Updated Jan 22, 2025! A comprehensive guide to DC Absolute Universe, including Absolute Batman, Absolute Wonder Woman, Absolute Superman, and more! Find out how to read it via single issues, omnibuses, hardcovers, and trade paperback graphic novel collections. Part of Crushing Krisis’s Crushing Comics. Last updated January 2025 with titles scheduled for release through August 2025.
What is DC Absolute Universe?
DC Absolute Universe is an alternate universe newly established in the aftermath of the Absolute Power event in 2024. The Earth at the center of DC Absolute Universe was originally a primordial “Alpha World” born in the wake of the Death Metal event and obscured from the sight of Prime Earth’s heroes. Darkseid’s actions in DC All In Special (2024) #1 gave him a unique influence over this multiverse, and his influence created the Absolute Universe.
DC Absolute Universe is different than other past DC Elseworlds – including the similarly themed Earth One of the 2010s – because it is a single continuity shared by all of its characters. Each character is interacting with the same world, and all of their origins have been tweaked to be bleaker due to Darkseid’s influence. However, unlike Earth One, this is a fully fantastical Earth – full of plenty of super-powered individuals, magic, and dark gods, just like Prime Earth. The difference is that these aspects are emerging in the present day.
It’s easy to compare the DC Absolute Universe to the Marvel Ultimate Universe – in both of its incarnations. The original Marvel Ultimate Universe launched in 2000 was meant to give readers an easy on-ramp to beloved characters like Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four while modernizing and streamlining their origins. Then, in 2023, Hickman had The Maker relaunch that Universe such that heroes did not emerge until the present day in a way that DC copied very closely in their launch of the Absolute Universe.
- DC All In Special (2024) #1 (Oct 2024)
- Absolute Batman (2024) by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, & Frank Martin (Oct 2024 – ongoing)
- Absolute Wonder Woman (2024) by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, & Jordie Bellaire (Oct 2024 – ongoing)
- Absolute Superman (2024) by Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval, & Ulises Arreola (Nov 2024 – ongoing)
- Absolute Flash (2025) by Jeff Lemire & Nick Robles (Mar 2025 – ongoing)
- Absolute Green Lantern (2025) by Al Ewing & Jahnoy Lindsay (Mar 2025 – ongoing)
- Absolute Martian Manhunter (2025) #1-6 by Deniz Camp & Javier Rodríguez (Mar 2025 – ongoing)
DC All In Special (2024) #1 by Scott Snyder & Joshua Williamson, Daniel Sampere & Alejandro Sánchez, Wes Craig & Mike Spicer, and Steve Wands (Oct 2024)
You do not need to read this series to understand the comics of DC Absolute! However, if you want to understand its (small and tenuous) connection to main DC continuity, this is the explainer – and it’s a big, bombastic, hugely satisfying issue!
#1: All-In Saga (2025 paperback, ISBN 978-1799506423 / digital TBA)
Collects Absolute Power (2024) #4, DC All In Special (2024) #1, and four unconnected issues that kicked off All In story arcs – Justice League Unlimited (2024) #1, Batman (2016) #153, Wonder Woman (2023) #14, and Superman (2023) #19.
(Single Issue: Amazon #1 / eBay #1)
Absolute Batman (2024) #1-(ongoing)
by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, & Frank Martin (Oct 2024 – ongoing)
Absolute Batman introduces a version of Bruce Wayne who didn’t grow up with the resources of the familiar Bruce Wayne – including his connection with Alfred.
#1-(TBA): Vol. 1: The Zoo
(2025 paperback, ISBN 978-1799505259 / digital TBA)
This collection might skip issue #4, which doesn’t fit in with the rest of the opening arc.
(Single Issues: Amazon #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 / eBay #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Absolute Wonder Woman (2024) #1-(ongoing)
by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, & Jordie Bellaire (Oct 2024 – ongoing)
Absolute Wonder Woman introduces a version of Diana who grew up away from the Amazons with a much stronger connection to magic than the familiar version of Diana.
#1-7: Vol. 1: The Last Amazon
(2025 paperback, ISBN 978-1799505303 / digital TBA)
(Single Issues: Amazon #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 / eBay #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Absolute Superman (2024) #1-(ongoing) by Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval, & Ulises Arreola (Nov 2024 – ongoing)
Absolute Superman introduces a version of Clark with a slightly different origin on Krypton who arrives on Earth later in life.
#1-(TBA): Pending collection announcement
(Single Issues: Amazon #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 / eBay #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Absolute Flash (2025) #1-(ongoing) by Jeff Lemire & Nick Robles (Mar 2025 – ongoing)
Further details of this title TBA!
#1-(TBA): Pending collection announcement
(Single Issues: Amazon TBA / eBay #1)
Absolute Green Lantern (2025) #1-(ongoing) by Al Ewing & Jahnoy Lindsay (Mar 2025 – ongoing)
Further details of this title TBA!
#1-(TBA): Pending collection announcement
(Single Issues: Amazon TBA / eBay #1)
Absolute Martian Manhunter (2025) #1-6 by Deniz Camp & Javier Rodríguez (Mar 2025 – ongoing)
Further details of this title TBA!
#1-(TBA): Pending collection announcement
(Single Issues: Amazon TBA / eBay #1)