Batman #3
This oversized hardcover collects the third story arc of the Absolute Batman series, set in DC's Absolute Universe. Written by Scott Snyder with art by Nick Dragotta, 'Devil's Workshop' continues the reimagined origin and early adventures of a younger, more brutal Batman as he faces a new threat tied to Gotham's underworld. The volume includes the complete storyline from the series, presented in the deluxe Absolute format with enhanced production values and bonus material.
In "After the Laughter!", James Tynion IV and James Stokoe deliver a haunting, character-driven chapter as Clownhunter confronts the weight of his past with a vulnerable visit to Leslie Thompkins. Torn between vengeance and purpose, he opens up about the Joker’s role in his parents’ deaths and the painful drive that led him to become Clownhunter during the chaos of the Joker War. The issue’s stark, expressive art by Stokoe—pencils, inks, and colors all his own—heightens the emotional gravity, while Guillem March’s cover captures the unsettling duality of the character’s identity.
In "Ghost Stories Part 1," Batman ventures into the shadows of Gotham’s criminal underworld, tracking the last remnants of Joker’s gang—only to find a new figure emerging from the dark: Ghost-Maker. With a chilling resolve to mete out lethal justice where Batman has hesitated, Ghost-Maker sets his sights on Clownhunter, igniting a dangerous game of vengeance and moral reckoning.
In "Ghost Stories Part 3," trapped with Harley and Clownhunter by the enigmatic Ghost-Maker, Dick shares a long-buried secret with Barbara—revealing the dark, personal history that ties Bruce Wayne to their mysterious captor. The past comes alive in chilling detail, deepening the mystery and raising the stakes in a moment that could change everything.
In "There Is Hope in Crime Alley," a haunted Clownhunter reaches out to Leslie Thompkins for guidance, wrestling with the weight of his past and the chaos of the Joker War. As he shares the truth about his parents’ murder and the painful choices that led him to become a vigilante, the story quietly explores what it means to find purpose in the shadow of tragedy.
ComicBooks.com Value
Find on ebay
Where to buy
Read it digitally
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸Full credits
Reprints
↩ Reprints Detective Comics #1027 (2020), Batman #101 (2020), Batman #101 (2020), Batman #101 (2020), Batman #102 (2021), Batman #103 (2021), Batman #102 (2021), Batman #102 (2021), Batman #103 (2021), Batman #103 (2021), Batman #104 (2021), Batman #105 (2021), Batman Annual #5 (2021), Batman #104 (2021), Batman #104 (2021), Batman #105 (2021), Batman #105 (2021), Batman Annual #5 (2021)
Reprinted in Batman #3 (2023)
Reviews
Reader reviews
No reader reviews yet.