Absolute Batman #11

Absolute Batman #11 pulls back the curtain on how Bane is born. Both Scott Snyder and Clay Mann go all out, no holds barred. It's brutal. It's exciting. And by the end, I'll guarantee you'll take away two things: feeling bad for Batman and clamoring for more comics from Clay Mann. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman #11 is the series most brutal chapter to-date. Nobody is holding Scott Snyder back as he he details Bane's merciless back story ahead of a ferocious battle against the Absolute Dark Knight. Read Full Review

This is definitely not the direction I ever expected to see this title take, but that just makes it an even stronger title. Read Full Review

Overall, I thought Absolute Batman #11 was another great read and a good telling of Bane's history and upbringing. I won't ruin it for you, but the encounter between Bane and Batman gets pretty intensethankfully it comes with a twist. The ending lets us know that the war between Bane and Batman isn't over as Bane attempts to go after the very people Bruce cares about. I can only imagine what Batman will do once he finds out! Can't wait for the next issue! Read Full Review

In truth, Bane's strategy is subtler and crueler: targeting Bruce's alliesHarvey, Oswald, and Eddiemirroring the way he once broke Waylon. The book positions Bane as Batman's most dangerous foe, not just for his strength, but for his capacity to wage psychological war and corrupt what Bruce values most. Read Full Review

Mann creates some beautiful imagery throughout the issue. I love the visuals and how mysterious, dark and scary Mann makes Bane. Read Full Review

Banes history of pain and promise lead into a new phase of the Dark Knight. Snyders writing takes readers into the heart of the beast. Mann and company deliver on the disturbing new reality as Bane takes hold. It is never just a regular issue in this Absolute view. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman #11 takes Bane from terrifying brute to tragic revolutionary, giving him a place in the Absolute Universe as Bruce Wayne's perfect dark reflection. Snyder's script hits hard, Mann's art goes harder, and the result is a comic that shocks, excites, and horrifies in equal measure. If you're keeping score, Batman may have survived, but Bane stole the show. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman continues knocking it out of the park, acting as a vanguard for the Absolute line and demonstrating just how to subvert expectations while maintaining the familiar. Scott Snyder has a specific vision, and readers are watching it slowly unfold. This isnt the Batman and Gotham that readers are used to, but perhaps that may change. If the Gotham readers know and love is the most stable version across the multiverse, then the events of Absolute Batman #11 set things in motion that may bring things a little closer to home. If a house of cards is most stable when it collapses, then Bane is the factor that makes the cards fall. Read Full Review

As has frequently been seen since the beginning of DC's Absolute Universe, “Abomination Part III” also ends on a harrowing cliffhanger that one can only imagine leads into an even more ruthless Batman vs. Bane showdown after their Earth-shattering round two in Absolute Batman #11. As an Absolute Universe origin story for Bane first and a Batman learning curve second, “Abomination Part III” is a phenomenal continuation of the tale of two mega-muscled warriors with genius-level I.Q.'s that has been Absolute DC's Batman vs. Bane story, re-introducing Bane and Batman alike with a ruthlessness and determination neither has ever known on the comic book page (which certainly says a lot for the two of them). Read Full Review

Overall, Absolute Batman #11 is a layered and riveting addition to the run, excelling as both an origin tale and a piece of the larger saga. It adds emotional and thematic weight to Bane without sacrificing the raw, visceral tension that has defined the series so far. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman #11 delivers a brutal, focused tale, plunging Batman into an inescapable nightmare. The detailed exploration of Bane's grim origins is a standout, even if it occasionally leans on exposition. While the art powerfully portrays the darkness, Batman becomes more of a punching bag than a protagonist. It's a stark, uncompromising chapter, but don't expect the Caped Crusader to be in top form. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman Issue 11 is a terrific buildup to brutality. It's ruthless, heartless, and dedicated to make Bane as terrifying as possible. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman #11 is another home run. The spotlight on Absolute Bane provided a fresh perspective on the presentation of the Absolute Universe and how it is different from the main DCU. This spotlight lead to a brutal story that creates a lot of questions about the future of Absolute Bruce Wayne and his supporting cast. They are all questions that create even greater excitement for the future of this series. Read Full Review

Absolute Bane's origin manages to take the monstrous behemoth and create a tragic character who acts as yet another foil to what Batman stands for. He's no less terrifying than before, but every step along his journey takes elements from Bane's 1993 origin and injects them with sympathetically good intentions. The result is a disturbingly plausible omen of what could become of the caped crusader. Read Full Review

Who knows where Snyder will go next. As said Absolute Batman #11 was quite a ride. I assume #12 will focus on Bruce and Waylon after their escape. Read Full Review

motorik

Aug 20, 2025

This should have won the Eisner for best new series, not Wonder Woman. Utterly awful politics at play. Absolute Batman wasn't even nominated. The numbers don't lie. The fact it wasn't even included in the nominations exposes them. 10. Absolute Batman is the best new series.

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HuckEverlasting - Aug 20, 2025

Both are bangers, why pit two bad bitches against each other?

Linkush

Aug 20, 2025

An absolutely brutal issue that cleverly shows Bane’s origin story and explains his motives in a way that makes the reader both scared (for Batman) and thrilled for the eventual showdown between Batman and Bane.

jess212

Aug 20, 2025

Bane is a force that much was clear form the prior depictions of the man. And as we proceed into issue 11 we get to see who and what he is and how he operates through the lense of those that have experienced him. Alfred cannot imagine a way Bruce survives this abomination and this issue hammers down why. Clay Mann and Snyder deliver yet again and the worst is yet to come.

BatSledge

Aug 20, 2025

This saga continues to defy expectations both in the story and the artwork. I think this issue takes Bane’s 1993 origin story and expands and improves upon it in fresh new ways, while advancing the main story in scary and exciting ways as well. All of this leads to a shocking cliffhanger in the last 2 pages. This is Snyder’s magnum opus!

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motorik - Aug 21, 2025

Magnum Opus. Exactly.

Jawnyblaze

Aug 22, 2025

Absolutely brilliant. The depiction of Bane's backstory was just perfect. The issue was brutal and really paints a picture of hopelessness for Batman. This turns the suspense up to 11 for the rest of this arc, how in the world does Batman overcome this?? One of the most un-put-downable of all comics being published right now.

HuckEverlasting

Aug 22, 2025

Instant Classic

Taiwo

Aug 24, 2025

This was a great story. Seeing Bane's motivations and what drives him makes him truly scary. I love that Snyder is reinforcing the absolute (no pun intended) intelligence of Bane. After seeing multiple iterations of Bane just become a roid muscle head, I love this is what we got. The art was great, and I love the full narration of Alfred, urging Bruce, This will be a losing battle, showing Bane as the unstoppable force he is. Left me satisfied while intrigued by Bane's next move and the sprinkle we got of absolute Joker.

BirdmanG07

Sep 06, 2025

Slight twist on Bane, but it somehow makes him scarier.

Figgs95

Aug 23, 2025

This issue had me shook. Must read.

Gophfacekillah

Aug 22, 2025

Solid art. The mask origin reveal was really cool. I don’t think it’s as strong as some of the other issues but this series is staying high.

Screaming Enigma

Oct 23, 2025

First thing's first, I liked this overall. You can see that by my rating. However, I have to say that this spent quite a bit of time on a hypothetical. It's a very interesting hypothetical...but, around half the issue goes into it, and I don't know that I needed it to be that long. In any case, it's still really cool to see Bane's vision for Bruce. Mann's art throughout is certainly interesting, to say the least. I liked it in some places, but it wasn't my favorite in others. Overall, I liked this as a whole, but it was definitely the weakest installment of this current arc so far.

Afre

Aug 20, 2025

I'm so conflicted on this issue. On one hand, I love everything. Writing, art and Bane's backstory is being told. On the other hand, it feels like we are going back to Snyder being himself. And I hope he can keep it in check, because this was already going on a bit too much with how violent it wanted to be. Sure, it's Absolute line, sure the book has been violent before, but this time it felt a bit unnecessary? I don't know, like I said, I'm conflicted. Because on it's own, I like it a lot. But I've read Snyder's writing for 10 years now. And this seems like a sign that we might go overboard with the violence. It fits with the series, but I hope the team can keep it in check. I have same feelings with Mann's art. At times, it fe els wonderful and very fitting. But on other, I am so used to Dragotta's art and how it fits this series, so that Mann's art felt like a different world. He draws Bruce in such different way that it might seem like a completely another character from another universe. But these are small problems in the end. I am not sure how to feel on the cop out. It makes sense to actually see what is Bane's endgoal and not just have him say "I will break you". But it also felt like waste because so much time is focused on that. I don't know. I get why this issue can work for so many people and I can see that. But I also feel conflicted. more

Psycamorean

Aug 21, 2025

Neat enough. I didn't realize Clay Mann was drawing this issue until I got to that double page splash that really felt like a parody of Clay Mann's art. It was a jumpscare. I don't like his art. As others have noted, it doesn't really fit. Batman looks like a very different Batman. But I mean, it was pretty good, just hope we get the wheels turning next time.

Kenjamin

Sep 10, 2025

Art: 3.5/5 Story: 4/5 Total: 7.5/10

Aesopjer

Sep 18, 2025

Confusing. And I’m tired of the guest artist. Maybe there’s a reason for it, but Dragotta was the biggest draw of the series for me.

orbisstelassis

Aug 20, 2025

Enh. The "oh so edgy" stylings along with the fact that this entire story is one part flashback and two parts hypothetical essentially turns it into pointless filler. DC really hasn't changed: after 90 years they're still publishing stories that turn out to be "imaginary stories".

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C12 - Aug 20, 2025

You sound stupid

Hex - Aug 20, 2025 (edited)

I'm not trying to ignore your point, simply trying to understand but isn't the point of all comics imaginary stories?

orbisstelassis - Aug 20, 2025

I just mean it leads us to believe it's showing us what happens, but at the end it turns out to just be a hypothetical.

ComicsGild - Aug 21, 2025

Somebody read this issue during a hangover 0.o

Gophfacekillah - Aug 22, 2025

Dude just stop reading comics if this is your mindset. At least quit reviewing. Most of your reviews are 10s or 1s. That’s not how an adult reviews things haha.

Figgs95 - Aug 23, 2025

4/10? You don't know good comics.

RKS - Aug 24, 2025

I can't confirm your review because I stopped reading this title after the 1st issue. Snyder is just an Edgelord type writer, he's an over done one trick pony that DC doesn't care to send to the glue factory for some reason. Anyway write your reviews and ignore the "Dog Pile mentality" people who seek to silence anyone who dares to think for themselves.

Hex - Aug 25, 2025

RKS has a gooner Twitter account where he roleplays as Superman getting banged by Powergirl and Wonder Woman.

orbisstelassis - Aug 25, 2025

I don't see why that's a problem. People can have hobbies

Hex - Aug 26, 2025 (edited)

Its more to illustrate that his priority isn't nor has it ever actually been the comics themselves or the quality therein. He's just an internet incel that cherry picks content and rails against anything modern. Ask him what he actually likes, he dodges the question. Look at his reviews, it's all just bad faith tanking. Not someone to be taken seriously and when they show up, should be written off quickly.

orbisstelassis - Aug 26, 2025

Fair enough

RKS

Aug 24, 2025

Why did they make Bane look like "Mable/Viscera/Big Daddy V" from the WWE? Fat isn't the same as muscle. Might as well have Batman facing the Blob. I'm just going off the cover, I wouldn't drop the coin on this.

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orbisstelassis - Aug 24, 2025 (edited)

You will not be surprised to learn that in his first appearance, they did a whole "this isn't even my final form" and had the venom blow him up like a GD balloon. Sure, when Schumacher did it, it ws silly, but here it's """fine art""". Give me a break.