Absolute Batman (2024-) #13

Absolute Batman (2024)

by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta (Artist)

Batman’s final showdown with the monstrous Bane! Will he be able to overcome this unstoppable behemoth, or will he be trapped in Ark-M forever?

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

Kindle Edition

Published October 8, 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

[spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bat and Cat aura farming for like 32 pages. And they’re both so hot like hello?? Absolute Batman feels like a summation of everything I love about Batman. I love comics!!!

[MrGlassWontBreak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bruce and Selina get “reacquainted” then meet up with the Red Hood, an outlaw collective of hackers and disrupters lead by Harley Quinn, to plan the destruction of Ark-M. Bruce then Challenges Bane to a final showdown in a live broadcast.

another awesome issue, and the only book among the absolute titles to have a sex sequence so far. Bruce and Selina seem so horny around each other, I love it. Absolute Bane is a total Beast, bro seems to have gotten even stronger in this issue, I can’t wait to see how it all plays out.

[Machiavelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished Absolute Batman #13 — a quick but thrilling read packed with energy. Snyder delivers a tight, pulse-pounding story that balances action with some well-placed flashbacks, adding just enough emotional depth to make it land. It’s a fun, fast-moving intro to Absolute Catwoman, setting her up as fierce, confident, and dangerously in control — exactly how she should be.

I got the Jenny Frison variant cover is a showstopper. Stylish, bold, and impossible to ignore, it captures Catwoman’s allure and authority in one perfect image. Overall it is a slick, adrenaline-fueled issue that leaves you wanting more.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way too much things are happening at same time but selina looks great

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably the weakest issue in this second arc but overall still solid. The stuff with Catwoman is fun, and you can tell they'll have a good relationship. This is the build up before shit gets real next issue.

[Roland Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The BatCat we deserve

[Zoey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted Catwoman to stick around because now that they’re adults, it seems like she’s trying to be a good influence on Bruce. Unfortunately, that did not last long. I’m hoping that her exit will make Bruce realize that venom is not a resource. It’s only a poison.

At least Waylon is coming back into the mix.

Additional commentary: Harley Quinn’s Absolute design is incredible. The buzz cut, the clown makeup, the diamond neck tattoos, all of it makes her look so badass.

[Raymond Paquette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Catwoman, and Harley was cool. Bruce is scared, but he needs to listen to his friends. Selena is right. He needs to take Bane down without Venom, and he needs to believe he can go the distance, overcome his fear, and be the man he’s meant to be.

[Jadyn❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of this issue is Bruce and Selina being obsessed with each other as it should be. Selina plays an interesting role— much like the rest of Bruce’s friends, Selina reminds him of his humanity and morality, even if she’s not always following her own advice. Love them and I love Absolute Catwoman.

[Hannah Call · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5/5

[Stacy (Gotham City Librarian) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent portrayal of the Batcat relationship, though I think the final showdown with Bane feels a little too dragged out at this point. The character designs up until now have been very cool, but that Harley is not it. We’ll see what happens next, though!

[dusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything even remotely involving Bruce and Selina is an easy 10/10 for me, especially considering how much I love these characters and the way Scott is handling them, both individually and as a couple.

This issue takes a deeper, much spicier dive into Bruce and Selina’s relationship, while cleverly mirroring Bruce’s upcoming fight with Bane alongside Croc’s old boxing match that Bruce once doubted Waylon could win. The parallel works beautifully and adds so much emotional weight.

We’re also introduced to Harley Quinn, and from there, things go completely off the rails in the best way possible. Bruce goes on Gotham News and publicly announces that he’s going to take down Bane in a ruthless brawl in front of the entire city, and then drops the ultimate bombshell: he officially declares who he is to Gotham. He is the Batman.

It’s brave. It’s bold. It’s everything I expect from this legendary run.

[Christian M. T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catwoman has now fully entered the fray! There has been a subtle build-up to her arrival, and she shows up at the puuuurfect time (I know).

Batman has been through the shit and has now been 'changed' by his confrontation with Bane and its Catwomen, who is here to stylishly help out but also soothe him as he deals with his loses... their intense passion and teamwork is so evident to see and its an exciting and another fast paced issue that serves the 'abomination' arc really well and it seems Bane is going to push the limits of their relationship to the fullest.

New characters are revealed with the 'Absolute' twist, which is always a treat, and this twist was very unexpected, and I'm eager to see where the story goes with them... It's time for the woman to step into the lime light!!! New alliances are formed, and Batman is now all too willing to fight with whatever it takes... he isn't going to fair fight!

Roll on the showdown!

Again, as always, the art is just standout. Dragotta's work is so on point, its a treat to see...... that full page Illustration of Batman and Catwomen is epic... such a great representation of their individuality and their partnership during the calm before the storm! 5 star

[Ben Nealis · Rating 3 out of 5]

After four back to back fantastic issues this one does not continue the Non-Stop jaw-dropping scenes, however it does lay the groundwork for the final showdown with Bane. Having Red Hood be a gang of hackers was a unique twist, however I feel like having Harley Quinn being their leader was a bit forced, while it is fun seeing familiar faces in new scenarios across this series not absolutely everyone needs to show up. I do wish that they would acknowledge Batman getting his arms cut off at least with some scars in the scenes or he's shirtless but perhaps that is hinting at this version of venom having some healing properties. Not the best issue in the series but I'm still hooked for the next one.

[Craig Schorling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bat and Cat were great in this issue and we get another character entering the fray. This series is so entertaining and fun. I love how it balances action, character, and story. Can't wait for more.

[Corrine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exposition focus, a set-up for late Nov's turning point in the "Abomination" arc. Issue sucks you into the story, as always. Catwoman's character design is beyond peak.

[Celina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think he is going to survive this, but he's Batman so many he will. And the story has such potential now that we know who the leader of the Red Hood is.. also.. where is her partner? If it is J and not P.I.. he can stay away.

[Nikhil Math]

Alright batman we know you do well with the ladies, lets see you fight!

[Cybernex007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This issue felt way too quick but it was some fantastic content, I love the relationship between Bruce and Selina, and love it even more when it’s Batman and catwoman. And this issue has great setup for the final showdown between batman and bane. But what terrifies me about this issue is the more we see of Bruce, this time the abomination title card shows him…they have started turning him into a monster and the venom coursing through his veins is the lure trying to pull him towards it. We pickup this issue from the last with Selina taking down Alfred so she can have a nice talk with Bruce, after all his mother called her worried sick when he was missing for months. Batman is adamant about not wanting her help, and as Alfred wakes back up he mentions that he’s heard of her and what she has done and that he shouldn’t trust her. Batman doesn’t want to hear it from him though, as he’s already made up his mind that she is leaving…and they are going right back to her apartment to have sex. Wow those two get it in quick and to the point. As the sun rises neither of them really want to talk, they don’t mention what they did to Bruce in Ark M, and Selina doesn’t talk about the resemblance her gear has to black mask. But who says romance is dead, batman actually has a great date idea. A day out on the boardwalk, as batman takes Catwoman with him to meet the red hood gang. If you remember last issue there was a slight alliance between batman and the hoods, and he had to shut them down, which really pissed them off. Pissed them off enough that they hey wouldn’t even let batman see their leader and they started fighting him on sight. Selina is one to end a fight quickly though, turns out her tail is multi purpose. It looks cool, can be used to strangle, and is a magazine for tranquilizer darts that she can load into a custom weapon, how sick is that?! She is able to give most of the hoods a quick nap, but she missed one on the Ferris wheel with an RPG! Batman rushed into action and activated the venom in his system to rush the Ferris wheel and literally knock it over the pier!! An entire Ferris wheel!! WOAH!! The effects on his body are immediately noticeable as he yells at Selina to back away. The red hoods still standing back up in fear and disgust, he’s one of the monsters. Batman calls out a plea, he told them to stand down because ark m almost broke him, but they didn’t and now he wants to destroy them. Not just an abomination called bane, but his bosses and the entire facility as well, and he needs their help. Suddenly the leader of the red hoods steps forward and draws back her hood, she wasn’t sure about batman but if he is serious then they are in. Turns out the leader of the hoods is none other than Harley Quinn, bald, beautiful, and punk as hell.

Suddenly we jump over to check on bane as we are reminded that his entire leg is bigger than most humans. They have him in a lab with his back cut open as they are working on his spinal injector. Bane’s current plan is to break batman so they have his replacement and then go home, and they better let him go home. But suddenly all the news feeds in Gotham have been hijacked and are broadcasting a message from the batman. He calls out to the people of Gotham, claiming their leaders have betrayed them and sold all of them out to build a place that creates literal monsters. Batman tried to show them with black mask but he relied too much on the networks, so it’s time he showed them himself. He is publicly challenging bane to fight in the old veteran’s arena. Just the two of them, if he wins batman will go back to ark m and be whatever they want, but he won’t win and batman claims he will beat his ass while everyone is watching. This issue also takes us back to some brief moments when Bruce was training Waylon for the big fight. I can’t help but wonder if that fight was also in the veteran’s arena. And we get to see the aftermath of the deal Bruce tried to strike with Falcone to change the game, and Waylon hates it. He took Bruce on because he thought he had someone who believed in him, but now Bruce is trying to make a deal to rig it, he fires Bruce on the fight and claims he is going to win the whole thing without him. As the issue comes to an end we jump back to a batcave as Selina asks one thing of Bruce: don’t use the venom. She has seen what it’s done to people and it’s not worth it, but batman isn’t convinced. He believes it’s the only way he can win, but Selina tries to get him to see the other people that have his back and can help, she can help. But with everything batman has been through, he doesn’t want to see what bane can do to anyone else he loves. But he forgets that they are Selina’s friends too and she wants to take down bane as well, but not like this. Bruce remembers back to when she told him that of the rules aren’t fair you should stop playing by them, Selina admits that she may have been wrong. But Bruce continues to shut her own, pointing out the gear she wears is proof she doesn’t play fair. At this point Selina can’t get through to him and wishes him well as she leaves. On the final page we see Alfred deliver Bruce an ice box full of raw meat as Bruce descends down into the sewers in search of his friend Waylon. The issue ends with a monologue from Alfred, advising Bruce that in a war like this, there are no rules except winning. Hmmmmmm…I can’t help but wonder if he will get Croc’s help again. Also I wonder if Harley still has a connection to joker in this world, on the surface it wouldn’t seem like she does, but with her desire to destroy Ark M like that, I can’t help but think she knows something more about the Ark facilities.

[AJ Easterday · Rating 3 out of 5]

Am I insane for continuing to read this series even though I don't like it? Maybe. But sometimes an issue like this comes along that doesn't totally suck, and it gives me hope. I liked the introduction of Catwoman. I like that she and Bruce already have a history. However, I do still think more could've been done to build up the chemistry between them. I wasn't fully buying the relationship. The spicy scene was super uninteresting because there was no build up to it. Like why do these characters even like each other? I feel like because these characters are based on existing characters who are in love we're just supposed to assume the Absolute versions are also in love, but that's not enough. We need to be shown why they like each other instead of just being told that they're into each other. Also, this is more of a nitpick, but "Se" is a terrible nickname. Just call her Selina.

Ok, back to some positives. I like that Bruce and Selina are actually working together as Batman and Catwoman and investigating the Red Hoods together. I always like Batman more when he's got a crime-fighting partner. I liked the scene where Batman addresses Gotham directly on the TV. It feels very different from what normal Batman would do, but works for Absolute Batman. And I like that this story seems to be heading in the direction of fighting corrupt billionaires, which I always love. And maybe the best part of all was that Bane was barely in this. I just really don't like Bane as a villain, but that's a personal preference.

I think I'll keep reading to see where this goes. Hopefully it gets better...

[Alexis Moreno · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this issue somewhat, but i felt it was really lacking in what should have been an epic story. love the on and off relationship bruce and se have, it’s hot. i also love how Waylon stood by his word and told bruce to f right off. i really think it was because Bruce and Selena just didn’t want to feel helpless in the situation and be a bad friend so they tried doing something instead of sitting there and helping waylon like he asked them. Like he wanted to but they deprived that of him and the consequences of it are to be had. I am also very cruise in Bane and his thinking here? All that intellectual abilities and he legit thinks he’s able to just walk away? I am thinking he has to believe it’s that simple, he’s given too much of himself that he has to believe it or it would have been for nothing in the end. what’s the point of having a perfect life to live if you can’t actually live it on your own terms for some amount of time.

[Lizzy DeMarco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Selina always makes a grand entrance and the Absolute Universe's Catwoman did not disappoint. One thing I love about this universe is the fact that Batman's normal 'rogue' gallery are instead a circle of Bruce's closest friends since his childhood.

This issue really plays up on that past, with Selina and Bruce, back in the first few issues we saw hints of how close Se & Bruce were even as kids, that the comic opens with them cuddling on a metro train is eye candy for us diehard Batman/Catwoman pairing fans. I love how she says "Your mom called me.You had not been seen in months. I was worried." That they still disagree and argue like the prime universe couple does, but always come back together. I still get this vibe from this universe's versions. I even liked the new Harley Quinn. This series just keeps getting better as does the whole Absolute Universe. Can't wait for more next month!

[Jerry Aguirre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean the writing here is amazing!

Bruce tries to take a short cut for Waylon because he believes he won’t win his match. LIKEWISE, Bruce takes a shortcut because he knows he can’t beat Bane. Very cool parallel.

It seems like Batman has turned to the “Darkseid”. Horrible pun. He’s using the venom he was injected with knowing it’s not a good idea, but also knowing it’s the only way. He has to become the monster to defeat the monster Bane, which is like in the KO showdown where they have to become a version of Darkseid to defeat Darkseid

Cat woman is cool, with a cool gun and tail. But nothing much. And we met Harley Quinn.

Very cool. Time for war!

[AviChaim Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another strong entry in this series! This issue serves as a brief but welcome breather from the intensity of the Bane storyline, giving Bruce a chance to reconnect with Selina and reflect on what’s truly at stake. Several intriguing plot threads are introduced, like Selina’s connection to Black Mask, that are sure to pay off later. While the issue still delivers some enjoyable action, it feels more like a moment to reset and refocus the narrative rather than push it forward dramatically. The artwork remains phenomenal, visually striking and immersive on every page. Highly recommend. Grade: B+

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 4 out of 5]

BATCAT FOREVER. Cuando crees que no se puede aportar nada, toca rediseños high tech y una sexualidad más clara para que estos personajes vuelvan a encandilar al personal.

Bruce busca rematar la amenaza de Bane y ARK M de raíz, aunque su predisposición a aprovecharse de las siniestras mejoras y la sustancia anabolizante conocida como VENOM podría hacer más mal que bien. Pero hacen falta Monstruos para derrotar a Monstruos.

[Colin Post · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’re building to what’s sure to be a hell of a conclusion to this arc. There’s a bit of table setting in this issue, but even that’s compelling in these creators’ hands. I appreciate that we get a quiet moment between Bruce and Selina, too. Dragotta shows off his range in the romance scene - the man is capable of rendering tenderness as much as grotesque monsters fighting. The final panel with the blue outlines of Bruce and Selina’s bodies — breathtaking.

[CoachieX3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

REALLY good so far. I just read a bit too fast, and I end up skipping over cool pictures or even WORDS sometimes, so I really need to control myself. But it is REALLY REALLY REALLY good. Selina is HOT, all the characters look sick as fuck, I loved the stories of them all being transformed into whatever, because although loosely based on the original characters, a lot of them take a wilddd twist on it. Love it.

[Ramya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This issue felt like watching Bruce drag himself back into the world piece by piece. He is still hurting, still carrying the weight of what happened, but there’s a spark in him again… a slow rise. The tension isn’t loud here. It’s quiet, like a storm gathering far away. Every page showed him trying to stand, not for glory, but because he simply refuses to stay down. I ended up feeling that this was Bruce rebuilding himself, not with strength, but with sheer stubborn heart.

[Arch Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great story building issue.
Nothing really to complain about.

Anticipation for the final fight with Bane is palpable. Knowing that Bruce is planning on letting loose and not going by his standard rules to get that monster outta here.

Also, this issue is seemingly trying harder to get people to sympathize more with Bane as he is portrayed as a ma just trying to pass the buck of a bad deal he made so he can go back to a semi-normal life.

We’ll see in this next issue.

[Keegan Schueler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar to issue 5 it is a good setup for the finale of the current arc and is a bit of a slow but issue. Nice change of pace and enjoy seeing Selina in this universe as well as take a break from the monster actions of Bane.
Final issue in the abomination arc is gonna go crazy with what they are setting up.