Absolute Batman (2024-) #12

Absolute Batman (2024)

by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta (Artist)

Batman is at the mercy of the monstrous Bane. And though his body hasseen better days, his mind and spirit are still strong. But how much longercan that withstand Bane’s brutal onslaught?

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Batman, Comic Book, Superheroes, Crime, Fantasy

Kindle Edition

Published September 10, 2025

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

[Jadyn❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, folks, I continue to be scared of this book. I’m gonna run into Scott Snyder and tell him that one day. Anyway, this issue takes “Ozzie” Cobblepot, “Harv” Dent, and “Eddie” Nygma and turns them into Absolute Penguin, Absolute Two Face, and Absolute Riddler. Just when you think Bruce’s heart is done taking a beating, who else should show up but Selina Kyle? Super excited to see more of her in this universe.

[Machiavelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

This issue is dark and brutal, leaning heavily into horror. Snyder and Dragotta don’t hold back on the body horror as Penguin, Riddler, and Two-Face are all reshaped into terrifying new “Absolute” versions of themselves. The imagery is grotesque and unsettling, and there’s no doubt it succeeds in making the transformations feel tragic and horrifying at the same time.

I thought the idea of giving us these twisted villain rebirths was cool, but it went by very fast. Each villain’s moment felt compressed, almost like three stories crammed into one issue. There’s a density that can be impressive, but for me it meant the emotional weight didn’t fully land. Instead of being pulled deeper into each tragedy, I found myself skimming across the surface.

Over all of this hangs the shadow of Bane. He’s the orchestrator, looming over Bruce’s suffering and these villains’ downfalls. The sense of Bruce’s mental anguish, layered on top of the physical punishment he’s endured in earlier issues, gives the book a heavy tone. It’s powerful, but also draining. By the end I admired the ambition, but I didn’t fully connect — which is why this lands as a solid, but not great, 3-star read for me.

[Michael Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Batman's traditional rogue's gallery begins to take shape here, in ways not entirely unexpected given the cliffhanger conclusion from last issue. Also expected is Snyder's propensity for brutality, which he still manages to deliver in surprising, satisfying, and horrifying ways.

A lot of this is down to his relationship with artist Nick Dragotta, who returns here after last month's mid-arc break. The way Dragotta frames these sequences and panel-to-panel revelations is wonderfully in sync with Snyder's sensibilities, with the artwork acting as the perfect punchline to the writer's script. Of course, all of this is as effective as it is because of the time this series has spent establishing these characters, their relationship to Bruce, and to one another.

What happens to the Absolute version of the "bat-family," as it were, is the ultimate in unexpected consequences to Bruce's choices in the preceding story arc. Bruce done fucked up, quite badly, and the fallibility and hubris of this version of the Batman adds an interesting bit of dimensionality to the character. As Alfred (and Joker in The Dark Knight) note, by becoming Batman Bruce has changed things, forever, and it's costing those around him dearly.

[MrGlassWontBreak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the darkest issue so far. Bruce and the Crocodile Waylon makes it back to the city, but they separate on not so good terms. Bruce returns home to find that Bane had completely mutilated all of his friends in the cruelest way possible.

God Damn! The things Bane does to Bruce’s friends, The very definition of cruelty. He is doing this all to break Bruce’s mind and have Bruce replace him as the jokers new weapon. it seems to be working but then Cat Woman shows up.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish there were more Bruce and Waylon.

[Stacy (Gotham City Librarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This run definitely has a touch of horror to it, and this might be the most unsettling issue so far. It’s always darkest before the dawn, as they say.

[Bryham Fabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the chapters progress, I fall more in love with the villain's design. Wow the new riddler, as well as Bane, just blew my mind

[Colin Post · Rating 5 out of 5]

If it’s not clear by now, this is shaping up to be one of the best Batman stories ever. The transformation of Bruce’s friends into monsters seems so obvious but it’s executed so brilliantly.

[Anna Quilter · Rating 4 out of 5]

ABOMINATION PT.4
September 2025

for me this felt like the pay off issue...
Bruce's friends grotesquely transformed..... bitter.. compared to their friendship shown in previous issues.

it's cleverly done...and I should have seen it coming...but I didn't.

"so riddle me this...what are you going to do about it?"

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goddamn, Bane is a savage. He really pushing Bruce to the bring here. He broke his body, now he's breaking his heart. Go after his friends, now it's time for Bruce to strike back. But not before a certain Kitty arrives.

[Zoey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the Rogue Gallery. I feel sick for them and for Bruce. Bane needs to be put down.

[Gavin Peterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Reader,
These issues are like those crazy dreams that you remember for the whole day. Where the stupor is so real that it replaces reality. You want to dwell there but know in your heart there is something wrong. It's haunting and delicate with the cruelty in its delivery. Absolutely diabolical in the disfigurement of character and figure. This has to be the best comic on shelves.

yours truly,

-A Batman Hater

[dusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be one of my favorite comics of the entire year.

For starters, the opening between Bruce and Waylon genuinely broke my heart and shook me to my core. Waylon’s transformation, in particular, feels like a completely different level of pain, and you can see just how deeply it devastates Bruce when he realizes what’s happened.

We finally learn the changes that have been made to each member of Bruce’s inner circle after being taken by Bane, and I was completely on the edge of my seat. I felt this constant mix of adrenaline and fear with every reveal. Each twisted version of Bruce’s inner circle, as corrupted reflections of their original villains, is remarkable. Harvey feels true to his classic comic roots, but with a strange new twist. Ozzie is absolutely heartbreaking and terrifying at the same time. And then there’s Eddie, who somehow reaches an entirely new level of disturbing—his enjoyment of the challenge and what he takes away from his encounter with Bane felt genuinely shocking and unsettling. They’re all so familiar, yet so disturbingly different from their original forms. Bravo, Scott.

Bruce is pushed to his absolute limit here, so much so that he nearly throws in the towel because the pain is simply too much to bear. It’s raw, emotional, and devastating in the best way. I truly loved how this was handled, and I completely empathized with Bruce in these moments. Still, he is Batman, and he will always carry on, no matter what.

And of course, I have to mention Catwoman’s legendary entrance. Loved it. I cannot WAIT for more!

[Nikhil Math]

This series is getting more gruesome and gruesome.

I am actually to the point where I am curious if it is too cruel for me to read.. lol. Which means its good. About time we get some actually dark batman books that arent hidden by censorism.

[Lizzy DeMarco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great issue, and not just because it debuted Catwoman. The story moved, you felt Bruce's agony seeing what happened to his friends. Of course the last one of the gang is gonna show up to have her friend's backs!So excited for the next issue!

[DonHeimscheißer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good issue, it definitely builds up the next issue with introducing Cat Woman and showing the result of Bane’s work on his friends, and the aftermath of them. Looking forward to the next issue.

[Corban Maynard · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the villain origin story

[Luca Mendes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rogues gallery

[Arthur Marchetto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muito bom volume que mostra como o Bane quebra o Batman nesse universo

[katie. · Rating 4 out of 5]

They were his friends :(

[Adina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope Bane gets his ass ripped apart in the next issues

[Celina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Lord, the way his mates got tortured, that was so heinous. Though I didn't know Bane had beef towards Batman.

[Saket · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pacing died down too quick with this one, issue 9-11 were PEAK. Feel like this hadn’t much to show beyond “ts the aftermath of the big stuff, tyvm”. Good ending though, curious what Selena plans to do.

[Cybernex007 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This issue has defined the storyline and truly given the name “abomination” to Bane. You thought Waylon or what they are trying to do with Bruce with the venom running through his system was BAD?! YOU HAVEN’T SEEN ANYTHING YET! After Waylon helped Bruce out of Ark M, he immediately wanted Bruce to kill him. It wasn’t just that he was transformed into a giant croc monster, but now he has been given a hunger that hurts too much and he can’t bear to fulfill it. Just as Bruce was lifting the blade out of his helmet to bring it down on Waylon…he diverted, unable to do it. Waylon then tried to take the blade and kill himself, only for Bruce to knock him back. Leaving Waylon to run away into the murky waters.

Suddenly we are in a flashback sequence, around the time Bruce was training Waylon for the big fight with Bibbo, but also when Selina and him were apartment hunting with the money they recently…ahem…acquired. Selina gave Bruce the same advice they are currently living by for Waylon’s situation, as he isn’t sure his friend can win, if the rules aren’t fair…stop playing by them.

Suddenly we see as Bruce wakes up with Alfred watching over him…20 days from the point Alfred found him collapses outside of Ark M. And an unfortunate newsflash…Bruce isn’t the only one who has changed. The first stop is to see his mom, who immediately slaps and then embraces him…but she has to be the one to break down and give him the unfortunate news about Ozzie. Bruce visits him in the hospital, which I am glad that Doctor Tompkins is looking over him, only to find a completely broken Ozzie. It was bane. He found Bruce’s friends and he hurt them, for Ozzie he broke all of his bones, some in multiple places, but missed every vital organ. Surgical and cruel begin measure. Leslie tells him that if Oswald lives he will be two feet shorter and will be in constant pain.

Bruce then heads into the room over where he finds out about what Bane did to Harvey. Third and fourth degree burns across the left side of his body, b he even worse…when they found him his skull was crushed and his brain was basically in two parts. Harvey admits that he blames Bruce for this, he didn’t just play like their fake plastic poker games…he gambled for real and his friends were hurt because of it. But if it’s any consolation…Harvey only hates him half the time…

But then there is Eddie…who isn’t even in the hospital and has opted to seemingly operate on himself. Bruce found him in his lab working away, as Eddie describes it Bane came to him and handed him his own gun, and told Eddie that if he won at a little game then he could kill Bane himself…all he had to do was win a game of riddles. It only took a minute before Bane beat him, and then took him by the eye sockets and slammed his head around, damaging the front lobe. Eddie describes all the facts in his world suddenly becoming questions. But he doesn’t describe it as bane hurting him, instead he believes Bane helped him and challenged all of them to become more…and it’s even clear he challenged Bruce as well. I do have to admit, Eddie’s design is insanely cool and brutal at the same time. Like a tech character ripped out of mad max, the part of the helmet that makes up the top part of his skull having a cut out a question mark, with one of his eyes being the dot, all while showing his brain and circuitry tying into it is such a nice touch. Still gruesome, but a nice touch.

Suddenly we are in another flashback, as Selina and Bruce are walking up to talk to Bibbo’s manager, Carmine Falcone. They are here to offer him a deal, at first he laughs in their face. And then they mention their bag is a gesture, full of some of the finest gold work on the city. He laughs in their faces again, how could he even know it’s real? And that’s simple…because they stole the gold from apartments he owns. That stops him in his tracks…they aren’t looking to cash out…they are looking to raise…

As the issue comes to an end there is a brief but shocking moment as Batman tells the red hood gang to stand down…HUH?! When did that happen?! The correspondent he is talking to is pissed off, arguing that he can’t tell them what to do…but batman cuts the connection before that can continue. At the moment it is just batman and Alfred, and batman is pissed off about everything bane did to his friends. But Alfred is there to remind him that there is no going back, only through. Suddenly the alarm goes off, someone breathed the hatch. The pair are ready, batman with his axe and Pennyworth with his own mini gun! As they ran out and search the area, suddenly a whip sneaks down and pulls Alfred up! As a flurry of punches come in and swiftly take him down, batman walks up with his guard down as he asks what Catwoman is doing there!! HELL YEAH!!

[Chris Loan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute Batman #12 was absolutely insane! I think I’ll need to go back and reread #11, since a lot of what I thought happened was more theory than reality—this issue really clarifies what went down with Bruce in ArkM.

Bruce manages to escape with the help of Waylon, who has now fully transformed into a massive crocodile. Waylon asks Bruce to kill him as repayment, since he doesn’t want to keep living as Croc anymore. Of course, Batman refuses, which makes me curious to see how that decision affects their relationship as the series continues.

Meanwhile, Bruce’s friends finally come face-to-face with Bane after the events of the last issue, and it looks like their transformations into their destined villainous forms have begun. Bane is truly an abomination. What he does to Bruce’s friends is heartbreaking, and it raises the question: will it break Bruce as well? Luckily, Pennyworth is there as his anchor, reminding him not to let the darkness consume him. That’s easier said than done though, especially with Venom now coursing through Bruce’s body. We see some of those effects starting to take hold here, and I’m sure the consequences will only grow in future issues.

This series just keeps delivering. I love how Snyder pulls in classic Batman elements and reimagines them in this Absolute world, turning everything up to eleven. The fresh takes on Penguin, Two-Face, and Riddler are fantastic—their new origins feel both familiar and brand new. The art is just as strong as the writing, with standout moments like that chilling shot of Penguin, and an incredible image of Riddler where a question mark arches through his brain.

If you’ve been following Absolute Batman, this issue is a must-read. Another knockout entry in the series. Easy 5/5!

[AJ Easterday · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can someone who actually likes this series please explain to me why people find it appealing? I'm genuinely asking. I definitely think this series has potential, but there's no way this is the best version of this story.

Like I think it's fascinating to have some of the popular Batman villains start out as his friends in this universe, but wouldn't the origin stories of Penguin, Two-Face, and the Riddler be way more interesting if they turned against Bruce on their own instead of Bane being behind everything? And why have them all be transformed by Bane at the same time when it would be so much more interesting to draw out their stories and have Bruce lose his friends one by one? This series is just so poorly paced in my opinion. It would be so much cooler to see these characters slowly fall from grace in their own time and because of their own decisions. Having Bane be the mastermind behind everything takes away their agency. I hate it.

At this point I am only reading this series to find out what's going on with Absolute Joker, because every other character in this kinda sucks.

[Clement · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find the depiction now of absolute penguin, two-face and riddler to be very intersting. I don't know necessarily how I feel about their now direction of becoming villians? I was always on the camp that they should be heros/anti-heros that help Batman even if they are to be transformed yet seeing how they're (Riddler specifically) is grateful to Absolute Bane just doesn't sit right with me I guess? I still need some more time to let it sit in haha.

I really hope that Absolute Bane gets the consequences he deserves. He definitely makes me dislike him and root for Batman to give him karma. I appreicate that while the last comic tried to give humanity to Bane? or give context to his motives. We're reminded of how brutal he is and how twisted he is. I really look forward to seeing him fall lol

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scott Snyder no ha perdido la oportunidad que todo este nuevo trasfondo de Bane y la gran amenaza en torno a Gotham y Bruce de toda una forma de remodelar individuos a formas monstruosas mediante mejoras genéticas y cibernéticas, sirva para recontextualizar los antagonistas clásicos del Hombre Murciélago. Quienes, recordemos eran amigos de la infancia de Bruce. Pero el quiebre psicológico producido por Bane pasa por destrozar y reconvertir a estos seres queridos de Bruce. Algo totalmente impactante. Quizás de más, pudiendo haber mantenido el misterio en torno de alguno de ellos como Eddie. Pero al menos sigue estableciendo totalmente a Absolute Batman como ese obús argumental que sin duda ha acabado llevando el reclamo fácil de los diseños super brutalistas y macarras de Dragotta, a una nueva forma de mostrar la humanidad y vulnerabilidad del Caballero Oscuro.

[Alexis Moreno · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a hard read. It really sucks what happened to bruce and how much responsibility he has in it. I’m kinda torn since bruce getting involved with this sorta lifestyle has risks, no ? about it. Bad things shouldn’t happen to those not directly involved in risk. However, that doesn’t mean bad things won’t happen. And what happens when those bad things come knocking directly at the front door, with surgical intelligence and precision. What happen when they get got caught in the crossfire? It’s not like they didn’t know their would be a risk to sorta lifestyle and be caught up in it. But did they really know what they were getting into. Where they adequately prepared and told? Where they safe enough and knew enough about the risk or did Bruce neglect them to feel their pain one day as proof to keep going?

[Ksenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mesmerizing and horrific, a visceral interlude in what is shaping to be one of the best Bane arcs of all time. The propulsive synergy between art and story in this issue is devastating, and it was genuinely hard to read & watch all the characters I grew to care and root for get absolutely destroyed, physically and mentally, in cruel ways specific to each individual character's ethos. Pulled into Bruce's orbit of interpersonal destruction, no one can escape the endings that we all know to expect, as Scott Snyder, the lover of Greek Tragedy, makes abundantly clear. There was a way but there isn't now, and yet the spark of foolish hope is what makes it a phenomenal work of art on top of being a phenomenal comic book.