Absolute Batman #14's 'Abomination' Finale Is Every Bit as Epic as It Is Tragic
"Abomination" comes to an epic finale in Absolute Batman #14, but Bane's losses are far more catastrophic than he predicted.
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR ABSOLUTE BATMAN.
Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta were already off to a strong start with Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo, but “Abomination” has proven to be their most epic storyline yet. In fact, the arc’s finale in Absolute Batman #14 shows no signs of slowing down, with the stakes being raised even higher.
As the finale, issue #14 depicts the violent showdown between Batman and Bane, and it’s every bit as brutal and outlandish as one might expect. Through Dragotta doesn’t have the cartoony art style of Daniel Warren Johnson from Absolute Batman Annual #1, he still succeeds at capturing the absurdity of the fight through dynamic action sequences and well laid-out panels.
Dragotta saves the bigger panels, splash pages, and double-page spreads for the crowning moments of awesome (like Killer Croc chomping down on Bane), and the smaller panels for depicting rapid motion and Batman’s cutting-edge thinking. Dragotta equally excels at body language and facial expressions, which allows him to successfully capture the characters’ raw emotions.
This ranges from Alfred quickly shifting between being fiercely determined to win, to suddenly fearing for Bruce Wayne’s life. Harley Quinn is equally presented with a passionate urge to bring down the house, with Bruce himself revelling in the confidence of his own raw brutality. Even Selina Kyle manages to preserve her own mysterious motivations by not wearing her emotions on her face, whereas Bane is shown to be genuinely surprised and frustrated by Bruce’s violent strategy.
Of course, the entire issue is not all spectacle. In addition to delivering a delightfully violent battle between two venom-infused giants, Snyder and Dragotta juxtapose this sequence with Waylon Jones’ earlier fight against Bibbo. Aside from conveying the message that the underdogs can still win against impossible odds with the right strategy, the flashback sequence also serves to showcase Waylon’s adaptability – both as an ordinary human and as a mutated crocodile.
Whilst Absolute Batman #14 is a straightforward conclusion that’s packed with high-octane action and solid character moments, it also ends with teasers for two upcoming storylines: the Absolute Wonder Woman and Batman crossover to help restore Waylon’s humanity, and Absolute Joker.
Though the latter only makes a cameo appearance in issue #14 to cruelly keep Bane in his servitude, this brief appearance from Absolute Joker does a lot to convey the sheer monster he truly is, especially in his human appearance. This helps stir up excitement for Absolute Joker’s arc, with many more surprises to come.
Rating: ★★★★★