Absolute Batman, Vol. 2: Abomination

Absolute Batman (2024)

by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta (Artist), Marcos Martín (Artist)

In this chilling new saga, Batman confronts the icy menace of Mr. Freeze and the brutal force of Bane as he uncovers dark secrets within the Ark M facility that link Victor Fries, the Joker, and Gotham's deepest evils.
The story marks the debut of Mr. Freeze's Absolute Universe version, focusing on Victor Fries, his connection to the Ark M experiment, and its mysterious link to the Joker. Batman faces a deadly battle against Mr. Freeze, uncovering chilling secrets about Ark M and the Joker's involvement. Ark M is a facility meant to help society's broken, but it has also played a role in creating evil. When Bruce Wayne infiltrates Ark M, he encounters Bane--an old foe with a brutal origin story and a terrifying plan to break Batman. The narrative reveals Bane's background, motivations, and how he arrived in Gotham, all while Bruce and his friend Waylon Jones endure harrowing trials inside Ark M.
Collects Absolute Batman #7-14

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Batman, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book, Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published February 3, 2026

About the author

Scott Snyder is the Eisner and Harvey Award winning writer on DC Comics Batman, Swamp Thing, and his original series for Vertigo, American Vampire. He is also the author of the short story collection, Voodoo Heart, published by the Dial Press in 2006. The paperback version was published in the summer of 2007.

Reviews

[Daniel Hoare · Rating 5 out of 5]

boldly asking the question: What If There Was An Even Bigger Guy

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolute Batman vs Absolute Insanity.



A lot happens in this one, and I kind of had to talk myself down off a ledge as the characters and lore leaned more and more into the supernatural.
But.
I've had a come-to-Jesus meeting with my dislike of some of the plotlines, and just decided that if you're going to have that OTT version of Joker or the crazy deep conspiracy through time kind of villains, then an Elseworlds like Absolute is the place for it.



There are some very cool moments in this volume, from the appearances of Catwoman, Bane, & the chilling Absolute Mr. Freeze, to the twists the story takes when it comes to seeing how Riddler, Two-Face, Penguin, and Killer Croc's origin stories all play out.
Snyder really decided to pull out all the stops. And, overall, I enjoyed it.



I read this one in single issues on DC Infinite, and already reviewed each of those individually, so I'm not going to go into anything deep here. I'll leave links at the bottom if you're interested in those. If not, I think it's enough to say that if you're looking for something that doesn't hold its wacky side back, this just might work for you.

Recommended.

Absolute Batman #7
Absolute Batman #8
Absolute Batman #9
Absolute Batman #10
Absolute Batman #11
Absolute Batman #12
Absolute Batman #13
Absolute Batman #14

[Jim Ef · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.9/10
The second vol. of Absolute Batman is wilder, crazier and even more brutal than the first. Snyder seemed to think that bigger is indeed better. While this has the most impressive moments, i found the writing on the first volume to be a bit better and more cohesive with a smoother pace. The highs on this one however make up for that. So overall i would say i enjoyed them equally.

[nitra · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Bane is the scariest guy i know" is unironically the best way to describe this

[Scott Rhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn, this is some dark shit even for Batman. So, of course, I'm loving it. Scott Snyder's Absolute Batman, Volume 2: "Abomination" is an alternate universe version of Batman and the rest of the gang---Bane, Killer Croc, Mr. Freeze, Penguin, Riddler, Two-Face, and even the Joker, all with very different origin stories.

Bruce Wayne stumbles upon a black site set up underneath the city of Gotham where unspeakable human experiments are being conducted. It's called Ark M, and it's funded by a mysterious corporation called JK Industries. One of the monstrous creations is a homicidal creature called Bane, who has it in for the Batman. Bruce is totally out of his league here---outmanned, outgunned---but he can still surprise the shit out of everyone.

I still detest Batman, but I love this series and Snyder's wickedly inventive take on one my least favorite heroes. I'll definitely be reading more.

[Tyson]

the concept of absolute batcat

[Khurram · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great second chapter to series. On a personal and formatting note I really appreciate DC for covering the whole arc in a single volume. If anyone thought the first volume was brutal the theme continues. The artwork matches the story.

Playtime is over!! After the Absolute Batman brutalising the criminal operations in Gotham the Absolute Bane appears. His job to break the Batman. Nobody is safe. Bruce and his friends' good intentions will put them all in harms way. Will Bruce/Batman realise that he is in over his head in the big time now? However Batman might be able to call in some favours of his own.

As good and as brutal as this book is, I have a feeling volume 3 is going to be off the rails especially who is next. The book finishes with a variant cover gallery.

[Jordi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violència i body horror

[Sem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott Snyder once again proves I underestimated the fuck out of him, writing a deranged, glorious story that mainline DC would never see. The art here is just as stunning, of course, but that's to be expected from the greats.

[Eli Seibert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holy crap. The brutality of this book is unreal. The sheer cruelty as well as the disgusting body horror. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the likes in a superhero comic before. This volume really proves to me that the absolute universe was molded in Darkseid’s image.
If this had come out in the 90s, the hyper violence comic fans would have lost their minds.

[Chris Neumann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Batman series ever? I don't know. Maybe.

[Abel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is batshit crazy. I love it. More please

[Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gorgeous art, both from Marcos Martin and Nick Dragotta, but Scott Snyder just can't make me care for his Batman anymore. Dude's been at this for 15 years, I'd say he can let go now.. I don't care for any of these reimaginings, I don't care for Alfred's narration, I don't care for smug emo bruce. Will I keep reading anyways ? Absolutely yes.

I'll say this, Absolute Bane is kind of baller and the stadium fight was pretty cool. Other than that, big ol bleh from me

[Bertazzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's fantastic how Snyder and Dragotta were able to revamp Knightfall in a more emotional and deeper way. The "break" here is more personal. It's the break of family, the break friendship.

[Viktor Logi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still Incredible! This is pure theme park reading. Not the deepest story you're ever going to read (though not devoid of emotion) but just endlessly fun!

Bane is absolutely brutal and I love that, this being an alternate universe it's allowed to take chances with it's characters and it feels way more unpredictable than other comics.

So much fun! Really helped me get out of a reading slump.

5☆

[Cameron Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked the first volume, but felt like it was missing something. This does a great job of expanding the tone. Nothing but sheer horror and madness in this one. Revamped Bane is so much fun to read, but he is not even close to the most deranged thing we see in the story. Feel like this version of alfred is really finding its footing now too, which was nice to see. Can't wait to see what happens next

[Kurt Lorenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

7-8, Absolute Zero, ☆☆☆
9-14, Abomination, ☆☆☆☆

[Axel · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow
I loved the Freeze arc!!! It was so chilling (haha) and unsettling but also very moving. I loved how it introduces the human experimentation thing and how important Bruce's friends are in it.
Because, really, Bruces relationships with his friends and family and allies are the core of this Batman, that's why he fights. And having the rogues be that it's just so so interesting.
His relationship/bestfriendism with Waylon is super beautiful and moving too :)

Really can't wait to see where it keeps going!

[Joey Ware · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe my favorite part of the Absolute Batman series is the new takes and designs on classic villains. Bane is my favorite Batman villain and while he starts out as pretty similar to his usual design, he becomes the very thing the title alludes to, an abomination. Absolute Mr. Freeze was also horrifying. I think my only negative takeaway is Harley Quinn. Not a fan of her design or being a leader of a gang of “punks”. But thought it was a nice touch being the red hood.

[Jack Dombroski · Rating 5 out of 5]

So freaking good

[Mik Cope · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series continues to surprise and excel. The alternate origins stories of how Bruce's buddies become supervillains is amazing and the big showdown, after months of build-up, is something to behold. Definitely my favourite Batman story in a long while.

[Luke Gelfman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bane is a genuinely threatening villain in this and really keeps in you in suspense at how Batman is gonna handle this threat.

[Max Zappe · Rating 5 out of 5]

These absolute Batman comics remain consistently entertaining. I'm only saddened by the fact that I bought this volume the day it came out, so I'll likely br waiting a while before I see what happens next.

[Alex]

it’s cold out there in buff guy city

[Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Batman guy gets into some crazy shit. Someone should seriously make a movie about him.

[Cristian · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOAHHHHHHHH, THAT WAS CRAZY!!! A lot of modern media has made Bane into a joke, BUT HE JUST GOT ALL HIS AURA BACK AND HASN'T BEEN THIS MENACING SINCE KNIGHTFALL. Bruce's intelligence and willpower were really on display from issues 9-12, especially in Ark M, it was great to see. Getting the transformation for Killer Croc, The Penguin, Two-Face, and The Riddler in two issues was a crazy move but it hooked me in even more to this universe. I don't think Bruce is venomed out right now, there's gotta be some way he survived that second encounter with Bane. Can't wait to see where the story goes from here, but now I'm annoyed because I have to wait a month for issue #13 to come out.

P.S. Obviously I didn't read an unpublished volume, I just didn't want to log every issue so it made more sense

[Yoghavaarman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when i thought they were done, they cooked even more holy hell. Batman in literal hell. Absolute Depression.

[Matt Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a kid of the 90s I’m a huge Bane fan and this new take was freaking terrifying, truly an abomination in the style of Akira.

I loved Batman’s journey and the story of his friend Waylon. It’s so sad but and bitter sweet by the end. And the whole Joker set up!!! Can’t wait for that storyline.

[Brandon Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half was a little bumpy, but the Abomination arc really stuck the landing.

[MannyLikesPie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how the issue from this volume was better and better with each chapter. This and black mirror are so far my favorite written work from the goat, excited for vol 3 and the Ark M special!