In this review of Absolute Batman #9, Batman’s search for Waylon takes him to the underbelly of Ark-M. What he finds is more than he expected.
Absolute Batman #9 main cover by Nick Dragotta (DC Comics)
Absolute Batman # 9
Writer: Scott Synder
Art and Main Cover: Nick Dragotta
Colorist: Frank Martin
Variant Covers: Nick Dragotta
Release Date: June 11, 2025
Absolute Batman #9 opens with the leaders of Quarc and Kahndaq coming to peace talks and ending a bitter rivalry and war between the two nations. Suddenly, Absolute Bane shows up and forces one of them to break the treaty already which Omar does (although it’s unclear which country he leads) while Bane smushes the head of the other leader. Bane tells Omar that the peace talks broke down and he will double the efforts in their war because that is what his employers expect. Then Bane gets a call to head to Gotham City. And that is where our next arc begins.
Meanwhile, with Waylon missing, Batman has been on a war on the streets. He is beating up so many hoods that the city has run out of ambulances and has had to resort to using rideshares. They ran out of rideshares and one EMT is bringing a hurt criminal on a bicycle and his name tag says “Grayson, D.”
Batman turns to Barbara Gordon for help to find Waylon. She gives him information that says the police took Waylon for breaking city curfew to Ark M. Bruce, along with Eddie, Pennyworth, Harvey, and Oz, are putting a plan together to bust Waylon out.
Jim and Martha are watching the news as Mayor Hill and Harvey Bullock continue their fear state and Jim comments on how it is time for Martha to step into the light to save Gotham politically.
We see a flashback of Bruce in bed with Selina with a pile of money as Waylon shows up to say he is going to box Bibbo Bibbowski (love it) for the championship. He asks Bruce to be his trainer and because they are best friends, Bruce agrees.
Bruce begins his break into Ark M with Alfred guiding him like old times in the main universe. Batman makes his way but the coms drop out and Batman comes face to face with Bane. Bane kicks the holy hell out of Batman and then uses the venom. The venom puffs up Bane to look like the worst version of every 90s image character ever. He grabs Batman by the head and says it’s time to get Batman prepped for surgery.
Analysis: Ooof. I like the Waylon/Bruce/Selina flashback in this issue. I like the start of the issue with Bane. I liked the Dick Grayson tease. I sorta liked Batman and Alfred and the others planning the break in. I liked Batman quickly meeting his match with Bane. But I did not like the suped up Venom Bane. Wow. Not even 90s Image Comics would take that character. They would think he is too big.
Without Venom, Absolute Bane is a big, jacked guy with a small looking head. On Venom he is bigger than the Hulk with veins popping everywhere and his head basically the same as before. He is cartoonishly big, He is holding Batman by the head like he is a Funko Pop. Think of how big Absolute Batman is. 6’5? That puts Bane at like 20 feet tall? Is the art just embellished just to show how imposing he is? Hopefully. I can also see how Batman beats Bane here. Throws a batarang at his tube and Bane wigs out. That’s how it always goes. I hope I’m wrong.
