In Review: Absolute Batman (2024-) #13 – A Monstrous Callout!

Synopsis: Batman faces his ultimate showdown with the monstrous Bane! Can he overcome this unstoppable force, or will he be trapped in Ark-M forever?

The Story

Picking up from where the last issue left off, Bruce Wayne—having escaped Ark-M and been tended to by Alfred—receives a visit from Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman. Flashbacks deepen their bond and shed light on Bruce’s past dealings with Falcone and his former ally, Waylon. Meanwhile, Bruce and Selina seek out the mysterious Red Hood Gang, an outlaw collective Batman had previously attempted to strike a deal with.

Conflict erupts when the gang refuses to take orders from anyone—Batman included. Amid the skirmish, the venom in Bruce’s system begins to take hold, manifesting both physically and emotionally. Batman narrowly defuses the situation by boldly declaring his intent: to bring down Bane, destroy Ark-M (the facility tied to Bane’s experiments), and burn the rot out of Gotham.

This declaration captures the attention of the gang’s leader, who reveals herself to be Harley Quinn. Stepping forward from under her hood, she announces herself as the Red Hood’s new leader. In the closing moments, Batman hijacks Gotham’s broadcast network to publicly challenge Bane to a final one-on-one showdown at Veterans Arena. Supported by Alfred, Bruce steels himself—venom, risk, and all—for the coming battle.

Artwork

Nick Dragotta continues to deliver solid art in this issue. Some standout moments include Harley Quinn’s dramatic reveal as the Red Hood’s leader. The quieter scenes between Bruce Wayne and Selina are handled tastefully, with a particularly striking use of silhouette-style effects in the intimate panels. Seeing Batman and Catwoman working together in the Absolute Universe for the first time is visually fun and adds a dynamic energy to the issue.

Overall

Overall, this was a fun issue that offers some insight into the relationship between Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle in this universe. It also adds some playful tension to her interactions with Alfred, which are understandably adversarial—this version of Alfred is a CIA operative and well aware of Catwoman’s international escapades. The high point of the issue comes when Batman publicly calls out Bane, setting the stage beautifully for the finale of this story arc in the next issue.