Absolute Batman # 16 Cover B Second Printing Dragotta Foil Variant 2026 BN

Absolute Batman #16, released on January 28, 2026, serves as the second half of a "duet" crossover with Absolute Wonder Woman #15. This issue shift the focus to a personal mission for Bruce Wayne as he seeks a supernatural solution to a problem science cannot solve. 

Story: The Journey into Hell 

In this chapter, Bruce Wayne is on a desperate hunt to help his childhood friend, Waylon Jones, who has been transformed into a monstrous crocodile—Killer Croc—by the villain Jack Grimm. Consumed by a deadly hunger and unable to be cured by traditional means, Waylon's only hope lies in divine intervention. 

• The Underworld Odyssey: Batman enlists Absolute Wonder Woman to guide him into the Underworld (Charon's realm) to find a cure.
• Emotional Weight: The issue is noted for its deep character work, showing a more human and "fragile" side of Bruce. While in the underworld, Bruce has a profound encounter with the soul of his father, Thomas Wayne, providing him with a sense of closure he had long been denied.
• Action and Interplay: Despite the dark setting, the story features a unique dynamic between the two heroes, blending brutal action with humorous interplay as Bruce experiences magic for the first time. 

Creative Team 

• Writer: Scott Snyder
• Artist: Nick Dragotta
• Colors: Frank Martin