Banehas long stood as one ofBatman’s most iconic villains, instantly recognizable to even the most casual fans. But now, DC is gearing up to reinvent him entirely, and the early teases promise a transformation that could redefine the character forever in the minds of fans.
In May, Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta sat down with theComic Book Couples Counseling podcastto discuss their ongoingAbsolute Batmanseries, part of DC’s ever-expanding lineup of titles set in the Darkseid-created world. In this universe, iconic characters have undergone intense reimaginings, with grittier origin stories and designs that match the darker world they now inhabit.
During the interview, the topic of Bane came up. He is set to make his first in-narrative debut inAbsolute Batman#9, which has a fast-approaching release date of August 08, 2025. It was during this part of the conversation thatSnyder revealed the major changes fans can expect for the iconic character and his relationship with Batman.
Absolute Batman’s Bane Comes With a Tragic Origin and Hidden Easter Eggs
ECGCE Chuma Hill VIP Variant forAbsolute Batman#9 (2025)
Upon the announcement thatBane would be joining the Absolute Universe, most fans assumed they were in for a bigger and badder version of the villain. While that remains true in some respects,Scott Snyder also revealed plans to make Bane seemingly more sympathetic than ever before. During the podcast, Snyder explained that Bane is not coming to Gotham of his own free will. Instead, he is being forced under threat:“If you don’t beat [Batman], we are gonna burn your island, you know what I mean? We will hurt everybody you care about.”This statement from Snyder makes it clear that he is positioning Absolute Bane as a tragic figure.
Snyder also stated outright that Bane is a tragic character to him, one he personally loves. At the same time, he emphasized that Bane still remains“tough as nails.”There will be several surprises in store regarding both his design and backstory. Some of those details have already been teased, such asBane’s monstrous new appearance. However, even though Snyder has been dropping hints for months, he stressed,“There’s a lot of things we aren’t revealing that you will see even in Issue 9. There are 3 or 4 big Easter eggs.”With that in mind, fans should keep a close eye on the upcoming release.
Scott Snyder: “But Nick really wants to do a Comic Book Quota where even if he doesn’t have a lot of Money, Bruce will do something for Santa Prisca at the end. Because you know what the Villians are gonna say to Bane, “If you don’t beat this guy, we are gonna burn your island,you know what i mean? We will hurt everybody you care about. You are never safe in those situations, when you sell your ideals out, you are never safe. You can’t Cozy up to Somebody and think they will protect you when they don’t have morals. It’s a losing game. So Bane is tragic to me and I love him. But he’s tough as nails, wait till you see! There are a lot of surprises to him, about his design, and all the stuff you will see in his history. All kinds of special cool stuff and who’s he has interacted with so there’s a lot of things we aren’t revealing that you will see even in Issue 9, there are 3 or 4 big Easter eggs”.
Batman Has a Secret Plan for Santa Prisca That Could Change Everything
Cover F Brian Bolland Variant forAbsolute Batman#9 (2025)
When it comes to the most intriguing thing Snyder revealed during the podcast, it was his mention that“…even if [Bruce] doesn’t have a lot of money, he will do something for Santa Prisca at the end.”This has left fans wondering what exactly Batman plans to do for Bane’s homeland. Given Bruce’s background as a civil engineer, it’s likely this will be the way he chooses to help Santa Prisca. Snyder has previously placed special emphasis on a bridge Bruce designed and won a science fair with in a childhood flashback, suggesting that this design could be what Bruce ultimately offers the rogue. However, fans won’t know the exact nature of this surprising twist inBatmanandBane’srelationship until the next story arc unfolds.
Source:Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
