(Image Source: DC / Nick Dragotta)
The core idea behind the Absolute Universe was to create twisted versions of the classic DC Comics heroes. This was part of a cosmic experiment enacted by Darkseid, to see if heroes would shine all the brighter in a darker world. For Absolute Batman, this meant testing himself against a deadly new version of Bane. It also meant seeing his best friends turned into his worst enemies as a result of Bane’s manipulations.
Absolute Batman #12 by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta is largely devoted to outlining these transformations. For the most part, these villains have not been drastically changed from their Earth-Prime counterparts. Indeed, the biggest change was that a young Bruce Wayne had been life-long friends with Harvey Dent, Eddie Nygma, Oswald Cobblepot, and Waylon Jones.
Since he is not a billionaire in this timeline, Bruce Wayne turned to his friends for help in becoming Absolute Batman. This help was granted reluctantly in most cases, as Bruce’s friends saw what he was doing as completely insane. Still, they helped him, to their eventual regret.
Bane goes too far in Absolute Batman #12
(Image Source: DC / Nick Dragotta)
The current story arc of Absolute Batman found Bruce Wayne breaking into Ark M. Built off the coast of Gotham City, this secret prison was rumored to be home to mad scientific experiments. Bruce discovered these rumors to be true, as he tried to rescue Waylon Jones.
Unfortunately, Bruce was captured and soon become a test subject himself. Beyond the medical experiments, he was put through psychological torments by the man called Bane. All designed to break the Absolute Batman and fashion him into a weapon, just as Bane had been. When Bruce finally escaped, with Waylon’s help, he learned that Bane had also been testing his best friends and accomplices.
What happens to each villain?
What Bane did to each villain was truly horrific. Each of them was attacked physically and left horribly malformed. What truly makes Bane terrible, however, was how effectively he also attacked Bruce Wayne’s friends on a psychological level. This left the Absolute Batman with hardly any allies and Bruce Wayne without any friends.
Killer Croc
(Image Source: DC / Nick Dragotta)
Waylon Jones was transformed into a giant reptile that more closely resembled a dragon than a crocodile. When he and Bruce escaped from Ark M, he begged for Bruce to kill him or give him a weapon so he could end his own life. When Bruce refused, Waylon retreated into the sewers. This was Killer Croc born in the Absolute Universe.
The Penguin
(Image Source: DC / Nick Dragotta)
When Bruce checked up on his friends, he was horrified to find Oswald Cobblepot in the hospital. Deducing that Cobblepot was concerned about his short statute and physical weakness, Bane targeted his body. The fixer had nearly every bone in his body broken, though none of his internal organs were harmed. He survived, though it was said he would be two feet shorter than before and he would be in tremendous pain for the rest of his life. This assures that Ozzie will become the Absolute Batman version of The Penguin.
Two-Face
(Image Source: DC / Nick Dragotta)
Harvey Dent got a double-helping of torment from Bane. He was held down in a puddle of gasoline, with half his body being precisely burned. However, Bane also attacked Harvey’s mind and his conflicted feelings regarding his job as a district attorney and his outlaw friends. This left Harvey’s mind as fractured as his body, though Two-Face assured Bruce that “I only hate you half the time.”
The Riddler
(Image Source: DC / Nick Dragotta)
Unlike the rest of the gang, Eddie Nygma did not wind up in the hospital. However, Absolute Batman’s relief at this quickly turned to horror when he saw his old friend. Bane had challenged Eddie to a battle of wits and promptly cracked the know-it-all hacker’s skull open when Eddie lost. Left for dead, Eddie wired himself into his computer. He was somehow able to survive despite his now partly-exposed brain. However, the man who once had all the answers was now questioning every fact he knew as The Riddler.
Absolute Batman #12 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
