In Review: Absolute Batman #14 – Abomination Concludes It's the main event as Batman takes on the mighty Bane by Ian Cullen December 2, 2025 Spread the love Synopsis: In the explosive finale of Abomination, Batman and Catwoman confront Bane in a brutal last showdown. But when the dust finally settles, what will it mean for Batman’s future? The Story In this climax to Abomination, Batman and his allies set the stage for the main event: Batman’s showdown with Bane. The issue opens with the hype building as Alfred talks Bruce through the plan — or at least how Alfred thinks things will play out. But as ever in Gotham, nothing goes according to the playbook. While this is unfolding, the Mayor broadcasts that there will be no fight at the Gotham Arena and that the police are taking measures to prevent it. Naturally, every attempt fails, and the fight goes ahead anyway. What follows is a brutal spectacle. For every savage blow Batman lands, Bane simply heals. At one point Batman gouges out one of Bane’s eyes, only for Bane to grow a new one moments later. Every hit he takes just earns him another surge of serum. Eventually, Bane catches Batman with a strike that knocks him clean out of the ring. Taking the chance to regroup, Batman lets Waylon — now fully Killer Croc — take a run at Bane. Croc tears into him, ripping flesh and muscle, but again Bane regenerates. When Bane is moments from breaking Croc’s jaw, Batman leaps back in, telling his friend to stand down. Alfred is screaming at him to take his own dose of the serum, but Batman refuses, fighting Bane with zero enhancement in his system. Once he finally manoeuvres Bane into position, he signals Catwoman to fire their spare vial of serum at him — a move that causes Bane to swell to monstrous proportions until he literally bursts. He isn’t dead, just defeated, and it’s clear Joker still has plans for him. For now, though, Batman and his friends stand triumphant… at least until the next battle. Artwork Nick Dragotta delivers solid artwork throughout the issue. Because there’s so much story to cover, several of the early pages use dense 10-panel layouts to capture all the hype and build-up to the fight from every angle. My favourite panel in the whole book is the moment Batman screams at Waylon to stand down and hurls himself back into the ring — it’s dynamic, emotional, and perfectly timed. I also loved the way Dragotta juxtaposes the main event between Batman and Bane with Waylon’s separate match against the boxing or UFC champion. The contrast adds intensity and gives the narrative a real sense of scale. The final sequence, where we see Bane being regrown in the lab while Joker taunts him, works brilliantly as a tease for next month’s issue, setting the stage for Joker to step into the spotlight and take on Batman himself. Overall So the Abomination arc concludes — and it goes big while doing so — leaving us with a great tease for next month. I’ve really enjoyed this storyline, and it’s one I think would translate brilliantly if DC ever decided to animate any of the Absolute stories. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next when Joker enters the mix and takes his turn facing Batman in the new arc set to begin soon. 9.5 Source: https://www.scifipulse.net/in-review-absolute-batman-14-abomination-concludes/