Absolute Batman #14 - DC Comics

ABSOLUTE BATMAN No. 14, January 2026

As issue-long punch-ups go it’s easy to see why this particular edition of “Absolute Batman” was the third best-selling comic book in November 2025. Sure, Scott Snyder crams so much action and adrenaline-fuelled physical mutilation into his twenty-four-page plot that many of its readers will feel as tired as the heavily-fatigued titular character does by the publication’s end. But there is arguably just so much to take in with a first perusal that the vast majority of its audience will doubtless feel obliged to pour through the Darknight’s “final battle” against Bane once or thrice more at least; “I wanted to put your mind at ease. This whole incident, I see it as a minor setback.”

Furthermore, the American author manages to somehow squeeze in a whole plethora of tantalising titbits for this ongoing series’ future, such as a faceless Emergency Medical Technician named Dick Grayson cursing the Caped Crusader’s notoriety on the Gotham news channel, and Catwoman making off into the night with a container filled full of the “extremely potent steroidal compound” Venom. These ‘hooks’ genuinely hold plenty of promise as to potential storylines, as well as ensuring that the more dedicated bibliophile will scour each and every panel again to see whether even more ‘easter eggs’ are hidden within. 

Of course the biggest pull has to be Bruce Wayne’s cataclysmic conflict with Bane, and there can debatably be little doubt that this conclusion to Snyder’s “Abomination” narrative delivers it in spades. Whether an onlooker is a fan of a seriously outmatched Alfred Pennyworth, the diminutive Harley Quinn or even the crocodilian-shaped monster Waylon Jones, the (new) Bat-family’s brutal onslaught against Arkham’s super-strong test subject at the Veteran’s Arena contains plenty of hold the attention. 

In addition, Nick Dragotta pulls out all the stops as this comic’s regular artist, pencilling an incredible number of pictures – whether they be a scatter gun of small, rectangular-sized frames or a double-splash of Batman so jacked up on Venom that his suit quickly begins to split at the seams. Of particular note has to be the illustrator’s handling of Bane’s incredible regenerative growth, which towards the end of the book has the villain’s bulk absolutely dwarfing that of the Dark Knight, and setting up the conclusion for some truly grisly injuries as the Caped Crusader sets about hacking through the murderous maniac’s flesh with his large hand-blade.

The regular cover art of "ABSOLUTE BATMAN" #14 by Nick Dragotta & Frank Martin