DC Comics’ all-time great antagonist for the Caped Crusader.

The preview pages for Absolute Batman #9, written by Scott Snyder, with art by Nick Dragotta, introduce Bane, who the synopsis describes as “an old adversary of Alfred’s.”

Though the updated Bane is depicted wearing a version of the character’s signature mask, the absurd degree to which he is able to expand his body in the final frame of the preview makes it clear that this is a totally new take on the villain. Now, fans will have to pick up the issue to find out the “how” and “why” of Bane’s grotesque transformation.

Bane Goes Full On Body Horror As The Absolute Universe Grows Out Of Control

Absolute Batman #9; Written By Scott Snyder; Art By Nick Dragotta; Available June 11, 2025 From DC Comics

When Absolute Bane first appears in the preview for Absolute Batman #9, artist Nick Dragotta illustrates him as being over-the-top massive, compared to two normal-sized human men. However, this might not immediately strike readers as exceptional, as Absolute Batman himself has attracted attention for his own excessively muscular form. However, the final page of the preview makes clear the sheer ridiculous scope of Absolute Bane's true physicality, in a shocking and stomach-turning reveal. The introduction of this new take on Bane was already cause for DC fans to get excited, but now it has hit another level.

Absolute Batman #9 presents a full-scale body horror reinvention of Bane, an iconic villain who was already known for his imposing size.

Bane's oversized body is depicted as a mass of muscle, barely recognizable as human, with the villain's face little more than a small black dot on a gigantic hulking orb of flesh. In other words, Absolute Batman #9 presents a full-scale body horror reinvention of Bane, an iconic villain who was already known for his imposing size. This, however, is more than about just being huge; the urgent question on readers' minds now concerns what exactly Absolute Bane is, not just who, and more critically, what the upper limit of his expansive ability might be.

Bane's Nightmare-Fuel Update Is The Latest Example Of DC Pushing Batman To The "Absolute" Limit

DC's New Continuity Is Redefining Extreme

The reveal of Absolute Bane's nightmare-fuel new design is the latest example of the Absolute Batman team's ongoing project of pushing Caped Crusader lore to its extremes. The series is doing more than just recontextualizing the famous hero's story, and by extension, his rogue's gallery; rather than just tweaking Batman lore, it is dialing it up past 11 in truly exciting and boundary-pushing ways, such as the case with Bane, whose new look will leave even the most hardcore fan's jaw on the floor.

Absolute Batman #9 will be available June 11 from DC Comics.