REVIEW: ‘Absolute Batman’ Issue 11

Absolute Batman Issue 11 is published by DC Comics and written by Scott Snyder, art by Clay Mann, colors by Ivan Plascencia, and letters by Clayton Cowles.

The origin of Bane is revealed as he hunts down Batman.

Absolute Batman Issue 11 spends most of its time in the past. It starts from the very beginning of Bane’s life, telling a thorough story from the start right up until the present day. It uses a backstory to surprise and familiarize readers. There are parts of this Absolute version of Bane that are recognizable and other aspects that are brand new. However, as it progresses, the ruthlessness of the mercenary begins to emerge and becomes terrifying.

The tone of Absolute Batman Issue 11 is pitch black and brutal, celebrating violence. The second half of the comic sees Batman and Bane find each other, and a phenomenal brawl begins. It’s relentless and savage as they use every weapon at their disposal and completely disregard restraint. What is enjoyable is the skipping of one of the most clichéd features of a Batman vs Bane battle. What happens is perhaps more shocking and traumatic, with a horrifying ending.

The primary character in Absolute Batman Issue 11 is not the title character for a change; instead, the emphasis is placed almost entirely on Bane. Scott Snyder gets the chance to add slight reinventions to a famous origin story that was the crux of the movie The Dark Knight Rises. Some elements are very recognizable, especially in the first few pages. The prison. The incredibly hostile upbringing. The lack of an outside world. What has changed is that Bane‘s father is with him, and what happens to him is staggering. It shows the other part of this Bane that sets him apart from the one we know.

Bane has no morals, entirely motivated by my money or something more. He’s very quiet, just doing what he has to do without muttering many words. Snyder tells the story through someone else’s viewpoint as well. He uses what is assumed to be Pennyworth’s diary, telling the story like a very dark fable. It makes the story even more legendary. It can be cold and yet so visceral, and the calmness adds to the immense violence in the panels.

There is a guest artist in Absolute Batman Issue 11, one who very much creates a mesmerizing look at this world. In his early years, Bane looks nondescript and even challenging to recognize. The boy is almost of no consequence: he doesn’t matter. What matters is the man he becomes. There aren’t vast differences in this Bane that visually set him apart, because the design is just so incredible. He’s big, perhaps even larger than his counterpart in the central universe.

There are these massive muscles, preposterously oversized, which can cause untold damage if they make contact. There’s a recreation of that iconic mask, which is on a comically tiny head compared to the rest of the behemoth. Batman also looks fantastic. He’s also a big bruiser, and actually reassembles other versions of Batman than how Nick Dragotta illustrated him. The armor is more pronounced, perhaps an upgrade to specifically deal with Bane. And his proportions aren’t as ludicrous and bulky as displayed in previous chapters.

Mann acknowledges the intense violence of this series, delivering a superb selection of gratifying action. It’s a vicious fight that is marked by its incredible speed and ferocity. It’s not just fists either. Batman brings a blade to the battle, and that makes the action scarier because parts can be chopped off. It’s bloody and grizzly and above all, humiliating.

The colors are sensational. It is where the biggest difference in Bane can be perceived. The green venom in his system is visible on his skin, travelling up his arms and over his face. And in the first half, as we watch him grow into a man, he’s bright red. This makes him stand out among the other prisoners. That red stays on his hands as he gets older, but it becomes blood. The lettering is mostly fine, but the font for the captions is slightly annoying and sometimes difficult to read.

Absolute Batman Issue 11 is a terrific buildup to brutality. It’s ruthless, heartless, and dedicated to make Bane as terrifying as possible. The emotion is removed, and it becomes a monstrous battle for survival. What’s fantastic is this war of supremacy has occurred across multiple issues now, and it’s still not tiring. Each issue seems to get more ferocious and more violent. It’s the ultimate test for Batman that seems completely impossible to overcome.

Absolute Batman Issue 11 is available where comics are sold.