Absolute Batman (2024-) #14

Absolute Batman (2024)

by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta (Artist)

Batman and Catwoman face down Bane in a final battle! But once the dustsettles, what will it all mean for the future of Batman?

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

Kindle Edition

Published November 26, 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

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Final Showdown with Bane!
But is it really...?
No. Of course not. You don't get rid of good villains unless you're a movie franchise.



Ok, I liked the way this all played out. Especially the ending when Selina comes back & it is revealed that she and Ed had helped take out all of the venom Ark M's doctors had pumped into him. The flashbacks between Waylon's fight in the ring and Bruce's fight in the ring were good, and seeing Waylon as Killer Croc come in and chew on Bane was great. It was also heartening to see Oz and Harvey cheering from their respective hospital beds



.
There was a fitting quality to all of it.
The story is BIG. Over the top. Crazy, and a pretty huge change from what I'm used to seeing in a Batman comic. And that's exactly what these Absolute titles are supposed to be, so I'm here for it.



Up next, JOKER!
Recommended.

[MrGlassWontBreak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bruce prepares for the showdown with Bane, and plans to use the rest of the Venom in his system to win the fight after initially wearing Bane out. We see flashbacks of the boxing match between Waylon and a champion pro boxer. The showdown begins with Batman dropping a skyscraper on Bane(Gyaat Dammn!!!), but this does nothing to Bane. Batman, with the help of the Red Hood, Alfred, and Waylon Crock, launches a series of epic attacks on Bane, but he just keeps regenerating and growing bigger.

Batman cuts through Bane’s back with his axe, severing Bane’s spine and revealing a Venom infusion device embedded within, but Bane just gets up, grows even bigger, and brutally beats Batman, trying to force him to use the Venom in his system. That’s when it’s revealed that Bruce took Selina’s advice and had Eddie(Riddler) remove all the venom from his body. Catwoman shoots Bane with multiple darts full of the venom they got out of Bruce, then Bruce throws his axe at Bane’s venom infuser, causing Bane’s body to overload, exploding into chunks of flesh.

Joker's Scientist collects Bane's organs, keeping him alive in a tank only to show him as the Joker nukes his home island of Santa Prisca, incinerating his family and everyone he loves. And of course Selina steals the venom extracted from Bruce’s body, obviously up to no good with it(she’s probably selling that thing to the highest bidder). They keep dialing up the shock factor with each issue so you kind of don’t know what to expect. I’m Kind of bummed I didn’t get to see the venom-fueled Hulkified Batman they teased in the intro spread page, that would have gone so god damned hard.

[Machiavelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This issue is undeniably cinematic — a huge, brutal Batman vs. Bane showdown with the dial turned all the way up to 11. The action is wild, the visuals are massive, and the book goes for pure spectacle.

But the story doesn’t land as strongly for me. When everything is pushed that big, it starts to lose some emotional weight, almost drifting into WWE territory — entertaining, but not the kind of Batman that resonates most with me.

Fun in the moment, but not elite for me.

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

Really good stuff in this issue. That showdown was epic and everything I could hope for.

[Zoey · Rating 5 out of 5]

“He’s fighting to fight. The fight is the point.” -Alfred about Batman

Karma came for Bane in this issue, and it was bloody and devastating. Batman certainly does not do revenge by halves.

[Antonio Escobar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dawg,

Now THIS is how you end a. storyline - fucking peak.
From the beginning to end, I was HOOKED

And seeing that joker is next; oooooooooooh man! I’m so fucking hyped

We will be there

Everything here is peak

[Christian M. T · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Let’s go to @#$% WAR'

The brutal conclusion to the 'Abomination' arc that starts with an almight BOOM!..... this has been an absolutely epic arc in the Absolute Batman series that promises to get even more epic following last panel reveal that I shall not spoil here. Snyder has been the choice guy for the Absolute Batman comic!!... Beneath all the violence and gore there is true depth to the story and characters that have proved this to be an essential comic to read and it is receiving all the plaudits it deserves.

As expected, this is a fast paced issue even for this comic! The brutality is again on full show and turned up to 11 as Batman and Bane literally tear each other limb for limb! We are built up in each previous issue that a war is coming and its a WAR we get!!

Its not just this fight that we witness though, we also finally catch flaskbacks of the Jones and Bibowski fight that Bruce had trained Jones for. These scenes serve as a parallel to the present fight that keeps Batman motivated throughout his battering, and it is a proper battering. I shall again remind readers that this is a very violent comic!

There's the full cast of characters here in this issue too that all have their place in the fight just as long they stick to Batman's 'plan'..... the plan being the thing that all kings, generals and masters of war always fail to take into account.... that for some, winning isn’t the point!... because Batman's fight is bigger than any war... it's simply all about doing what's right... no more.... no less... fighting to fight.... for home, for the people of Gotham and the people he loves.

I must always lay praise on Dragotta! 5 star art... the panels sequences are just so on point. From the small subtle panels that suggest the coursing of venom in the vains to the all out fighting on a full page spread are just awesome. inspirational.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The flashbacks scenes with Waylon were the best. Overall this was fun and I'm not ready for Absolute Joker.

[Arthur Marchetto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vai ficando caricato, né... mas tá bom

[Saket · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has the best but also some of the weakest moments of the Abomination arc. Don’t get me wrong, this is a great conclusion.

But Snyder’s pacing here still feels a little off. Not a fan of the parallelism in this arc’s issues as they often break flow and feel unnecessary. The emotional weight they add is negligible, interesting but negligible. Having Batman and Bane’s showdown spliced with flashbacks to Waylon’s boxing fight with Bibbo had some catharsis to it, finally seeing the result of Bruce training Waylon and all that. But I don’t think it added much to the main plot itself. As such, I must agree with some of the reviews I’ve seen here that the emotionality to this issue - and this arc really - did not reach the highs of The Zoo.

That said, the hype moments and aura farming was at an all time high here. This is arguably the best action in the series and I’m all for it. So cinematic! So self-indulgent! So stylish! Snyder’s direction and Dragotta’s art fucking slaps and this is a great example of their synergy.

As I said, great conclusion to the Abomination arc. Looking forward to the next issue, as usual

[Nathalaan Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW

[Sam Theriault · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do feel this series has lost the working class Bruce Wayne aspect but it's still so cool. The supporting cast is also one of the best of any batman book I've read. Love Scott Snyder and his goop obsession

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

BATCAT IS SO BACK OMG!!! Ugh wtf that was so good

[dusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is it. The ultimate showdown we’ve been waiting for between Bane and Batman. Unhinged, ruthless violence on full display—and wow, does it pay off.

In terms of action, artwork, and surprise, this issue absolutely hits the mark on all fronts. Kudos to Nick Dragotta, who somehow makes the artwork feel powerful, grounded, and real, while still keeping it fun and unmistakably comic book-y.

One of the starkest contrasts I’ve noticed in this early version of Batman compared to other adaptations is his growing ability to embrace teamwork, even when he resists it at first. Watching him work alongside Alfred, Harley, Waylon, and Selina really highlights that growth.

I won’t give too much away, but this legendary fight with Bane is insane. And then, when Joker finally reaches his breaking point after Bane fails to take down Batman, what he does to Bane is absolutely unhinged, brutal, and deeply twisted. As evil as Bane is, Snyder somehow manages to make you feel both hatred and tragic empathy for him at the same time. That emotional balance is incredibly hard to pull off, and it works perfectly here.

If this is how twisted and cruel they made Bane… then I’m definitely not ready for Joker. Oh well… here goes nothing.

[Michael Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This keeps up, I’m gonna need a bigger TV.” So say we all, Jim. So say we all.

[Raymond Paquette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to say plot armor saved the day, but it would have to take the back seat to ordinary stubbornness. Batman won the day not because he was stronger, but because he was angrier and meaner than the other guy

[Celina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know Bane had to go but I can't believe his people did him like that. All he wanted was to rest after all that endless fighting.

[Derrick McCall · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I got you, baby."

Snyder goes so over-the-top that it's one of the best things I've read in a long while. Let him write a whole Absolute BatCat book. I cannot get enough of these two. And now Joker next issue? I cannot wait to see how insane things get.

Speaking of Joker, him bombing Santa Prisca so that Bane doesn't have to worry about going back to his family is never level super-villain shit and shows just how powerful this Joker is in the overall world and how much rule he's in control of.

Best book out right now and it isn't even close.

[Eddie B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Craig Schorling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott Snyder you marvelous man! This was epic and gripping from start to finish. Sure Bane looks ridiculous but it works in this series. The blending of past events into the current was masterful. Then we get to the end and it is even more chaos. This series is unstoppable right now.

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABSOLUTE CINEMA

[Jirawich Chanon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah. This is Knightfall but with actual good story.

[Bryham Fabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fight with Bane is everything that is right about this comic and this reimagining of the Batman universe.

[Ramón Nogueras Pérez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ocho estrellas

[Cybernex007 · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I call this move…Welcome to Gotham.”

That is exactly how I was hoping this arc would end, omg that was amazing. The biggest thing we feared was batman himself becoming the abomination, and as we open this issue, with all of Bruce’s closest friends racked through his mind pre and post encounter with bane, the plan he works out with Alfred for that big final fight batman setup with Bane was for batman to use the 2 last doses of venom in his system. He uses one of them beforehand with Alfred to make sure his body can handle it, then they plan to use the other during the fight. As the public watches all the news in anticipation, the mayor and his cronies stick to a strict script that this fight does not exist and is not happening…all while behind the scenes taking in orders from the top to keep everyone, save batman and bane, away from the arena. All the while Barbara Gordon is also watching on hoping he has one damn good plan. Bane is also counting on Bruce using the venom left in his system, he is still set on batman becoming the next test subject and bane going to a life on Santa Prisca. The doctors are also very clear that bane’s body doesn’t have much left to it anyway, and needs rest.

As our combatants enter the arena we immediately see parallels drawn to the fight between Waylon Jones and Bibbo Bibowski we have been hearing about throughout this arc, the fights are one and the same. As bane enters the field the red hood gang, lead by Harley, who line the stadium seating turn up the lights and command a fleet of drones to reduced and broadcast the entire fight. Batman starts the fight with his opening move of setting off a set of charges within the neighboring building and literally dropping a building on top of bane!! OMG, THAT’S MY FAVORITE DOWN TO EARTH ARCHITECT, CITY PLANNER, AND EVERY OTHER JOB HE DID! Just like the fight with Waylon, we see him come in swinging, all while Falcone watches with Bruce and Selina from the boxes planning for Waylon to go down hard in the 7th. Bane saw the building go down and pumped himself full of venom, he is literally already almost as tall as the bat dump truck and as he lifts the rubble off himself suddenly Alfred comes flying into the arena with the dump truck, latches into bane with 2 spears, then rips himself into Bane!! But as he circles back around for round 2, bane has already healed and using the spear hooks inside of him he is able to throw the bat truck out of the fight. He is healing at an exponentially high rate due to the venom, but what batman lacks in power and speed he makes up for in brutality. He is able to come in and flutter around bane ripping and tearing in all the impotent spots. But it comes to any point where the fighter on the ropes turns things around. Suddenly bane is able to pluck batman out of the air and slam him multiple times against the ground. Bane is taunting batman to use the venom, but he isn’t done yet and he orders the red hood gang to release Waylon! Ever have those moments where you look at something indescribable? That’s what I was feeling as Waylon latched his gigantic mouth around bane’s impossibly huge body, giving batman the opportunity to run over and lob off one of bane’s legs before being thrown into the seating. As we cut back to the Waylon fight in the old days, Waylon was on the ropes and the punches delivered to him were felt from the nosebleeds. So Bruce decided to head down himself, just as Waylon is with Bruce now Bruce didn’t leave him alone then. Alfred is freaking out watching this, bane just keeps infusing venom and there is no telling what his max is or if he has one and he is thinking batman should use the venom in his system now to try and push bane to that point…batman refuses, it goes against the plan. As bane is attempting to rip killer croc in half, Bruce jumps from the seating overhead with his axe in hand and rips apart bane’s spine all the way down the middle. Waylon is freed and free to leave, he provided the help batman needed and he has it from here. With his spine severed bane can’t use his legs, and batman makes sure he knows this. Batman then plays the same game bane played with him in ARK M, going for Bane’s arms next. Batman then makes it clear that they aren’t so different, they both lost their fathers…only difference is batman didn’t break his father’s back or heart. This enrages bane, he rips apart his body growing to a size surpassing any limit thought possible. Bane’s arm is literally bigger than all of batman. And we know how large batman is. This is the part of the fight in the present day and in the past where our hero is on the ropes, but that’s where Bruce’s voice cuts in. This is not the time to give up. As bane smashes batman into a small crater, batman suddenly lifts up on his knees. Alfred is calling for him to use the venom, and bane is goading him to as well. Batman obliges…calling on Catwoman for assistance. She appears from the rafters, firing her gun full of venom needles right into bane’s back! At the same time in the past Waylon has spun the fight around and has physically flipped his opponent in the air and landed on him head first. In both situations the fighters have just turned the fight completely around in one miracle move, and the extra venom going into bane’s system literally causes him to explode from the pressure as batman delivers one final hit by throwing his axe!

But how did we get here? We jump back 2 days ago to see Bruce team up with Selina and actually listen to her, getting Eddie to take our every last drop of venom from his system and putting them into her syringe darts. In the past Falcone wants Bruce dead for screwing him out of the fight as Bruce refused to screw Waylon out of his. But what really ties it all together is Alfred’s monologue:

“Now, in hindsight, I understand how he won. I see it. The thing bane didn’t. The thing all kings and generals and masters of war always fail to take into account— therefore some soldiers winning isn’t the point. Because theirs is a fight that’s bigger than any war. It’s old as time and immediate as a baby scream, and there’s no end to it, ever, not really. It’s about doing what’s right, no more, no less. So for someone like Batman? He’s not fighting to win. He’s fighting to fight. The fight is the point. For home. For the people he loves. And I’m grateful to batman for the reminder.”

As the fight comes to an end batman literally scoops up the exploded remains of bane and dumps them in the ocean and sends them right towards ARK M. His friends watch on from the hospital at the victory before them, and Selina ditches town…all with her own vial of venom. We cut some time later and find that Doctor Arkham has somehow kept what remains of bane alive…even if right now he is just a brain, eyes, and some other remains, but he is regenerating. But joker is not done with him and decides to give him something to push him forward. As such he forces bane ro watch as he drops bombs all over Santa Prisca and destroys any hope he had. I really hope bane never comes back, omg.

[Seth Daub · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good conclusion to the abomination arc. this series still doesnt quite have me sold on the characters. they feel more flat than batman typically does. also the violence comes off as try hard sometimes. but this was still an action packed issue that closed out the arc well.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really amazing and brutal bout with Bane that concludes some the arc to what the previous volumes were building up to. I was impressed by the brutality of Batmam in this and the shocking and messed up ending. 🤯

[James DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

kaiju Bane fight with Batman is epic as motherfucking shit!!!

[scarlet♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

DICK GRAYSON MENTIONED RAHHHHHHHH WHAT THE FUCK IS ALIVE PARENTS

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 5 out of 5]

No hay mucho más que decir en cuanto a cómo Scott Snyder se ha dejado llevar por completo por el inesperado y salvaje paroxismo de violento poder físico que ha irrumpido en esta cabecera con la versión Absolute Bane que ha re impulsado el perfil brutalista de este Bruce Wayne y sus compañeros y aliados como ese Killer Croc que también toma parte en la nueva lucha de titanes en Gotham City. Nick Dragotta sigue esmerándose en que la épica grotesca esté totalmente a unas gigantescas alturas conceptuales como las que aquí vemos con una perturbadora recreación de la masa informe del Tetsuo de la recta final de AKIRA. Pero ni habiendo superado una nueva pesadilla body horror, Snyder deja respiro alguno augurando ya totalmente el conocer la versión ABSOLUTE del Joker, el cual no ha podido manifestar de forma más inquietante esa reconocida maldad y perversidad sin haber hecho amago alguno de su maquiavélica sonrisa circense.