Absolute Batman Reading Order

While I already have the world’s first and most consistently updated full DC Absolute Universe reading order, there’s no denying Absolute Batman has taken on a life of his own. I mean, I’m not surprised that an awesome new Batman comic is doing great, but the degree to which it is dominating the American comics landscape is genuinely impressive!

Absolute Batman #1 hit shelves on October 9, 2024, and has been the best selling comic book since then! The new series is part of DC’s Absolute Universe, a version of Marvel’s early 2000’s Ultimate Universe that lets them effectively reset all their heroes and villains for a new generation of creators and readers. This particular attempt is defined by “Darkseid Energy” (classic BDE), mostly meaning there is an underlying darkness to this world that allows for transformed origins and new stories that still cut to the core of what we love about these comics in the first place. Plus, you don’t have to worry about DC’s traditional decades and decades of continuity and back story.

Focusing only on the accessibility undersells what Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta and Frank Martin have achieved with this comic. I made the case in the early 2020’s that the best lesson American superhero comics could learn would be to seek the energy and approach of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man or Q-Hayashida’s Dorohedoro. Well, Absolute Batman is that book. Yes, that means Dragotta’s expert designs and storytelling are “manga-inspired,” but even more than that it’s the tone of righteous balls-to-the-wall action, the superhero comics equivalent of the Mad Max guy shredding riffs on a speeding death tank. Absolute Batman has no chill, and we’re all the better for it.

As of early 2026, there are 18 issues of Absolute Batman available to readers, plus four related “specials” of a sort… so just over 20 issues. For those of you new to comics, this amounts to something like 480 pages of story. A new issue of Absolute Batman comes out once a month, with trade collections of 6-8 issues releasing about every 6 months.

Below I break down some common questions – since Absolute Batman is becoming a gateway comic book starting line for many – as well as a detailed reading order helping you enjoy everything Absolute Batman.

How can you read Absolute Batman?

There are three easy ways to get Absolute Batman in front of your eyeballs right now.

1. Issue by Issue via your local comic book store – That’s right, print magazines! Like a common old-timer! This is definitely the most die-hard comics fan approach, and with each individual issue running $4.99, it’s also skewed the most towards the collector’s mindset (the below options are much better values just for reading the story!). That said, if you love comics, or want to really start, there’s something magical about a store dedicated to nothing else!
2. Trade Collections via your LCS or local book store – Trades are just books that combine a series of monthly comic book issues into one place. Think “graphic novels” but as a part of an ongoing series that will continue. Right now the paperbacks retail between $16 and $20, and the hardcovers are closer to $25. For those keeping score, this means waiting for the paperback saves you around $15 compared to buying each print issue one by one.
3. Digitally via DC Universe Infinite – This is the best value since a monthly standard subscription is just $7.99 a month, and you can read all the Absolute Batman comics your tier allows (the standard sub releases issues 6 months after they’re available in print, and the ultra sub releases just one month after). Best bang for your buck by far. The only downside is if you don’t like reading on a tablet or phone!

What Should I Read Before Absolute Batman?

Again, Absolute Batman is so appealing as a place to start because there’s really nothing you have to read to understand the comic. It does help to have a basic familiarity with Batman’s world, but really nothing a passing enjoyment of the Christopher Nolan Batman movies, Batman: The Animated Series, or the Arkham Asylum video games   wouldn’t already cover. This is about as easy a jumping on point as we can find in superhero comics these days, hence the enthusiasm!

That said, writer Scott Snyder has a long history with DC Comics and Batman. If you like Absolute Batman, you’ll likely also enjoy his previous stays in Gotham, although again, this might work better as a list of comics to read after Absolute Batman. Likewise, if you love the visuals of the series – and you are not alone – I’ve listed out some great comics from the early series contributors like Nick Dragotta and Marcos Martin alongside their respective story arcs below!

Scott Snyder, Francesco Francavilla and Jock on Batman: The Black Mirror

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s New 52 Batman

Snyder and Capullo’s Batman: The Last Knight on Earth

And of course if you love that, check out Comic Book Herald’s full Batman Reading Order!

Absolute Batman Graphic Novels Reading Order

For the most part, arcs or issues of Absolute Batman are defined by their central villains. I’ve laid out that order in detail below. The absolute (heh) easiest way to approach Absolute Batman, though, is via DC’s collected trades, which you can find listed below.

Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo

Collects: Absolute Batman #1 to #6

Absolute Batman Vol. 2: Abomination

Collects: Absolute Batman #7-14

Black Mask in “The Zoo”

• Absolute Batman #1 to #6

Black Mask is technically the central opening villain here, but really “The Zoo” is Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta’s Absolute Batman origin story, from childhood trauma to transformed Gotham. Not only do we see Bruce Wayne becoming the bat, but we also meet the reimagined Alfred, Catwoman, Riddler, Killer Croc, Penguin, Two-Face and more. I won’t even spell out or spoil the ways all these character’s relationships with Bruce have changed because discovering the alterations for yourself is half the thrill!

Related Recommendation: Nick Dragotta and Caleb Goellner’s Ghost Cage

• Absolute Batman 2025 Annual #1

While the issue was released towards the end of the Bane saga, it’s a flashback that can be read after “The Zoo.”

James Harren, Daniel Warren Johnson, Meredith McClaren

Related Recommendation: Daniel Warren Johnson and Mice Spicer’s Murder Falcon

Mister Freeze in “Absolute Zero”

• Absolute Batman #7 to #8

Getting Marcos Martin and Munsta Vicente to join a Batman arc is like the Bears getting Tom Brady and Gronk to play for them against the Packers. A spoil of riches!

Related Recommendation: Marcos Martin and Munsta Vicente with Ed Brubaker on Friday

Bane in “Abomination”

• Absolute Batman #9 to #14

After a brief hiatus, Dragotta and Frank Martin re-establish their unique ability to dial everything in Absolute Batman up to 11. How do you dial up Bane on Venom? Oh just you wait!

Related Recommendation: Nick Dragotta with Jonathan Hickman on East of West

Joker in “The Joker”

• Absolute Evil #1
• Absolute Batman #15
• Absolute Batman: Ark M #1

The build-up of The Joker as the central villain behind the scenes builds up right from the first arc, and the most we see of the character is in the Universe-wide one-shot “Absolute Evil,” in which Joker meets up with all the big bads of the respective Absolute DC comics (Ras Al Ghul for example). Absolute Batman #15 brings on Snyder’s longtime collaborator Jock for a one-off explaining the (alleged) nature of this universe’s Joker. The “Ark M” one-shot continues the focus on the Joker, with major teases of what he’s plotting for Batman in upcoming arcs.

Related Recommendation: Snyder and Jock on Wytches Vol. 1

• Absolute Wonder Woman #15
• Absolute Batman #16

Batman and Wonder Woman meet-cute for the first official crossover of the Absolute Universe.

Poison Ivy

• Absolute Batman #17 to #18

Scarecrow

• Absolute Batman #19 to…

For More:

Comic Book Herald’s Absolute Universe reading order!