Absolute Universe
| "Absolute Universe" thematic stories | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Genre | |
| Publication date | October 2, 2024 – present |
The Absolute Universe (AU) is an imprint of American comic books overseen by writer Scott Snyder and published by DC Comics. The comics take place in a shared universe designated Alpha-World as part of the DC Comics multiverse, featuring reimagined and modernized versions of the company's superhero characters from the DC Universe.
The imprint is part of the DC All In initiative, debuting in the aftermath of the 2024 Absolute Power crossover event. It was launched that year with the publication of the ongoing series Absolute Batman, Absolute Wonder Woman and Absolute Superman.
Publication history
[edit | edit source]The Absolute Universe (AU) is an all-new continuity separate from the DC Universe (DCU) overseen by Scott Snyder as part of the DC All In initiative.[1] The AU began in October 2024 with the DC All-In Special. The first titles released in the AU are Absolute Batman by Snyder with Nick Dragotta, and Absolute Wonder Woman by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman, which both started publication in October. A third title, Absolute Superman by Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval, debuted in November of the same year.[2][3] Originally Rafael Albuquerque was set to illustrate Absolute Superman, but had to pull out of the project due to severe floods in his home country of Brazil, with Sandoval being brought onto the project in June 2024.[4]
Three further titles were released in 2025: Absolute Flash by Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles, Absolute Martian Manhunter by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez (both in March),[5][6] and Absolute Green Lantern by Al Ewing and Jahnoy Lindsay in April.[7] On 24 July 2025, Absolute Green Arrow by Pornsak Pichetshote and Rafael Albuquerque was announced.[8] Another upcoming title in the Absolute Universe has been revealed at New York Comic Con 2025, Absolute Catwoman from Che Grayson, Scott Snyder and Bengal was announced with a release coming in 2026.
Setting
[edit | edit source]The AU features previous concepts from Doomsday Clock (2017–2019), Dark Nights: Death Metal (2020–2021), and Infinite Frontier (2021–2023). It is set in Earth-Alpha, also called the Elseworld, one of the two pillars of the Metaverse, along with Earth-Omega, where Darkseid used to be imprisoned. According to Snyder, while the DCU is "influenced by Superman energy", the AU is "influenced by Darkseid energy", making society treat superheroes as underdogs.[9][10]
It is established in DC All In Special that Earth-Alpha has been reshaped by Darkseid's essence as he is bent on creating a world driven by challenge and turmoil in which heroes are the "small chaos" rather than established parts of its system, while attempting to control its past and future during the gradual consolidation of the timeline on modern times.[11] Vital parts of the characters are stripped (i.e., Batman's wealth, Diana's childhood, and Superman's upbringing with the Kents), while keeping the central message and key personality traits intact.
List of publications
[edit | edit source]Prelude
[edit | edit source]| Title | Writers | Artists | Colorists | Publication date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC All In Special | Scott Snyder Joshua Williamson |
Wes Craig Daniel Sampere |
Mike Spicer Alejandro Sánchez |
October 2, 2024 | [2] |
Ongoing series
[edit | edit source]| Title | Issue | Writer | Artist | Colorist | Publication date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute Batman | 1– | Scott Snyder | Nick Dragotta | Frank Martin | October 9, 2024 | [2] |
| Absolute Wonder Woman | Kelly Thompson | Hayden Sherman | Jordie Bellaire | October 23, 2024 | [2] | |
| Absolute Superman | Jason Aaron | Rafa Sandoval | Ulises Arreola | November 6, 2024 | [2] | |
| Absolute Flash | Jeff Lemire | Nick Robles | Adriano Lucas | March 19, 2025 | [12] | |
| Absolute Green Lantern | Al Ewing | Jahnoy Lindsay | April 2, 2025 | [13] | ||
Limited series
[edit | edit source]| Title | Issue | Writer | Artist | Colorist | Publication date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute Martian Manhunter | 1–12 | Deniz Camp | Javier Rodríguez | March 26, 2025 | [14] | |
| Absolute Green Arrow | 1–6 | Pornsak Pichetshote | Rafael Albuquerque | TBA | 2026 | [15] |
| Absolute Catwoman | Scott Snyder Che Grayson |
Bengal | TBA | 2026 | [16] | |
One-shots
[edit | edit source]| Title | Writers | Artists | Colorists | Publication date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Comic Book Day 2025: DC All In/Absolute Universe Special Edition | Dan Slott Jeff Lemire |
Rafael Albuquerque Giuseppe Camuncoli Stefano Nesi |
Marcelo Maiolo | May 3, 2025 | |
| Absolute Evil | Al Ewing | Giuseppe Camuncoli Stefano Nesi |
Romulo Fajardo Jr. | October 1, 2025 | [17] |
| Absolute Batman: Ark M Special | Scott Snyder Frank Tieri |
Josh Hixson | TBA | January 7, 2026 |
Collected editions
[edit | edit source]| # | Title | Material collected | Format | Pages | Released | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute Batman | ||||||
| 1 | The Zoo | Absolute Batman #1–6 | HC | 176 | August 5, 2025 | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). |
| TPB | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). | |||||
| 2 | Abomination | Absolute Batman #7–14 | HC | 240 | February 3, 2026 | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). |
| TPB | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). | |||||
| Absolute Wonder Woman | ||||||
| 1 | The Last Amazon | Absolute Wonder Woman #1–7 | HC | 176 | August 12, 2025 | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). |
| TPB | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). | |||||
| 2 | As My Mothers Made Me | Absolute Wonder Woman #8–14 | HC | 208 | February 17, 2026 | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). |
| TPB | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). | |||||
| Absolute Superman | ||||||
| 1 | Last Dust Of Krypton | Absolute Superman #1–6 | HC | 176 | August 19, 2025 | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). |
| TPB | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). | |||||
| 2 | Son of the Demon | Absolute Superman #7–14 | HC | 206 | March 2, 2026 | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). |
| TPB | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). | |||||
| Absolute Martian Manhunter | ||||||
| 1 | Martian Vision | Absolute Martian Manhunter #1–6 | HC | 144 | November 18, 2025 | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). |
| TPB | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). | |||||
| Absolute Green Lantern | ||||||
| 1 | Without Fear | Absolute Green Lantern #1–6 | HC | 176 | December 9, 2025 | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). |
| TPB | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). | |||||
| 2 | TBC | Absolute Green Lantern #7–12 | HC | 176 | June 9, 2026 | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). |
| TPB | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). | |||||
| Absolute Flash | ||||||
| 1 | Of Two Worlds | Absolute Flash #1–6 | HC | 144 | December 23, 2025 | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). |
| TPB | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). | |||||
| 2 | TBC | Absolute Flash #7–12 | HC | 176 | June 23, 2026 | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). |
| TPB | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). | |||||
Reception
[edit | edit source]Sales
[edit | edit source]The first issue of Absolute Batman had a print run of around 250,000 copies and by the end of 2024, Absolute Batman became the best selling comic of 2024, with combined sales of first, second, third and black-and-white printings, selling just under 400,000 copies.[18] Initial orders of Absolute Wonder Woman #1 received orders of around 150,000, and Absolute Superman having a print run of about 180,000 copies.[19]
By February 2025, the line had sold over 2.5 million units.[20]
With the second wave of the Absolute Line, Absolute Flash #1 was the best selling Flash comic since Flash #1 from 1987, getting over 180,000 pre-orders, along with Absolute Martian Manhunter #1 having sold over 120,000 copies.[21][22]
Accolades
[edit | edit source]| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Comic | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Eisner Awards | Best New Series | Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta | Absolute Batman | Nominated | [23][24] |
| Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman | Absolute Wonder Woman | Won | ||||
| Best Writer | Kelly Thompson | Absolute Wonder Woman | Nominated | |||
| Best Penciller/Inker | Nick Dragotta | Absolute Batman | Nominated | |||
| Best Cover Artist | Hayden Sherman | Absolute Wonder Woman | Nominated | |||
| Best Coloring | Jordie Bellaire | Absolute Wonder Woman | Won | |||
| Best Lettering | Becca Carey | Absolute Wonder Woman Absolute Superman |
Nominated | |||
| Clayton Cowles | Absolute Batman | Won |
See also
[edit | edit source]- Earth One: The first modern reimagining of DC Comics titular characters.
- Ultimate Marvel: An imprint by Marvel Comics similar to Absolute Universe and Earth One.
- Ultimate Universe: Another Marvel Comics imprint with a modern reimagining of its characters released around the same time as the Absolute Universe.
- Energon Universe: An Image Comics shared universe of Transformers and G.I. Joe.
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c d e Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ DC All-In Special #1. DC Comics.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).