Absolute Universe

This article is about the DC Comics imprint. For the 2021 studio album by Transatlantic, see The Absolute Universe.
Absolute Universe
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
GenreSuperhero
Publication dateOctober 2, 2024 – present
Main character(s)Earth-Alpha/Elseworld

The Absolute Universe (AU) is an imprint of American comic books overseen by Scott Snyder and published by DC Comics. The comics take place in a shared universe designated Earth-Alpha as part of the DC Comics Multiverse, featuring reimagined and modernized versions of the company's superhero characters from the DC Universe.

The imprint is part of the DC All In initiative, debuting in the aftermath of the 2024 Absolute Power crossover event. It was launched that year with the publication of the ongoing series Absolute Batman, Absolute Wonder Woman and Absolute Superman.

Publication history

The Absolute Universe (AU) is an all-new continuity separate from the DC Universe (DCU) overseen by Scott Snyder as part of the DC All In initiative.[1] The AU began in October 2024 with the DC All-In Special. The first titles released in the AU are Absolute Batman by Snyder with Nick Dragotta, and Absolute Wonder Woman by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman, which both started publication in October. A third title, Absolute Superman by Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval, is expected to debut in November.[2][3] Originally Rafael Albuquerque was set to illustrate Absolute Superman, but had to pull out of the project due to severe floods in his home country of Brazil, with Sandoval being brought onto the project in June 2024.[4]

Two new titles were announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2024: Absolute Flash by Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles, and Absolute Green Lantern by Al Ewing and Jahnoy Lindsay, both set to debut in March 2025.[5][6] At New York Comic Con 2024, the title of Absolute Martian Manhunter by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez was announced, also set to debut that month.[7]

Setting

The AU features previous concepts from Doomsday Clock (2017–2019), Dark Nights: Death Metal (2020–2021), and Infinite Frontier (2021–2023). It is set in Earth-Alpha, also called the Elseworld, one of the two pillars of the Metaverse, along with Earth-Omega, where Darkseid used to be imprisoned. According to Snyder, while the DCU is "influenced by Superman energy", the AU is "influenced by Darkseid energy", making society treat superheroes as underdogs.[8][9]

It is established on DC All-In Special that Earth-Alpha has been reshaped by Darkseid's essence as he's bent on creating a world driven by challenge and turmoil in which heroes are the "small chaos" rather than established parts of its system, while attempting to control its past and future during the gradual consolidation of the timeline on modern times.[10]

List of titles

Prelude

Title Writers Artists Colorists Publication date Ref.
DC All-In Special Scott Snyder
Joshua Williamson 		Wes Craig
Daniel Sampere 		Mike Spicer
Alejandro Sánchez 		October 2, 2024 [2]

Ongoing series

Title Issue Writer Artist Colorist Publication date Ref.
Absolute Batman 1– Scott Snyder Nick Dragotta Frank Martin October 9, 2024 [2]
Absolute Wonder Woman Kelly Thompson Hayden Sherman Jordie Bellaire October 23, 2024 [2]
Absolute Superman Jason Aaron Rafa Sandoval Ulises Arreola November 6, 2024 [2]
Absolute Flash Jeff Lemire Nick Robles TBA March 5, 2025 [11]
Absolute Green Lantern Al Ewing Jahnoy Lindsay March 12, 2025 [12]
Absolute Martian Manhunter Deniz Camp Javier Rodríguez March 2025 [7]
TBA Che Grayson TBA TBA TBA [13]
TBA Pornsak Pichetshote TBA TBA TBA [13]

See also

DC Comics universes
Marvel Comics universes
Other universes

References

  1. ^ Schedeen, Jesse (July 31, 2024). "Why the Absolute Universe Is DC's Most Exciting Launch in Years". IGN. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Cronin, Brian (July 18, 2024). "DC Reveals First Three Absolute Universe Titles". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  3. ^ Polo, Susana (July 17, 2024). "Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman are about to get alternate origin stories via DC's All In". Polygon. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  4. ^ "The Design of Absolute DC: Rafa Sandoval on Coming to the Rescue on Absolute Superman". SKTCHD. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  5. ^ Johnston, Rich (July 25, 2024). "DC Comics Announces Absolute Flash by Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  6. ^ Will Salmon (July 27, 2024). "Absolute Green Lantern is writer Al Ewing's first series for DC and will be a "complete reimagining" of the concept, starring multiple Lanterns". GamesRadar+. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Johnston, Rich (October 18, 2024). "Confirmed: Absolute Martian Manhunter by Deniz Camp & Javier Rodriguez". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  8. ^ Salmon, Will (July 18, 2024). "Absolute Batman heads up the first wave of a new Ultimates-style universe as part of DC's All In comic book line refresh". GamesRadar+. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  9. ^ O'Donoghue, Kate (July 18, 2024). "DC's ABSOLUTE Universe Is Finally Official: Get the Full Story & New Creator Details Here". Screen Rant. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  10. ^ DC All-In Special #1. DC Comics.
  11. ^ Salmon, Will (July 26, 2024). "Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and more DC heroes join forces to restore the Justice League in a new ongoing series from Kingdom Come writer Mark Waid". GamesRadar+. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  12. ^ Salmon, Will (July 27, 2024). "Absolute Green Lantern is writer Al Ewing's first series for DC and will be a "complete reimagining" of the concept, starring multiple Lanterns". GamesRadar+. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  13. ^ a b MacDonald, Heidi (2024-07-09). "Syndicated Comics". The Beat. Retrieved 2024-10-24.