In a year of comics defined by reset superhero universes, arguably nothing made a bigger splash in 2024 than DC’s Absolute Universe. Spilling out of October 2024’s DC All In Special #1 and crafting a new DC Universe defined by “Darkseid Energy,” the Absolute Universe sets up new status quos for DC’s Trinity: Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Most importantly, each Absolute comic features superstar creative teams leaning into making the coolest looking version of DC Comics they can fathom, with Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta on Absolute Batman, Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman on Absolute Wonder Woman, and Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval on Absolute Superman.
This isn’t the first time DC has launched a prestige alternate universe (what’s up, Earth-1!), but there’s a definite excitement and energy behind the Absolute Verse that feels like a moment, to the tune of Absolute Batman #1 selling more than any comic in 2024. For fans who’ve always wondered what a Marvel Ultimate Universe would look like on the DC-side, this is quite close, with a chance to consider some Elseworlds style questions like “What if Wonder Woman was raised in Hell?” or “What if Batman wasn’t rich?” Those premises oversimplify the appeal of the Absolute Universe, though, which in the early going is heavily defined by incredible, stylistic reinventions of icons by the likes of Dragotta and Sherman.
March of 2025 will mark wave 2 of the Absolute Universe with the launch of Absolute Flash by Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles, Absolute Martian Manhunter by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodriguez, and Absolute Green Lantern by Al Ewing and Jahnoy Lindsay. It seems possible that at some point all of this could come crashing back into conflict with the “prime” DC All In Universe, but in the early going, DC is wisely keeping each series free from crossovers and extra reading. This means that – until some sort of crossover is announced – you also don’t have to worry about reading the “prime” DC titles. You can just enjoy Absolute – which is ideal!
The most likely cause of confusion for newer readers is that DC now uses ‘Absolute’ for multiple purposes. On one hand, you have the new universe which I”m describing and tracking here. And on the other, you have Absolute editions of many of DC’s best-selling comics throughout their history. For example, Absolute Watchmen is an oversized, hardcover collection of Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons and John Higgins classic Watchmen, which is my favorite comic book of all time, but has nothing to do with the new Absolute DC Universe (yet!). Likewise, summer 2025 will see the release of Absolute Batman: Haunted Knight, a collection of Bat stories from Jeph Loeb and the late, great Tim Sale. These aren’t part of the new Absolute Universe – that’s just how DC describes this particular type of collected graphic novel. Clear as mud? Great! What you need to know is if the comic didn’t start in 2024 or later, and it’s not on my reading order here, it’s not part of the new Absolute U!
Absolute DC Universe Trade Reading Order
Collects: Absolute Power #4, DC ALL IN Special #1, Batman #153, Wonder Woman #14, and Superman #19
Personally, I’d recommend you skip this collection and just read the DC All In Special for the big picture implications launching the Absolute Universe. But completists are gonna complete!
Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo
Collects: Absolute Batman #1 to #6
If you’re just here for the Bat, you can also check out CBH’s Absolute Batman reading guide!
Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Last Amazon
Collects: Absolute Wonder Woman #1 to #7
Absolute Superman Vol. 1: Last Dust of Krypton
Collects: Absolute Superman #1 to #6
Absolute Flash Vol. 1: Of Two Worlds
Collects: Absolute Flash #1 to #6
Absolute Martian Manhunter Vol. 1: Martian Vision
Collects: Absolute Martian Manhunter #1 to #6
Absolute Green Lantern Vol. 1: Without Fear
Collects: Absolute Green Lantern #1 to #6
Absolute Batman Vol. 2: Abomination
Collects: Absolute Batman #7-14
Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 2: As My Mothers Made Me
Collects: Absolute Wonder Woman #8–14
Absolute Superman Vol. 2: Son of the Demon
Collects: Absolute Superman #7 to #14
Absolute Flash Vol. 2: Still Point
Collects: Absolute Flash #7 to #12
Absolute Green Lantern Vol. 2: Sojourner
Collects: Absolute Green Lantern #7 to #12
Absolute Martian Manhunter Vol. 2: The Agency
Collects: Absolute Martian Manhunter #7 to #12
Absolute DC Comics Reading Order!
The oversized All In Special issue is really the only comic to read before Absolute Batman, and it’s debatable how necessary a read it is. For the first launch issues, honestly, you don’t need to read the special, and I’d argue for new readers it’s more confusing than it’s worth. That said, this issue establishes how a new Universe came to be formed as created by Darkseid. And you don’t create a new universe with Darkseid without that coming up again at some point. Plus, the All In Special features art by Wes Craig, who drew the excellent Deadly Class and is the creator of one of my favorite current ongoing comics, Kaya.
Apart from the DC All In Special above, are there any comics you need to read to understand or enjoy Absolute Batman? No. Truly, no! Assuming you have existed in a culture full of Batman, and have absorbed some knowledge of the Dark Knight through TV, Film, Comics, Video Games, or literally anything else, you will be familiar enough with Bruce Wayne’s mythos to understand what’s happening in these glorious pages from Snyder, Dragotta and Martin.
Now, personally, I do find it interesting to see how Absolute Batman compares to Snyder’s previous iconic work on New 52 Batman with Greg Capullo. So if you just want some additional good Batman comics, get thee to the Court of Owls! Otherwise, don’t overthink it – dig into Absolute Batman!
Finally, the list here is primarily a chronological guide according to DC’s publication schedule, adjusted where continuity is absolutely critical. If you want your Batman broken into more complete story chunks, check out CBH’s Absolute Batman reading order!
The biggest question about the Absolute DC universe is whether the launch titles intersect, or whether you can read each separately. After the first 3 issues of each series, I’d say you can easily just read each series individually. I’ve listed them out as published so you can mirror the publication experience, but if you find you’re only enjoying one or two of the three (I’m partial to Batman and Wonder Woman myself), you don’t need to read each to “keep up.”
Absolute Batman #2
Absolute Wonder Woman #2
Absolute Superman #2
Absolute Batman #3
Absolute Wonder Woman #3
Absolute Superman #3
Absolute Batman #4
Absolute Wonder Woman #4
Absolute Superman #4
Absolute Batman #5
Absolute Wonder Woman #5
Absolute Superman #5
Absolute Batman #6
Absolute Wonder Woman #6
Absolute Superman #6
Absolute Flash #1
Absolute Martian Manhunter #1
Absolute Green Lantern #1
Free Comic Book Day 2025: DC All In Special Edition #1
There’s a short story in the FCBD special that teases what’s to come in an eventual Absolute Universe event connecting back to the All in Special that kicked things off.
Absolute Batman #7
Absolute Wonder Woman #7
Absolute Superman #7
Absolute Flash #2
Absolute Martian Manhunter #2
Absolute Green Lantern #2
Absolute Batman #8
Absolute Wonder Woman #8
Absolute Superman #8
Absolute Flash #3
Absolute Martian Manhunter #3
Absolute Green Lantern #3
Absolute Batman #9
Absolute Wonder Woman #9
Absolute Superman #9
Absolute Flash #4
Absolute Martian Manhunter #4
Absolute Green Lantern #4
Absolute Batman #10
Absolute Wonder Woman #10
Absolute Superman #10
Absolute Flash #5
Absolute Martian Manhunter #5
Absolute Green Lantern #5
Absolute Batman #11
Absolute Wonder Woman #11
Absolute Superman #11
Absolute Flash #6
Absolute Martian Manhunter #6
Absolute Green Lantern #6
Absolute Evil #1
Absolute Evil is an essential one-shot interlude setting the stage for what’s to come in the back half of 2025 and the Absolute Universe of 2026. As you’d expect from the title, writer Al Ewing and artist Giuseppe Camuncoli put the focus on some of the core villains of the Absolute-Verse, Joker, Ras Al Ghul, Dr. Thawne, Veronica Cale and Hector Hammond.
Absolute Batman #12
Absolute Flash #7
Absolute Wonder Woman #12
Absolute Green Lantern #7
Absolute Batman #13
Absolute Flash #8
Absolute Wonder Woman #13
Absolute Green Lantern #8
Absolute Batman Annual (2025) #1
Absolute Batman #14
Absolute Wonder Woman #14
Absolute Green Lantern #9
Absolute Batman #15
Absolute Batman: Ark M Special #1
Absolute Flash #10
Absolute Superman #12
Absolute Superman #13
Absolute Superman #14
Absolute Wonder Woman #15
Absolute Batman #16
The first official crossover of the Absolute Universe is here, and it’s a gloriously simple two issue story about Absolute Wonder Woman meeting Absolute Batman. The two best series collide!
Absolute Martian Manhunter #7
Absolute Superman #15
Absolute Green Lantern #10
Absolute Wonder Woman Annual (2026) #1
Absolute Wonder Woman #16
Absolute Flash #11
Absolute Martian Manhunter #8
Absolute Superman #16
Absolute Green Lantern #11
Absolute Batman #17
Absolute Wonder Woman #17
Absolute Martian Manhunter #9
Absolute Superman #17
Absolute Flash #12
What About DC K.O.?
Ok. So. I’ve been debating how much of DC K.O. (the 2025 DC Comics event) to include in the Absolute U reading order because technically this is the continuation of the DC All In Special that kicked everything off and introduced the Absolute Universe. If you are invested in what Scott Snyder is calling “The Darkseid Saga,” which to date primarily centers on the “Classic” DC Universe’s slowly growing awareness that Darkseid is New God-ing all over a brand new universe… this is the next piece of that puzzle.
Personally, I am wayyyyy more invested in the Absolute Universe than “The Darkseid Saga,” and I would argue you absolutely (heh) do not need to read any of DC K.O. to enjoy or understand what’s happening in these comics. You can easily skip it. But I know plenty of you are not wired like that (skip… comics????), so below you’ll find what you should read to see how Darkseid’s presence is being felt across the pond.
DC K.O. Superman – The Joshua Williamson Superman (with Dan Mora!) enters the Absolute arena (kinda) with the reveal that Darkseid has corrupted an Absolute Legion of Super-Heroes. Williamson’s doing the most right now connecting the big picture of “All In,” particularly with the role of Booster Gold and Time Trapper. As always, considering this collects issues #28 to #35 of Superman, this will make the most sense if you’re fully up to speed with Williamson era of Superman.
DC K.O. – The core event is five issues long and builds to a showdown with Darkseid. This sets the stage for the inevitable Absolute Crisis brewing!
Absolute Batman #18
Absolute Green Lantern #12
Absolute Flash #13
Absolute Wonder Woman #18
Absolute Martian Manhunter #10
Absolute Superman #18
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Thanks Bro, where are the Absolute Superman #13 or Absolute Green Lantern #8
Updated! Thanks for pointing out those were missing
I saw it in a very different reading order I’m not sure how much it truly matters continuity wise tho:
https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/profile/cassidydylyn/lists/71519/dc-absolute-universe-reading-order
From what i see this is in release order not chronological like yours. the one you have also seems to be connected by arcs.
Are they really connected to read them like this, issue by issue?
Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Last Amazon
It is 1# to 7# not 1# to 6
Absolute Green Lantern #2 appears twice on this list
Cuz it’s so good we should read it twice?
Ok, updated. Thanks!
Does the Legion of Darkseid arc in the Superman run have an impact in the Absolute Universe?
Seems like a prelude to DC KO, and some possible Absolute U crossover, but it’s still building right now!
The sad thing is that we all line up and can’t wait for yet another remake of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Can’t DC and Marvel at some point just take the plunge and just let them create a whole new universe with new characters? My god, these guys can do it. Does it HAVE to be BATMAN. Nothing else will satisfy us? Run it for 5 years, burn it down and do another. Over and over again. NEW STUFF. PLEASE.
Lol y’all keep saying that, there are already other characters in other publications doing original runs, and you know what still sells? Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, all of the legacy characters that already exist.
People keep asking for new things, but when new things are made, another group of people would complain.
“Oh why would they make a new character? They’re just hogging the spotlight, bring so and so back”
“Oh why these ones again? Can’t they think of other characers? So unoriginal.”
it’s a cycle I tell ya.
They have done this though. DC’s Wildstorm and Vertigo universes were all original characters until being folded into the main universe some 20 years later. Furthermore when DC or Marvel introduce a new slate of characters who operate in isolation nobody reads them and the books stop printing after 6 issues.