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Absolute Batman (2024)
Absolute Batman, Vol. 2: Abomination
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
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
224 pages, Paperback
First published February 3, 2026
About the author
Scott Snyder
1,794 books5,268 followersScott 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.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 480 reviews
October 27, 2025
boldly asking the question: What If There Was An Even Bigger Guy
February 25, 2026
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
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
February 17, 2026
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.
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.
September 23, 2025
"Bane is the scariest guy i know" is unironically the best way to describe this
April 14, 2026
Whoa.
Looks like I need to dust off one of my all-timey favourite GIFs to adequately express my feelings about this one.
Jack Black. Way hardcore.
This might not work for all audiences as it is a graphic and extreme story of traumatic violence and ridiculous "come at me bro!" masculinity (at least on its surface) but I give Snyder full credit for absolutely (heheh) going for it and giving us alternative origins and arcs for a whole spate of familiar Bat-characters while tantalizingly leading up to the introduction of perhaps the most iconic one of all.
Big Boi Bane.
Without getting too ahead of ourselves, though, I've got to give this version of Bane his due. As you can see his use of Venom has essentially turned him into Goliath versus Batman as David, though his cunning and strategic use of ultraviolence is far more threatening even than his grotesque physicality.
Lastly, I love how Snyder casually drops that this iteration of Bruce Wayne is 6'9" and weighs north of 400lbs (that's 2m+ and over 180Kg, EuroNerds), I'm sorry but those are freakish proportions as well and IRL he would absolutely dwarf nearly everyone he ever meets. For comparison's sake Alan Ritchson of Jack Reacher fame is 6'3" and weighs 235lbs, so Bruce could effectively ragdoll him with one arm.
/endrant
Looks like I need to dust off one of my all-timey favourite GIFs to adequately express my feelings about this one.
Jack Black. Way hardcore.
This might not work for all audiences as it is a graphic and extreme story of traumatic violence and ridiculous "come at me bro!" masculinity (at least on its surface) but I give Snyder full credit for absolutely (heheh) going for it and giving us alternative origins and arcs for a whole spate of familiar Bat-characters while tantalizingly leading up to the introduction of perhaps the most iconic one of all.
Big Boi Bane.
Without getting too ahead of ourselves, though, I've got to give this version of Bane his due. As you can see his use of Venom has essentially turned him into Goliath versus Batman as David, though his cunning and strategic use of ultraviolence is far more threatening even than his grotesque physicality.
Lastly, I love how Snyder casually drops that this iteration of Bruce Wayne is 6'9" and weighs north of 400lbs (that's 2m+ and over 180Kg, EuroNerds), I'm sorry but those are freakish proportions as well and IRL he would absolutely dwarf nearly everyone he ever meets. For comparison's sake Alan Ritchson of Jack Reacher fame is 6'3" and weighs 235lbs, so Bruce could effectively ragdoll him with one arm.
/endrant
March 26, 2026
Love the absolute universe!
April 11, 2026
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.
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.
February 19, 2026
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.
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.
Read
October 13, 2025the concept of absolute batcat
March 19, 2026
Well, damn. That was gruesome. And I enjoyed it a lot.
March 8, 2026
!!!I NEEEED IT ANIMATED!!!!
They pull out so many batman characters in a distinct yet satisfying way. The story exemplifies the clash between Batman and Bane as two tactical genius that ends in an epic conclusion that is hard to forget. A page turner from beginning to end and I can't wait to see what happens next.
They pull out so many batman characters in a distinct yet satisfying way. The story exemplifies the clash between Batman and Bane as two tactical genius that ends in an epic conclusion that is hard to forget. A page turner from beginning to end and I can't wait to see what happens next.
November 29, 2025
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.
February 12, 2026
Violència i body horror
March 11, 2026
Holly Toxic Masculinity Batman!
When men would rather beat each other into littleral puddles of goo than go to therapy.
At first I thought this Bane was interesting, but then we got the backstory and there is little if any difference between Absolute Bane and normal Bane. Like uninterestingly so.
Hopefully we get a Catwoman story about how she got all those cool new toys and it is not as pedestrian as much of these stories in the Absolute Batverse.
When men would rather beat each other into littleral puddles of goo than go to therapy.
At first I thought this Bane was interesting, but then we got the backstory and there is little if any difference between Absolute Bane and normal Bane. Like uninterestingly so.
Hopefully we get a Catwoman story about how she got all those cool new toys and it is not as pedestrian as much of these stories in the Absolute Batverse.
March 15, 2026
absolute boner
February 24, 2026
Best Batman series ever? I don't know. Maybe.
February 14, 2026
This is batshit crazy. I love it. More please
February 15, 2026
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.
If this had come out in the 90s, the hyper violence comic fans would have lost their minds.
February 8, 2026
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☆
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☆
April 11, 2026
4.5 stars! What a ride! Batman vs Bane and it’s worth the price of admission. Batman is captured and Bane and company do a real number on him with the beat downs and experiments. Bane is trying to make Batman the next him so he can retire. Snyder came up with some really cool ideas for Batman in his many failed attempts to escape. Also really digging the spin on Batman’s rogues gallery in this book. Waylan (Croc), Dent (Two Face), Edward (Riddler) and Oswald (Penguin) are his circle of friends in this universe. Th opening arc with this universe’s Mr Freeze was dope too. What Bane and company do to them is F’d up and a nice spin on their main universe counterparts at the same time. This book is dark, gritty and gruesome. After seeing Catwoman in here, I’m interested in reading her Absolute mini series.
February 22, 2026
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
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
February 24, 2026
Something so therapeutic about seeing an entirely unsexualized version of Harley Quinn <3
February 12, 2026
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.
February 15, 2026
One of the best Batman stories to hit stands in a loooong time. The Abomination arc is especially gripping. Great Elseworlds appeal and just some awesome dialogue and plotting. Absolutely loving Absolute Batman.
5/5
5/5
Review of advance copy
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
March 8, 2026
This volume – this series – is very frustrating for me. Here, Snyder develops a nightmarish setting that makes your mouth water, but then systematically ruins every good idea by going too far. Everything, absolutely everything, is over the top, and when the result isn't simply ridiculous, it's grotesque. I feel like I'm reading the story of a 10-year-old kid who's just been given a set of action figures and starts telling himself a story: "And then it looked like Batman was fighting Bane, but Bane had a superpower and he was 5 metres tall and he inflated like a balloon with crazy muscles. Wham! Bam! Crash!"
And it's exhausting.
I think that the exact same story, but under the control of an adult, would be absolutely brilliant. Pure horror, unbridled action, a little character development... It’d be an instant classic.
And it's not Dragotta, clearly the second child in the room who likes to take his crayons to draw big guys beating each other up, who is going to temper little Scott S.'s delusions.
And it's exhausting.
I think that the exact same story, but under the control of an adult, would be absolutely brilliant. Pure horror, unbridled action, a little character development... It’d be an instant classic.
And it's not Dragotta, clearly the second child in the room who likes to take his crayons to draw big guys beating each other up, who is going to temper little Scott S.'s delusions.
February 14, 2026
C’était d’une Violence🤯🤯🤯 mais très bon tome franchement j’adore la façon dont l’univers de Batman est modifié et manipulé!!!!
Review of advance copy
7-8, Absolute Zero, ☆☆☆
9-14, Abomination, ☆☆☆☆
9-14, Abomination, ☆☆☆☆
April 17, 2026
WOW! Talk about pushing the limits of how far I ever thought a Batman comic would go....
Highlights:
- In "Absolute Zero" we meet this universes version of Mr Freeze. He's kind of terrifying and other worldly looking. He is able to capture Bruce and tries putting him in deep freeze, but at the last possible second, Batman escapes and wins the fight.
- "Abomination" is the majority of the Volume and might be the best Bane story I have ever read. Batman explores Ark M, and gets captured by Bane. The scientists there experiment on Bruce and come so close to breaking him so many times. Every time he heals, tries to escape, get beat down by Bane, then has to start all over. He eventually is able to escape with Waylon's help (as Absolute Killer Croc).
- Bruce's friends have been attacked during his multi-month vanishing, creating the versions of them we know. Ozzy, Harvey and Ed become Penguin, Two-Face and Riddler, all much worse than the regular DC versions. Selina, Bruce's lover and friend also adopts the Catwoman persona and I love her outfit and helmet.
- There's a thru-running backstory about Bruce helping Waylon get ready for a boxing match. There are many ups and downs and the author uses the suspense of the fight to drive the suspense of the main storyline. We still don't see how Waylon becomes Killer Croc, but I'm sure we will soon.
- For the final battle with Bane, Batman plays to his weakness of needing to be the strongest, Bane pushing his body WAY past all limits. By the end of the fight, Bane is nothing but eyes, brain, and heart in a jar in a lab.
Apparently next time is Joker! I can't wait to see what they do with him.
You should be reading this title. I'm constantly in awe over how well it is written and how crazy the monstrous body horror is pushed.
Strong recommend.
Highlights:
- In "Absolute Zero" we meet this universes version of Mr Freeze. He's kind of terrifying and other worldly looking. He is able to capture Bruce and tries putting him in deep freeze, but at the last possible second, Batman escapes and wins the fight.
- "Abomination" is the majority of the Volume and might be the best Bane story I have ever read. Batman explores Ark M, and gets captured by Bane. The scientists there experiment on Bruce and come so close to breaking him so many times. Every time he heals, tries to escape, get beat down by Bane, then has to start all over. He eventually is able to escape with Waylon's help (as Absolute Killer Croc).
- Bruce's friends have been attacked during his multi-month vanishing, creating the versions of them we know. Ozzy, Harvey and Ed become Penguin, Two-Face and Riddler, all much worse than the regular DC versions. Selina, Bruce's lover and friend also adopts the Catwoman persona and I love her outfit and helmet.
- There's a thru-running backstory about Bruce helping Waylon get ready for a boxing match. There are many ups and downs and the author uses the suspense of the fight to drive the suspense of the main storyline. We still don't see how Waylon becomes Killer Croc, but I'm sure we will soon.
- For the final battle with Bane, Batman plays to his weakness of needing to be the strongest, Bane pushing his body WAY past all limits. By the end of the fight, Bane is nothing but eyes, brain, and heart in a jar in a lab.
Apparently next time is Joker! I can't wait to see what they do with him.
You should be reading this title. I'm constantly in awe over how well it is written and how crazy the monstrous body horror is pushed.
Strong recommend.
April 12, 2026
J'ai globalement beaucoup aimé ce second recueil, à la fois graphiquement et en termes d'ambiance.
Cependant, j'éprouve une petite déception dans la tournure des évènements. En effet, je trouve dommage de s'être tant éloigné des stéréotypes de Batman au démarrage, pour finalement très rapidement rentrer au bercail et rendre ça plus compatible avec les canons, en quelques épisodes seulement.
Cependant, j'éprouve une petite déception dans la tournure des évènements. En effet, je trouve dommage de s'être tant éloigné des stéréotypes de Batman au démarrage, pour finalement très rapidement rentrer au bercail et rendre ça plus compatible avec les canons, en quelques épisodes seulement.
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