Absolute Batman #12

Does it get any better than this? Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta bring us another devastating, brutal, blockbuster slice of story from what might just be the most bleak version of Batman's story we've ever seen. Read Full Review

This is probably the darkest issue of the run so far, and so the character who appears at the end is very welcome. Scott Snyder has played with these dark themes before, but we've never seen him unleashed quite like he is in this run. Read Full Review

How far can Bane push Batman before he breaks? It is a more dire question that has no easy answer. Snyder constructs a disturbing & heavy issue of innocence lost. Dragotta, Martin & Cowles deliver the terrifying new reality with phenomenal art. This series continues to move boundaries on creativity & style in the Bat Mythos. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman Issue 12 is multiple origin stories in one. It's mesmerizing, morbid and meticulous. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman 12 is a captivating reminder how wide open the Absolute Universe can be and how much more engaging it can be with no rules or limitations. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman #12 is the darkest chapter yet, a brutal reshaping of Bruce's rogues into something far more personal and tragic. It's not an easy read, but it's one of the most effective. Snyder and Dragotta are working in perfect sync, delivering a story that redefines what this series can be. Read Full Review

This is a truly strong issue, one that redefines the origins of Bruce Wayne and his rogues gallery. It positions Bruce as partly responsible for why his friends have been transformed into some of his most infamous foes. I'm eager to see how these events will unfold in future issues. Read Full Review

Dragotta delivers dark, stunning and visceral art throughout the issue. The visual depictions of what happened to Bruces friends is haunting and I loved every moment. Read Full Review

This reckless, riverboat gambler Batman continues to be the car crash I keep returning to, and Absolute Batman #12 is no exception and takes the concept to eleven. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman #12 is one of the boldest twists on Batman's mythos in years, reshaping his bond with Penguin, Riddler, and Two-Face into something more tragic and personal than ever before. With Snyder and Dragotta firing on all cylinders, this chapter leaves Bruce and readers haunted by guilt, regret, and a rogues gallery that feels as much like old friends as foes. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman #12 is easily the darkest issue of the series so far. It holds nothing back as it lays bare the atrocities that Bane has inflicted on all of Bruce's closest friends. Their physical pain and mutilation is matched only by the psychological trauma that comes with it, all meticulously detailed by Nick Dragotta's gruesome art. It's a horrifically captivating story, but one you might not feel happy reading. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman #12 does an incredible job at showing the ramifications of Bruce Wayne's actions as the Dark Knight. Those ramifications coming in the form of his inner circles tragic fate is heartbreaking. What this does for the future of series creates even greater intrigue for what Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta have planned from here. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman #12 is a bruiser: dark, sharp, packed with venom, and proud of it. Snyder's writing punches above its weight, and Dragotta's art looks ready for a hospital visit itself. If Gotham is a pressure cooker, this issue cranks the heat to boiling, daring readers to stick around for the inevitable burn. Read Full Review

Absolute Batman ratchets up the gruesomeness and the tension as the horrors of Absolute Bane continue. Read Full Review

I liked Absolute Batman #12. Bane is really making things personal with Bruce. He has gone after his best friends and it makes you wonder if his mother and Jim Gordon are next. Read Full Review

Overall, Absolute Batman #12 is a good read, but I must admit that I didn't like how it all shook out. I should have known that helping Batman comes with consequences, and Bruce's friends would paid a heavy price. With only Alfred and Selina left as allies, Batman prepares to take the fight to Bane towards the end of the book, leading to what I'm sure will be a brutal conclusion between them. Read Full Review

motorik

Sep 10, 2025

Perfection. This is one of the best comics I have read. This should have won the Eisner. Perhaps though, it's too graphic? I am genuinely blown away by this. This is without question, the best super hero comic book on the shelves today. Every month is a genuine treat. Ha. One day, I look forward to owning the Absolute "Absolute Batman."

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Linkush - Sep 10, 2025 (edited)

Absolute version for this comic would be INSANE! I’d buy it in a heartbeat

motorik - Sep 10, 2025

Oh totally my friend. I've been slowly buying them all. The best way to read the classics. My Absolute All Star Superman just arrived. It's beautiful.

Linkush - Sep 10, 2025 (edited)

Congrats, That’s a great pickup! All-Star Superman is an all timer. I’ve got the absolute editions of Batman Year One, Court of Owls, Death of the Family, Killing Joke and I’m planning on buying more such as Swamp Thing by Alan Moore, Mister Miracle by Tom King and Watchmen. Without a doubt my favourite way of reading comicbooks.

motorik - Sep 11, 2025

Sweet collection mate! I want the Mister Miracle one next. What a story. When Tom King is good, he's one of the best.

Afre

Sep 10, 2025

I'm speechless.

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motorik - Sep 10, 2025

Shocking.

daspidaboy - Sep 13, 2025

what were one of your favorite parts in this issue?

Afre - Sep 17, 2025

Pretty much everything. I loved it all.

jess212

Sep 10, 2025

This is one of the darkest comics I have ever read. I have no idea how this will all play out and, I am just hoping that we start seeing some light at the end of this tunnel. Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta deliver a Batman unlike any other. Absolute Batman 12 crushes Bruce in new ways and somehow the worst is yet to be revealed.

Linkush

Sep 10, 2025

Holy shit this series is dark and brutal! This issue is basically the origin story of the absolute version of some of Batman’s most iconic villain and goddamn I was NOT ready for how messed up it is. The way Snyder builds Bane as this dark unstoppable force really makes you want to see Batman finally DESTROY him. I seriously can’t wait for their showdown, I’m sure it will be one for the ages. Without a doubt the best thing in comic books right now (along with Ultimate Spider-Man).

fthissite

Sep 11, 2025

F'n banger.

ComicsGild

Sep 15, 2025

Reads every issue twice or more

daspidaboy

Sep 13, 2025

I just love the origin story for Absolute Riddler, Penguin, Two-Face. I am so excited to see how Batman deals with Bane, and Nick Dragotta's art fits so well in this universe

Hex

Sep 23, 2025

Tragic

Screaming Enigma

Oct 23, 2025

Great stuff. Spoilers incoming, by the way. Bane, essentially, creating Penguin, Two-Face, and Riddler was actually insane. Really looking forward to seeing more of the three of them in the future. Shifting to the present, it's nice to, finally, see Selina show up after really only appearing in flashbacks thus far. As usual, I'm very intrigued to see what comes next from this book.

George

Sep 10, 2025

I preferred last issue. It also seemed like a page was missing between the Harvey dent pages and the riddler pages.

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George - Sep 10, 2025

But I guess I was never going to love this issue because I think the premise that Batman and all of his major rogues were childhood friends is dumb and a poor storytelling shortcut that I look past every time I read this book. And it was front and center this time.

HuckEverlasting

Sep 10, 2025

Great issue that builds a lot of excitement for the future of this iteration of Batman's rogues gallery. Felt like it tried to do too much with one issue though, three origin stories is a lot and the flashback storyline with Selina and Bruce was a little out of place.

BatSledge

Sep 10, 2025

While I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as the previous three chapters, this dark and haunting installment finds a new and even more sinister way for Bane to break the Batman. Tragic new origins for his Absolute Rogues Gallery, not to mention a ticking time bomb inside the Dark Knight himself, all courtesy of Snyder and Dragotta! Loved the last page surprise as well.

Kenjamin

Oct 08, 2025

Art: 4/5 Story: 4/5 Total: 8/10

Aesopjer

Sep 18, 2025

Kinda called it in one of my earlier reviews of the book about the rouges gallery. Just disappointed in the execution.

flodid

Sep 11, 2025

Well that's it for me, guess I'm dropping this title. Scott Synder is moving like a bulldozer, rewriting Batman like a horror show. And yes, there is supposed to be some reinvention with the absolute titles but to me he goes way too far...and nowhere interesting. I was curious about what he would make of Batman's rogue gallery and now that I've seen their treatment without any ounce of finesse, thanks but no thanks. It's a shame because I was quite into Nick Dragotta's art. The worst Batman story along with Hush#2 nowadays, by a long mile...

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George - Sep 11, 2025

I thought he was doing good work with black mask and then Bane. But I agree with you on the treatment of the rogues.

orbisstelassis

Sep 11, 2025

The iffy racial politics of Waylon being turned into Croc just to make Bruce sad was problematic, but having most of the bigger Batman rogues' origins default into "Bane punched them very hard to make Bruce sad and now they all hate Bruce" is just plain stupid. Congratulations to Dragotta for making it look pretty, at least.