Review: Absolute Batman #12 – “Abomination: Part Four”
[Editor’s note: This review may contain spoilers!]
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Nick Dragotta
Colorist: Frank Martin
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Reviewed by: Steven Brown
Summary
Batman is at the mercy of the monstrous Bane. And though his body has seen better days, his mind and spirit are still strong. But how much longer can that withstand Bane’s brutal onslaught? Bane also goes after Bruce’s personal friends, leaving devastating consequences.
Positives
Bane has arrived and is doing untold damage in Gotham. This issue ends with Bane encountering Bruce’s old friends; However, he has captured and broken them. Harvey, Oswald, and Eddie are all in the hospital, and thanks to Dr. Thompkins, Bruce has the opportunity to see them.
The amount of torture that Bane has done to Bruce’s friends is unreal, each one of them having been broken by Bane in a very specific way. Bruce is angry and horrified at what he sees.
Negatives
I don’t really like this particular turn in the story. I was actually satisfied that Bruce had allies like Waylon, Eddie, Harvey, and Oswald, as in this universe these guys had become close friends, and I was eager to see them continue to help Bruce as Batman. Now, they are merely back to being his Rogues Gallery villains, and I imagine they will all want revenge on Bruce for what has happened to them.
Bane essentially took everything Bruce loved and twisted it and broke it beyond recognition. There’s no piecing this friendship back together and it seems that Selina is the only friend he has left. Now, along with Alfred, Batman has to make a plan to take down Bane once and for all and get some sense of justice for his friends.
Verdict
Overall, Absolute Batman #12 is a good read, but I must admit that I didn’t like how it all shook out. I should have known that helping Batman comes with consequences, and Bruce’s friends would paid a heavy price. With only Alfred and Selina left as allies, Batman prepares to take the fight to Bane towards the end of the book, leading to what I’m sure will be a brutal conclusion between them.
Score 3.5/5
