehabilitate institutionalized villains there, but they can't do that if they can't hold the villains for more than a few days. Many fans, myself included, have asked why Arkham Asylum exists, considering it doesn't serve the only purpose it appears to have. But Arkham Asylum is actually a lot worse than most people think.
Arkham Asylum isn't just incompetent at rehabilitating villains; it's actually creating more villains, which I think was best explained in Arkham Asylum: Living Hell by Dan Slott and Ryan Sook. In this story, Warren White was a white-collar criminal who embezzled a ton of money. When he was caught, he tried to plead insanity. Wanting to make an example of him, the judge sentences him to Arkham Asylum. I think this situation would be horrible for anyone, but it was absolutely worse for Warren White. He went to Arkham Asylum as a white-collar criminal and he left Arkham Asylum a legitimate supervillain.
The Arks Are Creating Supervillains All Over the World in the Absolute Universe
Snyder and Dragotta reinvent Arkham for a new universe
What I think is the scariest thing about the Absolute Universe Arks is that they are all over the world. Alfred claims that there are Arks in China, Russia and several other locations, which means that Whoever is running these prisons could be creating supervillains all over the world. I don't think they do it intentionally, but those who work at Arkham Asylum have never been particularly competent at their job. I wouldn't be shocked to learn that the existence of Arks in various countries is simply creating more villains, and I'm sure I'm correct due to a location mentioned by Alfred.
Arkham Asylum has always been a difficult part of Batman lore.
One of the Arks that Alfredo specifically names is Santa Prisca. Any longtime comic book fan will recognize this location as Bane's home. The reason Bane became a supervillain is because he grew up in Santa Prisca's worst prison, Pena Duro. It is possible that in the Absolute Universe Bane did not grow up in Pena Duro but rather in one of these locations on the Ark possibly proving that the Ark sites are creating supervillains. After all, if Bane was created into one, I see no reason why other villains couldn't be, like Warren White.
Arkham Asylum is now a global threat in the Absolute Universe
What will the absolute Batman do next?
Arkham Asylum has always been a difficult part of Batman lore. He can't close the place down as he has nowhere else to stick his many villains once he captures them. But at the same time, Arkham Asylum doesn't seem to really contain its villains and even creates more villains. Batman never solved the Arkham problem in the main universe, which is why I think it's an absolute nightmare scenario in the Absolute Universe. With Arks spread across the world potentially creating countless new villains, I don't see any way Batman to solve this horrible problem. He can barely handle the Ark in his own city.
Absolute Batman #3 is now available from DC Comics!