DC's Absolute Universe: A Chronological Reading Guide

DC's All In publishing initiative offers a unique opportunity for top creators to reimagine some of the most iconic heroes without the burden of established continuity. Spearheaded by comics legends Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson, the initiative includes the Absolute Universe, which follows the Absolute Power arc from late 2024. This new, ongoing storyline introduces a fresh status quo for the legendary trio of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, promising to defy expectations and offer new perspectives on these beloved characters.

Since its launch in October, the Absolute Universe has expanded across multiple titles, which can be challenging to follow. Here, we provide a comprehensive guide to the chronology and recommended reading order for DC's Absolute Universe in 2025.

Note: It's important to distinguish between the Absolute Universe titles and DC's "Absolute" collected editions, such as the Absolute Batman: Zero Year omnibus, as they are not related.

The Reading Order

For all ongoing series, start with our recommended reading order, then follow subsequent issues in their release sequence. Each main Absolute series will consist of a six-issue run and will later be collected in trade paperback editions.

1. DC All In Special #1 by Scott Snyder, Joshua Williamson, Wes Craig, and Daniel Sampere

### DC All In Special #1

0See it at AmazonThis oversized one-shot by Scott Snyder sets the stage for the Absolute Universe. It's essential to read this before diving into Absolute Batman.

2. Absolute Batman #1 by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta

### Absolute Batman #1

1See it at AmazonLaunched in October 2024, Absolute Batman #1 marks the true beginning of the Absolute Universe, presenting a gritty, reimagined Batman. What if Bruce Wayne wasn't wealthy, lacked a high-tech Batcave, and didn't have Alfred to keep him grounded?

3. Absolute Wonder Woman #1 by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman

### Absolute Wonder Woman #1

0See it at AmazonReleased shortly after Absolute Batman #1, this issue reimagines Wonder Woman, turning Greek mythos on its head. Diana is portrayed as a formidable, heavily armed Amazon warrior in search of purpose.

4. Absolute Superman #1 by Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval

### Absolute Superman #1

0See it at AmazonWritten by Jason Aaron, known for Southern Bastards and Thor, Absolute Superman explores how the Man of Steel would cope if he came from humble beginnings, making him more relatable than ever.

5. Absolute Flash #1 by Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles

### Absolute Flash #1

0See it at AmazonKicking off the second wave of the initiative in 2025, Absolute Flash presents Wally West learning to navigate his speed without the support of the Flash family or the Speed Force.

6. Absolute Martian Manhunter #1 by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodriguez

### Absolute Martian Manhunter #1

0See it at AmazonThe second entry in the 2025 wave offers a significant departure from the original character. FBI agent John Jones experiences a gradual takeover by a Martian, pulling him into a vast, unforeseen conflict.

7. Absolute Green Lantern #1 by Al Ewing and Jahnoy Lindsay

### Absolute Green Lantern #1

0See it at AmazonThis take on the Green Lantern mythos involves four former Lanterns—Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, and Jo Mullein—dealing with the aftermath of a large Green Lantern crash-landing in a small town.

Upcoming Collected Editions

Currently, only the first three Absolute titles have announced release dates for their collected editions:

• Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo releases on August 5
• Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Last Amazon releases on August 12
• Absolute Superman Vol. 1: The Last Dust of Krypton releases on August 19

For now, this is the extent of the Absolute Universe's offerings. However, we anticipate that these stories might lead to a grand finale or event towards the end of 2025 or beyond, potentially expanding to include more heroes in the Absolute Universe.