Absolute Batman's Big Bane Conclusion Will Be Delayed, For an Awesome Reason

1 month ago 10

Absolute Bane on his throne while Batman hangs in front of him

The biggest showdown in Absolute Batman history has been delayed, and there isn't a single fan who will be upset after they find out why.

Per an October 29 Twitter post from writer Scott Snyder, the release of the hotly-anticipated Absolute Batman #14 has been pushed back two weeks from November 12 to November 26. As Snyder explained, "[Artist] Nick [Dragotta] and I added 5 extra pages to the final fight [with] Bane. We tried a version where we squeezed it in at 20 pages, but it just felt cramped and DC was awesome about giving us extra space and time. Hope you love it."

The Absolute Universe's version of Bane made his debut in the pages of Absolute Batman #9 by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta. The Absolute Bane isn't all that far off from the classic version of the character, at least not on the surface. While both were raised in and fought to escape treacherous homes amidst horrifying circumstances, the Absolute Bane serves largely as the Absolute Joker's greatest weapon rather than as an independent agent. As such, the Absolute Bane has not only become a Venom-laced powerhouse unto himself, he has helped usher in the creation of similar villainous threats such as Deathstroke and KGBeast.

Since his debut, the Absolute Bane has gone to incredible, often devastating lengths to terrorize the Absolute Batman. Apart from striking out against the Dark Knight himself, the Absolute Bane made a point of brutally maiming Bruce's best friends. On top of overseeing the transformation of Waylon Jones into Killer Croc at the Ark M facility, Bane personally disfigured Edward Nygma, Harvey Dent, and Oswald Cobblepot, leaving each of them a shattered version of their former selves.

To combat the threat of Bane, the Absolute Batman has undertaken his own drastic efforts to catch up with his superpowered foe by embracing the Venom coursing through his own veins as a result of Ark M's gruesome experiments. While this has given Bruce an obvious edge, making him capable of punching his way through steel beams at a moment's notice, it has also taken a profound toll on his psychological and emotional state. To make matters worse, Bruce's continued use of Venom has driven a wedge between him and Selina Kyle, better known as Catwoman, that their near-lifelong relationship may not ever be able to recover from. This all came to a head in the recently released Absolute Batman #13, during which the titular antihero tapped into his supply of Venom to singlehandedly quash an encounter with the entire Red Hood Gang.

Absolute Batman #14 goes on sale November 26 from DC Comics.