Everything You Need to Know About the DC Absolute Universe
Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman are all being reimagined from the ground up in the first wave of DC’s upcoming Absolute Universe.
What is the Absolute Universe?
The Absolute Universe is all about DC's greatest superheroes being distilled to the very core of what makes them great. The universe asks bold what-ifs that challenge how we see these heroes. Who is Batman without his money? Who is Wonder Woman without her sisterhood? Who is Superman without his upbringing on Kent Farm? These are questions that make the new initiative such an exciting prospect. But these angles are more than gimmicks, they’re bold reimaginings that get to the heart of superheroes. The deeper you look at the concepts laid out for the Absolute Universe, you’ll realize there is so much more to these iconic characters than the bios written about them decades ago. Stripping DC’s biggest superheroes of everything non-essential paves the way for new stories and mythos to be built from the ground up.
So what do you need to know for this bold and exciting comic book event? In this article, I’ll be running down everything we know so far about the Absolute Universe and what we can expect from the multiversal initiative.
It All Starts With All In
Image: DC ComicsAll In begins as the fallout of the earth-shattering events of Absolute Power. Like going from the frying pan into the frier, the DC universe faces the return of Darkseid. Being the terrifying cosmic entity that he is, the Lord of Apokolips has a devious trump card hiding in his sleeve. His first blow sends a reality-bending shockwave that sends ripples through DC’s Prime Universe and the new Absolute Universe.
What sets the Absolute Universe apart is how it’s created through “Darkseid energy.” While details about it are still sparse at this point, signs point to Darkseid’s ultimate goal being to create his version of the Metaverse starting with the Absolute Universe. That would make him the polar opposite of Superman, who is seemingly at the center of the Prime metaverse. The 64-page one-shot event will set the stage for the new landscape DC is building for their conflicting universes.
Now, what exactly do we know about the new Absolute Universe comics?
Absolute Batman is an Absolute Unit
Image: DC Comics- Writer: Scott Snyder
- Artist: Nick Dragotta
- Colorist: Frank Martin
- Letterer: Clayton Cowles
- First issue date: October 09, 2024
With his massive frame, arsenal of deadly weapons, and infamously large symbol on his chest, this is a Bruce Wayne unlike anything fans have ever seen before. As a character who always had it all, from the money to the gadgets and the unmatched resources, Absolute Batman strips that all away to make way for a more fierce and chaotic hero. This upcoming series will show what new lengths Batman will go to be a hero when he no longer has everything he needs within arms reach. What comes is a Batman who is more ruthless, aggressive, and resourceful with whatever tools he can get his hands on.
Going beyond just Batman, this new story even reinvents The Dark Knight’s connection with the people of Gotham City, both good and bad. From Alfred to the Killer Croc, all these characters now mean something differently to this new Bruce Wayne and how he was raised to become the legendary hero. Anything goes when it comes to the Absolute Universe.
Absolute Wonder Woman is a Magical Warrior
Image: DC Comics- Writer: Kelly Thompson
- Artist: Hayden Sherman
- Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
- Letterer: Becca Carey
- First issue date: October 23, 2024
With tattoos and a giant sword in tow, Absolute Wonder Woman takes Diana back to her mythological roots. According to writer Kelly Thompson, the biggest challenge in creating this new series was figuring out how to “change” Wonder Woman without changing her. The creative breakthrough came from one simple note: Witch Wonder Woman. With ideas of might and magic swirling around, Thompson went on to create a new world where everything around Diana is different while her heroic essence stays the same. The result is a magic-using, enchanted weapon-swinging Wonder Woman fighting to save a dark, apocalyptic world.
But really, what’s not to love about a new Wonder Woman story with elements inspired by Berserk? This is exciting and uncharted territory for the world’s most iconic female superhero, and I’m all for where the journey takes us.
Absolute Superman is a Misguided Deity
Image: DC Comics- Writer: Jason Aaron
- Artist: Rafa Sandoval
- Colorist: Ulises Arreola
- First issue date: November 06, 2024
Core to Superman’s character is his small-town upbringing. Absolute Superman takes that away but alters Kal-El’s growth in a more modern way. Instead of growing up on Kent Farm in Kansas, this Superman gets to live most of his life on Krypton until its destined downfall. So, the Superman that arrives on Earth does not have the same connection to humans as Prime Superman. What we’ll see is a more jaded Superman who is missing his guiding light. And in a very dark twist, Superman’s cape is made from the dust of his destroyed home planet. So, now more than ever, Superman is carrying the weight of fallen people on his shoulders.
What Absolute Means for the Future of DC Comics
The prospect of DC’s Absolute Universe is so exciting because it feels like anything goes in this new corner of DC. Heroes could be villains, and vice versa. There’s a sense that everything about this new comic book universe is being built from the ground up by many of the industry’s top creators. As much as buzzwords are thrown around every time a new comic book event rolls around, this new initiative has the potential to be a game-changer for years to come. Ultimately, it also serves as a great entry point for new and lapsed readers to jump in and join in on the fun. Even as someone who has always been more of a Marvel-head than DC, I’m pumped to see these books finally hit the shelves. It’s high time mainstream comics get a big shakeup, and the Absolute Universe has all the parts in place to make that happen.