| "Absolute Universe" thematic stories | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Genre | |
| Publication date | October 2, 2024 – present |
TheAbsolute Universe (AU) is an imprint ofAmerican comic books overseen by writerScott Snyder and published byDC Comics. The comics take place in ashared universe designatedAlpha-World as part of theDC Comics multiverse, featuring reimagined and modernized versions of the company'ssuperhero characters from theDC Universe.
The imprint is part of theDC All In initiative, debuting in the aftermath of the 2024Absolute Powercrossover event. It was launched that year with the publication of the ongoing seriesAbsolute Batman,Absolute Wonder Woman andAbsolute Superman.
The Absolute Universe (AU) is an all-new continuity separate from theDC Universe (DCU) overseen byScott Snyder as part of theDC All In initiative.[1] The AU began in October 2024 with theDC All-In Special. The first titles released in the AU areAbsolute Batman by Snyder with Nick Dragotta, andAbsolute Wonder Woman byKelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman, which both started publication in October. A third title,Absolute Superman byJason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval, debuted in November of the same year.[2][3] OriginallyRafael Albuquerque was set to illustrateAbsolute Superman, but had to pull out of the project due to severe floods in his home country ofBrazil, with Sandoval being brought onto the project in June 2024.[4]
Three further titles were released in 2025:Absolute Flash byJeff Lemire and Nick Robles,Absolute Martian Manhunter byDeniz Camp andJavier Rodríguez (both in March),[5][6] andAbsolute Green Lantern byAl Ewing and Jahnoy Lindsay in April.[7] On 24 July 2025,Absolute Green Arrow byPornsak Pichetshote andRafael 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.
The AU features previous concepts fromDoomsday Clock (2017–2019),Dark Nights: Death Metal (2020–2021), andInfinite 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, whereDarkseid used to be imprisoned. According to Snyder, while the DCU is "influenced bySuperman energy", the AU is "influenced by Darkseid energy", making society treat superheroes asunderdogs.[9][10]
It is established inDC 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, andSuperman's upbringing with the Kents), while keeping the central message and key personality traits intact.
| 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] |
| 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] | ||
| 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 | Che Grayson | Bengal | TBA | 2026 | [16] | |
| 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 |
| # | Title | Material collected | Format | Pages | Released | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute Batman | ||||||
| 1 | The Zoo | Absolute Batman #1–6 | HC | 176 | August 5, 2025 | 978-1799505242 |
| TPB | 978-1799505259 | |||||
| 2 | Abomination | Absolute Batman #7–14 | HC | 240 | February 3, 2026 | 978-1799507505 |
| TPB | 978-1799507512 | |||||
| Absolute Wonder Woman | ||||||
| 1 | The Last Amazon | Absolute Wonder Woman #1–7 | HC | 176 | August 12, 2025 | 978-1799505297 |
| TPB | 978-1799505303 | |||||
| 2 | As My Mothers Made Me | Absolute Wonder Woman #8–14 | HC | 208 | February 17, 2026 | 978-1799507536 |
| TPB | 978-1799507543 | |||||
| Absolute Superman | ||||||
| 1 | Last Dust Of Krypton | Absolute Superman #1–6 | HC | 176 | August 19, 2025 | 978-1799505327 |
| TPB | 978-1799505334 | |||||
| 2 | Son of the Demon | Absolute Superman #7–14 | HC | 206 | March 2, 2026 | 978-1799507758 |
| TPB | 978-1799507529 | |||||
| Absolute Martian Manhunter | ||||||
| 1 | Martian Vision | Absolute Martian Manhunter #1–6 | HC | 144 | November 18, 2025 | 978-1799505204 |
| TPB | 978-1799505211 | |||||
| Absolute Green Lantern | ||||||
| 1 | Without Fear | Absolute Green Lantern #1–6 | HC | 176 | December 9, 2025 | 978-1799505549 |
| TPB | 978-1799505556 | |||||
| 2 | TBC | Absolute Green Lantern #7–12 | HC | 176 | June 9, 2026 | 978-1799508403 |
| TPB | 978-1799508410 | |||||
| Absolute Flash | ||||||
| 1 | Of Two Worlds | Absolute Flash #1–6 | HC | 144 | December 23, 2025 | 978-1799505181 |
| TPB | 978-1799505198 | |||||
| 2 | TBC | Absolute Flash #7–12 | HC | 176 | June 23, 2026 | 978-1799508380 |
| TPB | 978-1799508397 | |||||
The first issue ofAbsolute 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 ofAbsolute Wonder Woman #1 received orders of around 150,000, andAbsolute 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 sinceFlash #1 from 1987, getting over 180,000 pre-orders, along withAbsolute Martian Manhunter #1 having sold over 120,000 copies.[21][22]
| 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 |