Before this issue, the “Abomination” arc had been throwing curveballs left and right. Strange transformations, sharp turns, and a few “okay… what?” moments made it tough to guess where the story was headed. Batman had been pushed physically and mentally, Bane had evolved into something far beyond the brick-wall bruiser we knew, and a handful of Gotham’s rogues were being reshaped in ways that hinted at a bigger plan. Issue #14 arrives as the promised payoff, the moment the smoke clears and all the chaos suddenly snaps into place.
Absolute Batman #14 is an excellent season-premiere-style finisher that wastes zero time putting you ringside for the fight readers have been waiting for. Batman versus Bane is the whole show, and the comic knows it. The issue opens like a classic boxing event, cameras rolling, thanks to Harley Quinn, even as cops try to shut it down. The world watches. Bane barely notices. Batman steps in, ready to end this, even if he needs backup waiting in the wings. What you get in real time is a brutal, nonstop slugfest stitched together with quick cuts to a flashback about Waylon Jones, back when he was a boxer set up to lose. These flashbacks keep the story grounded and give the battle emotional weight without spoiling the surprises that hit once the fists start flying.
Watching this issue unfold feels like watching a pay-per-view fight where every round tops the last. The art hits like a hammer. You get blood streaks, wild angles, and pages so dense you can almost feel the punches. And then Bane begins to shift. Not just the usual Venom pump-up, but something gnarlier. Eyes where eyes shouldn’t be, mouths that shouldn’t exist, and a size that pushes well past logic. It’s gruesome in the best way, like the creative team wanted to remind readers that the Absolute Universe doesn’t play by our physics. I’ll be real: sometimes the size jumps feel silly, but even that goofy edge works in this world where everything is a bit unhinged.
What hooked me more, though, was how the issue slows down just enough to let Batman be Batman. Snyder uses captions to show how Bruce thinks in a fight, how violence becomes a skill set he wields as efficiently as any gadget. This Absolute Batman hits harder, feels heavier, and stands just outside the normal version without losing the core of who he is. You also feel the emotional punch of Waylon’s flashback. It’s raw, almost tender in spots, and it mirrors the main fight in a way that says: in this world, even monsters have stories worth hearing. And yes, the question from the previous issue hangs over everything. Will Batman use Bane’s Venom? The way the comic answers that is sharp, simple, and very in-character for this version of Bruce.
As a final chapter to the arc, this issue delivers on every dangling thread. The big fight hits hard—the emotions land. The flashbacks actually matter. And by the time the dust settles, you can see next door the story is kicking open. There are hints about what comes next for Bane in his new state. There’s a tease of “Joker,” the next major arc. Selina walks off with a vial of Venom, which raises all kinds of questions. And the rest of Gotham’s rogues are standing at the edge of major transformation. The only downsides come from how far the fight pushes Bane’s physical changes, which can dip into cartoon territory. But even then, the issue keeps its footing by leaning into the horror flavor rather than pretending it’s grounded.
Absolute Batman #14 hits like a finale and a fresh start at the same time. It’s fierce, strange, emotional, and loaded with promise for what’s next. The “Abomination” storyline lands exactly where it needed to. Snyder and Dragotta swing for the fences and connect.
‘Absolute Batman’ #14 Review: The ABSOLUTELY BRUTAL Must-See Batman vs Bane Fight!
Absolute Batman #14 hits like a finale and a fresh start at the same time. It’s fierce, strange, emotional, and loaded with promise for what’s next. The “Abomination” storyline lands exactly where it needed to. Snyder and Dragotta swing for the fences and connect.
