Batman #497 Bane Breaks Batman’s Back_ 1st Print_ Knightfall Part 11 (NM/MT)

The Broken Bat

After weeks of being forced to run a gauntlet against his escaped rogues’ gallery—orchestrated by the mysterious and brilliant Bane—Batman returns to Wayne Manor completely exhausted and broken in spirit. He finds Bane waiting for him in his own home. Despite a desperate struggle, the Venom-enhanced villain pummels the Dark Knight through the manor and down into the Batcave. In the climax, Bane lifts a helpless Bruce Wayne over his head and drives him down across his knee, shattering Batman’s spine and claiming victory over Gotham City.


What makes Batman #497 the "big one" is that Bane didn't just win a fight; he effectively retired the hero. This wasn't a temporary knockout or a strategic retreat—it was a career-ending injury that forced Bruce to hand over the mantle to Jean-Paul Valley (Azrael) for over a year of real-world time.