Crushing Krisis

Comic Books, Drag Race, & Life in New Zealand

DC Absolute Universe

New Comics & Collected Editions Releases: DC Comics – February 5 2025

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Absolute Superman (2024) #4, a DC Comics February 5 2025 new releaseNext week is the 6th new comic book day of 2025! This post covers DC Comics February 5 2025 new releases. Missed this week’s releases? Check out last week’s post covering DC Comics January 29 2025 new releases.

This week in DC Comics: Absolute Power collected, DC’s Finest Teen Titans, Atoms gone wild, a Grace-full Shazam one-shot, Poison Ivy flips out, Two-Face’s trials, a new Birds of Prey arc, and more!

The Krisis Pick of the Week: I hate to repeat myself, but I’ve got to stick with Absolute Superman (2024) #4. I think this Absolute Universe book from Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval, Ulises Arreola, and Becca Carey is the pinnacle of superhero comics right now. it would be at the top of my stack for the entire month, so of course it’s my top pull of the week!

This post includes every comic out from DC Comics February 5 2025, plus collected editions in omnibus, hardcover, paperback, and digest-sized formats.

This isn’t the typical comic releases post you can find on other sites. Why? I explain each collection and review every in-continuity series with a new issue out this week. Plus, for most new releases, I’ll point you to a personally-curated guide within the Crushing Comics Guide to DC Comics to find out how to collect that title in full!

There’s no other website on the internet that can claim that.

And now, onto DC Comics February 5 2025 new releases! [Read more…] about New Comics & Collected Editions Releases: DC Comics – February 5 2025

New Comics & Collected Editions Releases: DC Comics – January 8 2025

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Next week is the 2nd new comic book day of 2025! This post covers DC Comics January 8 2025 new releases. Missed this week’s releases? Check out last week’s post covering DC Comics January 1 2025 new releases.

This week in DC Comics: A shocking Aquaman collection, a hunk of Ellis Stormwatch, a new superstar run on Action Comics, creepy Dark Patterns for Batman, a Fractured Spectrum of Lanterns, and more!

The Krisis Pick of the Week: Batman: Dark Patterns (2024) #2! I cannot get the first issue of this Dan Watters & Hayden Sherman comic out of my head. Sherman’s page layouts were mind-blowing, as was the final page twist in both art and story. More about why I’m so excited below.

This post includes every comic out from DC this week, plus collected editions in omnibus, hardcover, paperback, and digest-sized formats. This isn’t the typical comic releases post you can find on other sites. Why? I explain each collection and review every in-continuity series with a new issue out this week. Plus, for most new releases, I’ll point you to a personally-curated guide within the Crushing Comics Guide to DC Comics to find out how to collect that title in full! There’s no other website on the internet that can claim that.

And now, onto DC Comics January 8 2025 new releases!

DC Comics January 8 2025 Collected EditionsDC Finest - Aquaman: King of Atlantis, a DC Comics January 8 2025 new release

The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries Vol. 5
(2025 paperback, ISBN 978-1779528582 / digital)
Collects The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries (2024) #1-6. These stories are more or less standalone, so you don’t have to worry about picking up Volumes 1-4.

Birds of Prey Vol. 2: Worlds Without End
(2025 paperback, ISBN 978-1779528575 / digital)
See Guides to Birds of Prey. This is very much the epic conclusion to the set-up in Volume 1, so I would not recommend starting here! This is easily one of the most-binge-able books of the past year full of action, humor, and tremendous colors from Jordie Bellaire. You can read more of my thoughts on the run in last week’s DC New Releases post.

DC Finest – Aquaman: King of Atlantis (DC Finest, Silver Age Vol. 1)
(2025 paperback, ISBN 978-1779529893 / digital TBA)
See Guide to Aquaman. This is the most interesting DC Finest volume yet! Not only does it collect material in color for the first time, but it does something I don’t think anyone would have predicted!

Generally, DC has always treated Adventure Comics (1938) #260 from May 1959 as the beginning of Silver Age stories for Aquaman and their collections have reflected that. An old Showcase collection starts there. Issue #260 is collected with “origins” collections and Aquaman’s anniversary collections.

Yet, this book reaches back to begin with Adventure Comics (1938) #229-259, which began in October 1956 – the same month Barry Allen debuted as Flash in Showcase (1956) #4.

Generally, the beginning of the Silver Age at DC Comics isn’t treated as something that happened all at once. Flash got things started in an obvious way because he was a brand new character (as was Hal Jordan as Green Lantern), but the start of the Silver Age for the Trinity and Aquaman tends to have more to do with when their origins were redefined to their definitive Earth-1 pre-Crisis versions.

As DC Silver Age collections go, this is a pretty wild development! All of the other various breakpoints between Golden, Silver, Bronze, and Post-Crisis ages are well-defined down to the issue. I had to change elements of my guide to reflect this new break point.

I am SO EXCITED to own and read this material in color!!! This is one of the books that nudged me over the line to start picking up DC Finest Collections despite having a relatively slim collection of physical DC Comics outside of Wonder Woman. [Read more…] about New Comics & Collected Editions Releases: DC Comics – January 8 2025

DC Comics Absolute Universe Collecting Guide & Reading Order

Updated Apr 6, 2026! 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 April 2025 with titles scheduled for release through December 2026.

What is DC Absolute Universe?

DC All In Special (2024) #1 launched the 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 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)
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 (2024) #1, one of the launch titles of DC Absolute Universe

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.

This is a cartoonishly hyper-violent take on Batman, heavy on his hyper-inflated physic and an “it’s all connected” approach to his villains all being his former friends.

#1-6: Vol. 1: The Zoo
(2025 hardcover, ISBN 978-1799505242 / 2025 paperback, ISBN 978-1799505259 / digital)
(Single Issues: Amazon #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 / eBay #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

#7-14: Vol. 2: Abomination
(2026 hardcover, ISBN 978-1799507505 / 2026 paperback, ISBN 978-1799507512 / digital)
(Single Issues: Amazon #7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 / eBay #7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)

#15-TBA: Vol. 3: Title TBA
(2026 hardcover, ISBN 978-1799508908 / 2026 paperback, ISBN 978-1799508915 / digital TBA)
Also collects Absolute Batman: Ark M Special (2026) #1
(Single Issues: Amazon #15 / eBay #15)

 

Absolute Wonder Woman (2024) #1-(ongoing)
by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman (with Mattia De Iulis), & Jordie Bellaire (Oct 2024 – ongoing)Absolute Wonder Woman (2024) #1, one of the launch titles of DC Absolute Universe

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 hardcover, ISBN 978-1799505297 / 2025 paperback, ISBN 978-1799505303 / digital)
(Single Issues: Amazon #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 / eBay #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

#8-14: Vol. 2: As My Mothers Made Me
(2026 hardcover, ISBN 978-1799507536 / 2026 paperback, ISBN 978-1799507543 / digital)
(Single Issues: Amazon #8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 / eBay #8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)

#15-20 & Annual 1: Vol. 3: Season of the Witch
(2026 hardcover, ISBN 978-1799508946 / 2026 paperback, ISBN 978-1799508953 / digital TBA)

 

 

Absolute Superman (2024) #1-(ongoing) by Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval & Carmine Di Giandomenico, and Ulises Arreola (Nov 2024 – ongoing)Absolute Superman (2024) #1, one of the launch titles of DC Absolute Universe

Absolute Superman introduces a version of Clark with a slightly different origin on Krypton who arrives on Earth later in life.

This is Jason Aaron in absolute “hopecore” mode – writing an abandoned Superman in a dark, grounded world in a way that still manages to inspire.

#1-6: Vol. 1: The Last Dust of Krypton
(2025 hardcover, ISBN 978-1799505327 / 2025 paperback, ISBN 978-1799505334 / digital)
(Single Issues: Amazon #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 / eBay #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

#7-14: Vol. 2: Son of the Demon
(2026 hardcover, ISBN 978-1799507758 / 2026 paperback, ISBN 978-1799507529 / digital)
(Single Issues: Amazon #7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 / eBay #7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)

#15-21: Vol. 3: The Neverending Begins
(2026 hardcover, ISBN 978-1799508922 / 2026 paperback, ISBN 978-1799508939 / digital TBA)

 

Absolute Flash (2025) #1-(ongoing) by Jeff Lemire & Nick Robles (Mar 2025 – ongoing)

Absolute Flash centers on Wally West, the teenage army brat son of an harsh and often-absent military-man father. When the scientist of the military base, Barry Allen, tries to take Wally under his wing there are immediate and disastrous results.

While the art in this series is lovely, I found it to be decompressed without much story happening in each issue.

#1-6: Vol. 1: Of Two Worlds
(2025 hardcover, ISBN 978-1799505181 / 2025 paperback, ISBN 978-1799505198 / digital)
(Single Issues: Amazon #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 / eBay #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

#7-12: Vol. 2: Still Point
(2026 hardcover, ISBN 978-1799508380 / 2026 paperback, ISBN 978-1799508397 / digital TBA)
(Single Issues: Amazon #7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 / eBay #7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)

#13-18: Vol. 3: Title TBA
(2026 hardcover, ISBN 978-1799509936 / 2026 paperback, ISBN 978-1799509943 / digital TBA)

Absolute Martian Manhunter (2025) #1-(ongoing) by Deniz Camp & Javier Rodríguez (Mar 2025 – ongoing)

John Jones is a family man and an FBI agent who is suffering from a concussion and PTSD after being caught in the bomb blast of a domestic terrorist. Or, is he a Martian pretending to be a mild-mannered man!?

This was originally announced as a six-issue mini-series but was immediately extended to at least a second arc due to its massive pre-orders and the rapturous response to issue #1.

#1-6: Vol 1: Martian Vision
(2025 hardcover, ISBN 978-1799505204 / 2025 paperback, ISBN 978-1799505211 / digital)
(Single Issues: Amazon #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 / eBay #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

#7-12: Vol. 2: The Agency
(2026 hardcover, ISBN 978-1799510871 / 2026 paperback, ISBN 978-1799510888 / digital TBA)
(Single Issues: Amazon #7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 / eBay #7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)

Absolute Green Lantern (2025) #1-(ongoing) by Al Ewing & Jahnoy Lindsay (Apr 2025 – ongoing)

Absolute Green Lantern imagines that all of the beloved human Lanterns – from Hal Jordan to John Stewart to Guy Gardner to Jo Mullein and more – all know each other from living in a single dusty, desert town… where one day their lives are interrupted when a giant Green Lantern symbol falls to the ground.

Al Ewing usually clicks for me, but I felt this series was a misfire – the issues took under three minutes each to read and the art isn’t up to the quality of DC’s standard house style, let alone the best-of-the-best level of the Absolute line.

#1-6: Vol. 1: Without Fear
(2025 hardcover, ISBN 978-1799505549 / 2025 paperback, ISBN 978-1799505556 / digital)
Also collects Absolute Evil (2025) #1
(Single Issues: Amazon #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 / eBay #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

#7-12: Vol. 2: Sojourner
(2026 hardcover, ISBN 978-1799508403 / 2026 paperback, ISBN 978-1799508410 / digital TBA)
(Single Issues: Amazon #7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 / eBay #7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)

#13-17: Vol 3: Title TBA
(2026 hardcover, ISBN 978-1799509950 / 2026 paperback, ISBN 978-1799509967 / digital TBA)

Absolute Evil (2025) #1 by Al Ewing & Giuseppe Camuncoli (Oct 2025)

Though penned by Al Ewing and collected with his Absolute Green Lantern (2025), this has less to do with the plots of that book and more to do with the assorted oligarch villains of the Absolute Universe – including how they collaborate and how they chafe against each other.

#1: Collected with Absolute Green Lantern (2025), above.

Absolute Green Arrow (2026) by Pornsak Pichetshote & Rafael Albuquerque (May 2026 – TBA)

Billed as “I Know What You Did Last Summer for billionaires,” this series has Black Canary as the main character investigating a series of murders of corrupt billionaires (the only kind!) where the only clue is a green arrow sticking out from the body.

#1 & on: TBA pending solicitation

Absolute Catwoman (2026) #1-(ongoing) by Scott Snyder, Che Grayson, & Bengal (Jun 2026 – ongoing)

After over a year of teases in the pages of Absolute Batman (2024), the Absolute Catwoman was fully revealed and then graduated to her own title!

#1 & on: TBA pending solicitation

Didn’t find what you were looking for?
Check Amazon for DC’s newest Absolute titles.

Back to Crushing Comics

New Comics & Collected Editions Releases: DC Comics – January 1 2025

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You didn’t think I’d leave out DC, did you? Next week is the 1st new comic book day of the new year, and that means I’m back to cover DC’s new releases! This post covers DC Comics January 1 2025 releases.

This week in DC Comics: The Amalgam Age in Omnibus, Ram V’s Gotham Intermezzo, Aaron’s Absolute Krypton origin, DC’s Atomic trio makes a comeback, Ivy takes Seattle, Shazam family fun, and more!

The Krisis Pick of the Week: Absolute Superman (2024) #3! This book is so good I am giddy every time I see one of its pages. Check out my write-up below on why I am so overwhelmingly positive on a Jason Aaron comic (not a common occurence in these parts).

This post includes every comic out from DC this week, plus collected editions in omnibus, hardcover, paperback, and digest-sized formats. This isn’t the typical comic releases post you can find on other sites. Why? I explain each collection and review every in-continuity series with a new issue out this week. Plus, for most new releases, I’ll point you to a personally-curated guide within the Crushing Comics Guide to DC Comics to find out how to collect that title in full! There’s no other website on the internet that can claim that.

And now, onto DC Comics January 1 2025 new releases!

DC Comics January 1 2025 Collected EditionsDC vs. Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus, released by DC Comics January 1 2025

52 Book 2 [2024 Edition]
(2025 paperback, ISBN 978-1779527622 / digital)
See Guide to DC Universe Events – Trinity, 52, & One Year Later. This collects the back half of DC’s weekly anthology title launched in the wake of Infinite Crisis. This features a lot of stories from many creators and different characters in several different plot threads. Note that it does not collect the “World War III” mini-event that ran alongside the end of this series.

DC Versus Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus
(2025 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1779523266)
See Guide to DC Elseworlds – The Amalgam Age of Comics. We never thought we’d see these comics collected again, let alone in a single deluxe edition! This tome collects the entire Amalgam Age in one place – every single issue of this 1996-1997 inter-company mash-up crossover. This isn’t a book that will often (or ever) be reprinted, so you should get it now if you’re interested!

Detective Comics [by Ram V] Vol. 4: Gotham Nocturne Intermezzo – Batman, Outlaw
(2024 hardcover, ISBN 978-1779528568 / 2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1779529459 / digital)
See Guide to Detective Comics (Post-Crisis). I was struggling slightly with Ram V’s run on Detective Comics as he closed out Act II. It didn’t feel like it was going anywhere. But, this tight act-break arc cured that!

Catwoman and Gordon engineering a breakout is the kind of great Bat-Family stuff that we should be getting in ‘Tec. It’s just nice to see some of the Bat-Family doing something kinetic, even if it flattens some of the business from the first two acts into a more generic “let’s save Gotham” plot. Orgham business into a typical “save Gotham” plot.

Actually, it felt like by getting Batman out of Gotham and widening the focus to his supporting cast, this run finally became what it has always meant to be. Also, based on the credits this includes the back-up stories by Dan Watters, which were outstanding!

Read on for a summary of all of the DC Comics January 1 2025 single issue releases! [Read more…] about New Comics & Collected Editions Releases: DC Comics – January 1 2025