The amount of villains that make upBatman’s rogues gallery is a disturbing number that seems to only ever climb higher, withScarecrowbeing a fear-based foe who gives the Dark Knight a run for his scare factor every time they meet. Receiving a complete overhaul in DC Comics’ recently launched Absolute Universe initiative, Batman and the rest of his associated characters have been redefined for a new continuity, withDC hinting how this reality’s Scarecrow will be even more terrifying than ever before.
Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, Scarecrow has been a staple Batman villain since his inception in 1941, with the Christopher Nolan-directed filmBatman Beginssuccessfully bringing him into the live-action space thanks to Cillian Murphy’s subtle insanity and a terrifying mask design that sold this version of the character well.
But over in DC’s Absolute Universe, things are a little more intense than inBatman Begins, and after sharing asneak peek of Mr. Freeze’s terrifying redesign,Absolute Batmanwriter Scott Snyder reveals that yes,Scarecrow is coming, and compared to his fellow bat-rogue, he’s “very very scary.”
Absolute Batman Writer Scott Snyder Teases That Scarecrow Will Be Even Scarier Than Absolute Mr. Freeze
Snyder Already Has Plans for Absolute Scarecrow
Answering a comment on X regarding DC Connect’s reveal of Absolute Mr. Freeze, Snyder is asked, “if you are putting monstrosities in absolute Batman like this, please tell me you have something planned for the god of fear,” Snyder responds with a succinct “Scarecrow will be very very scary” tease. Offering no further information,Snyder confirms that once Absolute Scarecrow debuts, he’ll at the very least be more terrifying thanthis version of Mr. Freeze, to say nothing about how Scarecrow will surpass his previous incarnations in movies likeBatman Begins, games likeBatman: Arkham Asylum, and other Batman comics.
Batman ‘89 Reveals Its Terrifying Scarecrow Design, as Keaton’s Dark Knight Faces a Living Nightmare
Bruce Wayne finds himself in a waking nightmare as Batman ‘89: Echoes finally reveals its version of the iconic Gotham villain, Scarecrow.
Like every hero and villain introduced thus far in this new reality,Scarecrow will undoubtedly get a revamped character design, with his eventual look likely skewing towards something that’s pure nightmare fuel in nature, especially since Absolute Mr. Freeze’s redesign is a far cry from his usual cold-infused suit. Conversely, Snyder could also do what this differing continuity has already been successful in doing — shake things up to a point where Scarecrow’s origin and redesign are unlike anything that’s come before, setting the stage for a unique take on the villain only made possible in theworld ofAbsolute Batman.
Absolute Mr. Freeze Is a Precursor to What the Absolute Reality’s Scarecrow Will Be Like
Mr. Freeze Will Debut in Absolute Batman #8
Snyder hasn’t explicitly stated when Absolute Scarecrow will be joining Batman’s rogues gallery, but withJoker and Mr. Freezealready waiting in the wings to make the Dark Knight’s life in this wildly different reality a living hell, it’s only a matter of time before Jonathan Crane — or anyone else who could be taking on the role — turns up to scare Gotham silly. Regardless, whenScarecroweventually makes his presence known in the Absolute Universe, fans can bet thatBatmanwill have his work cut out for him worse than ever before, especially without his usual resources and high-tech gear.
