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Consider DC's Absolute Batman as a Dark Knight for our times - taking 85 years of stories and reimagining it the way a movie or TV adaptation would, but in the character's home realm of comics. In the current arc, the DC mega villain Bane - the one who broke the hero's back in the '90s - is back with a rebooted origin, with what looks like more of the Venom serum pulsing through his jacked-up veins.

Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta have redefined who DC's Dark Knight is with their hit series Absolute Batman, and after becoming one of the (if not the) bestselling superhero comic book of 2024, it's back in 2025 for more. In the story, Batman still fights crime but does it with a harsher edge and without the benefit of his family's riches. 

In July 16's Absolute Batman #10, Snyder and Dragotta reveal what this rebooted Bane is up to - and tease a new origin for the back-breaking adversary.

"Bruce Wayne is trapped within the horrors of Ark M as his best friend Waylon Jones endures unimaginable tortures...but what awaits Batman is far more terrifying than anything either has faced...the true form of Bane is revealed," reads DC's description of the issue. "But it's how Bane plans to break Batman that will have you, our dear readers, bending over backward."

Absolute Batman release schedule

If you want to get the big picture on when all the next Absolute Batman books are, we have you covered. Take a look, and why not pre-order through your favorite book dealer?

• Absolute Batman #10 release date: July 16, 2025
• Absolute Batman #11 release date: August 13, 2025
• Absolute Batman #12 release date: September 10, 2025

Absolute Batman collected editions

DC will release the first collected edition of Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta's Absolute Batman run in late summer. Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo is scheduled to be released August 5, 2025, with three versions - a hardcover edition, a softcover edition, and a digital version. Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo will contain Absolute Batman #1 - 6.

How often will Absolute Batman come out?

DC is aiming for Absolute Batman to be released monthly. To help with that, series artist Nick Dragotta is taking breaks between arcs with other artists filling in, such as with Marcos Martin on issues #7 and #8.

Is Absolute Batman a different universe?

Absolute Batman is set in a different universe inside the DC Multiverse and began with October 2024's DC All-In Special. This title co-exists in that Absolute Universe with other current titles bearing the Absolute moniker such as Absolute Wonder Woman and Absolute Superman, among others. While it is in a separate universe, there are already plans for it to crossover with DC Comics' main universe.

How old is Bruce in Absolute Batman?

According to an easter egg in Absolute Batman #1, Bruce Wayne was born on February 19, 2004 and the series is currently set in the present day of 2025 - making Bruce 21 years old.

Where can I read Absolute Batman digitally?

New issues of Absolute Batman are released simultaneously to their print debut on several platforms, including Amazon's Kindle and comiXology services. DC's own internal subscription service DC Universe Infinite, adds issues of Absolute Batman several weeks after release.

He is vengeance, he is the night, he is... one of Popverse's favorite subjects. Learn how to do a Dark Knight movie marathon right with our Batman movie guide, and for the true World's Greatest Detectives out there, dive deep into the heart of Gotham City by getting to know Batman with Popverse.