DC Comics announced a new Absolute Batman one-shot special titled Beyond Ark M, where it will introduce Absolute Professor Pyg.
The Absolute Comics panel made the reveal at San Diego Comic-Con. Beyond Ark M is a sequel to the Absolute Batman: Ark M one-shot this past year. This time, Beyond Ark M promises to uncover the secrets of the of other 12 Ark sites that are spread all over the world.
Over the course of the Absolute Batman run, writer Scott Snyder revealed that there are other Ark sites internationally and titled by the different letter designations-like A, B, C. So Ark M happens to reside right outside of Gotham City. All of the Ark sites are facilities that run grotesque, human experimentations and are funded by Jack Grimm aka the Joker.
Enter Professor Pyg, who runs these Ark sites and is apparently is the Joker’s right-hand man. Traditionally, Prof. Pyg is a creepy genetic scientist who is obsessed with beauty and perfection, so running the various Arks seems right up his alley.
Regular Absolute Batman artist Nick Dragotta drew the concept art for Prof. Pyg. The concept art sheet seems to tease a super interesting new take on Pyg. He wears a pig mask, but one where the head is massive and not proportional to his human-sized body. It sort of resembles a character from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre prequel movie Leatherface. The 2017 movie features a kid who will grow up to become the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface wearing a disproportionately huge cows head.
Another interesting note in Prof. Pyg’s Absolute design is that he might be a literal dog without the mask?? There is an image of an unmasked Pyg looking upward at Jack Grimm. Grimm is saying “I’m not human either.” Like, the design sheet makes Pyg look like a little person with a dog’s head. Did he maybe do some cross-animal genetic manipulation on himself?
‘Beyond Ark M’ Cover by Francesco Francavilla
The other odd thing is, the cover to Beyond Ark M features Pyg looking different than what Dragotta drew in the design guide. Here, he looks like a typical human with typical proportions wearing a black pig mask. In fact, Pyg here seems rather dapper with his nice, double-breasted suit. It is certainly an upgrade from his bloodied apron. Perhaps that is how Pyg starts in the beginning of the story, but over the course of the comic, he transforms into a more grotesque creature.
Absolute Batman: Ark M writing team Frank Tieri and Scott Snyder will also pen Beyond Ark M. Long-time collaborator Francesco Francavilla will draw the creepy one-shot.
Absolute Batman: Beyond Ark M will hit comic book shops in January 2027.
Source: ComicBookClubLive.com
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