DC's All In publishing initiative offers powerhouse creators the freedom to redefine some of the label's most iconic heroes, free from the constraints of pre-established continuity. Spearheaded by comics legends Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson, the initiative includes the Absolute Universe, which follows up on the Absolute Power arc from late 2024. This ongoing arc introduces a new status quo for heroes like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, promising to subvert expectations for fans familiar with these characters.

Since its launch in October, the Absolute Universe has been a sprawling event with multiple ongoing titles, making it challenging to keep up with its timeline and character developments. We're here to simplify things by providing a detailed chronology and reading order for DC's Absolute Universe in 2025.

Note: Don't confuse the Absolute Universe titles with DC's "Absolute" line of collected editions, such as the new Absolute Batman: Zero Year. They are entirely separate!

The Reading Order

For all ongoing series, start with our recommended reading order, then continue with subsequent issues in their release order. Each main Absolute series will consist of a six-issue run and will be available in future 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, the architect of Absolute Universe, lays the groundwork for the entire event. Start here 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. It presents a gritty, fresh take on the Dark Knight, exploring a scenario where Bruce Wayne is not wealthy, lacks a high-tech Batcave, and has no Alfred to keep him grounded.

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

### Absolute Wonder Woman #1

0See it at AmazonReleased just weeks after Absolute Batman #1 at the end of October, this series flips the Greek mythos, showcasing Diana as a heavily armed Amazon warrior on a quest for purpose.

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

### Absolute Superman #1

0See it at AmazonCrafted by Jason Aaron, known for Southern Bastards and Thor, Absolute Superman delves into a more relatable version of the Man of Steel, exploring his origins from humble beginnings.

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 sees Wally West grappling with the nuances of 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. Here, FBI agent John Jones is slowly overtaken by a Martian, drawing him into a conflict far larger than he anticipated.

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

### Absolute Green Lantern #1

0See it at AmazonThis series reimagines the Green Lantern mythos with four individuals—Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, and Jo Mullein—dealing with the aftermath of a Green Lantern crash-landing in a small town.

Upcoming Collected Editions

As of now, release dates for the collected editions of the first three Absolute titles have been announced:

• 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 the foreseeable future, this is all the Absolute Universe has to offer. However, we wouldn't be surprised if these stories lead to a grand finale or another event at the end of 2025 or beyond, potentially introducing more heroes to the Absolute treatment.