Absolute Batman #12 is a masterclass in brutality and emotional stakes

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12 issues in, and Snyder and Dragotta have no intentions of hitting the breaks.

After a brief break exploring Bane's backstory, the series jumps back into the action. Bruce, having escaped Ark M with Waylon, finds temporary relief in the sewers below Gotham. However, this relief is short-lived as the issue unleashes a new wave of tragedy.

The issue's emotional core lies in the fate of Bruce's friends. We've grown attached to characters like Waylon, Ozzie, Ed, and Harvey over the past 11 issues, making their mutation and suffering at the hands of Bane all the more heartbreaking.  The reunion between Bruce and his mother, Martha, is a powerful moment of warmth and a testament to her strong character, but it's quickly overshadowed by the horrifying news about Ozzie.

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As Bruce learns the grim fates of his friends, the emotional stakes escalate. This is his worst nightmare: his loved ones are being hurt because of him. The glimpses of their mutated forms are both graphically and emotionally "gnarly," driving home the cruelty of Bane's actions.

Yet, in the face of all this tragedy, Bruce doesn't break. This is where Snyder's storytelling really shines. He puts the suit back on, he gets back up. He is Absolute Batman—unbreakable and fueled by determination, with Alfred loyally by his side ready to back him up.

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This big spread of Batman and Alfred, ready to face Bane, is incredible. Absolute Batman continues to give the reader at least one HELL YEAH moment each issue. The issue doesn't just revel in loss, it gets it's ass back up and ready to hit back. Artist Nick Dragotta's dynamic and stylish art, perfectly complemented by Frank Martin's colors*, perfectly fits the narrative Snyder lays out. *Frank Martin is really really incredible. I’m also really loving his work on the new Captain America series by Chip Zdarsky and Valerio Schiti, check it out!  Huge shoutouts to Nick Dragotta on this issue, and every issue before this. His panelling is insane and densely packed, leaving the reader really feel like they are getting their money's worth with these 22 pages.

Absolute Batman #12 is a perfect example of Snyder and Dragotta's ability to constantly one-up each other an incredible display of storytelling. Like the DC Comics tagline, this issue has me ALL IN, and ready to see Bane get his teeth kicked in.