ABSOLUTE BATMAN #12 Review

• Written by: Scott Snyder

• Art by: Nick Dragotta

• Colors by: Frank Martin

• Letters by: Clayton Cowles

• Cover art by: Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin (cover A)

• Cover price: $4.99

• Release date: September 10, 2025

Absolute Batman #12, by DC Comics on 9/10/25, throws Bruce Wayne into a venom-fueled nightmare, tangled in loyalty and betrayal as Gotham’s fate slips through his battered fingers.

First Impressions

This issue grabs you by the spine and doesn’t let go—twenty days of agony, a broken Oswald, and old friendships shredded like newspaper. The emotional landscape is as harsh as Gotham’s skyline, with every page brimming with bruises both physical and moral. Readers should prepare for gut-punch reveals, cruel twists, and a hero looking more haunted than ever.

Recap

In Absolute Batman #11, Bruce found himself an unwilling guest of the Ark-M facility, forced to endure tortuous modifications and Bane's sadistic beatings. Bruce eventually escaped with the help of his friend Waylon, now transformed into a reptilian mutant, but his ordeal of pain is far from over.

Plot Analysis

Bruce Wayne awakes after collapsing, his body altered by a venom delivery system woven through his spine and brain. Alfred delivers the bad news: Bruce’s recovery is far from complete, but Gotham waits for no hero. The city’s pain is mirrored in Bruce’s friends—Oswald Cobblepot lies cruelly mutilated in Gotham Hospital, his body ruined but his mind intact. Dr. Thompkins warns Bruce about the devastation, and Jim Gordon offers a rare glimpse of sympathy along with his old commissioner’s grit.

The story pivots to Harvey Dent, burned and broken, his skull cracked as brutal as his fate. Their reunion is tense and bitter—Harvey holds Bruce accountable for the collateral damage, making it clear that even old friendships can’t shield Bruce from the consequences of his crusade. Meanwhile, Eddie Nygma (the Riddler) appears to narrowly escape harm but finds himself challenged to a battle of wits, raising the stakes for everyone involved. Sadly, Eddie's loss to Bane comes with a heavy price to his mind. A new challenge emerges as the remains of Bruce’s circle rally, each clinging to the hope that Gotham can be saved, even as betrayal and defeat loom.

In a flashback. Selina and Bruce, still acting as Waylon Jones’s trainer, attempt to broker a deal with Carmine Falcone, dangling stolen gold as leverage. The exchange is interrupted by threats and double crosses—with Falcone’s control slipping, he faces uneasy choices. The city’s power players jockey for control, signaling that the old rules are off and chaos is the new normal.

Bane finally moves to breach the hatch of the Bat... Loft (?), triggering an all-out confrontation. Bruce and Alfred arm themselves, determined to meet violence with violence, but the issue closes on a foreboding note: the Red Hood Gang is restless, secrets remain unresolved, and Gotham’s future looks grimmer than ever. “To be continued,” the comic warns, setting up the next showdown where nothing is sacred and everyone has something to lose.

Writing

Scott Snyder’s script packs emotion and grit into every exchange, layering tension through terse dialogue and high-stakes confrontations. The pacing is brisk, leaping from hospital scenes to criminal negotiations with barely a breather. Snyder’s knack for interweaving personal and citywide stakes keeps the story unrelentingly taut. Every character sounds distinct, their motives and flaws revealed naturally through conversation, not exposition.

Art

Nick Dragotta unleashes kinetic compositions and chopped-up panel layouts that mirror the characters’ fractured states. The line work is expressive, brutal, and never afraid to linger on discomfort or pain. Frank Martin intensifies the mood with bold, saturated colors—deep blues and sickly greens amp up the tension, while the shadow work adds raw atmosphere. Action scenes are chaotic but clearly staged, balancing spectacle with clarity.

Characters

The cast suffers spectacularly: Bruce is more haunted than heroic, Waylon teeters between monstrous hunger and desperate hope, and Harvey Dent’s bitterness burns brighter than ever. Oswald’s transformation is poignant, flipping sympathy and horror on their heads. Supporting players like Jim Gordon, Alfred, Eddie Nygma, and Carmine Falcone get sharp moments that reveal layers of vulnerability, calculation, and old-school Gotham tough.

Positives

The standout is the relentless emotional momentum—Snyder and Dragotta refuse to let up on the pressure, showing Gotham as a crucible that breaks heroes, villains, and bystanders alike. The hospital scenes with Oswald and Harvey are razor-sharp, mining real pathos while dodging melodrama. Martin’s colors elevate the book, drenching every page in mood and urgency. The book balances brutality with moments of tenderness, ensuring every twist lands with impact.

Negatives

Some plotlines pile up without much payoff, especially the criminal negotiations and the Red Hood Gang's appearance, which comes out of nowhere. The pace sometimes sacrifices clarity for adrenaline, with key turns that could confuse younger readers or casual fans. A few abrupt transitions leave supporting characters feeling like chess pieces moved for effect rather than depth, and the relentless tone can verge on exhausting.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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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.

9/10

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