DC just blew the doors off their status quo. Again. If you’ve been hanging around comic shops or scrolling through Threads lately, you know the Absolute Universe reading order is basically the only thing DC fans are arguing about right now. It’s a massive swing. Scott Snyder and a room full of heavy hitters like Jason Aaron and Kelly Thompson aren’t just "rebooting" things—they’re building a parallel playground.
Think of it as the ultimate "what if" scenario, but with the budget of a summer blockbuster. It’s gritty. It’s weird. It’s purposefully designed to make you feel like you’re discovering these icons for the first time.
But honestly? Keeping track of it is a bit of a headache if you’re used to just picking up a random trade paperback. You can't just jump into issue three of Absolute Batman and expect to know why Bruce Wayne is a literal giant who works construction. You need a roadmap.
The Spark: Where the Absolute Universe Actually Begins
Everything kicks off with DC All In Special #1. Don’t skip this. It’s not just a teaser; it’s the foundational logic for why this universe exists. The story is a "flipbook" style giant-sized issue. On one side, you have the classic Justice League side (the Alpha side), and on the other, you have the birth of the Absolute Universe (the Omega side).
The premise is wild. Darkseid, who is usually just the big bad guy who shoots eye-lasers, does something different. He realizes that the core DC Universe is built on hope and "main character energy." So, he creates a space—the Absolute Universe—built on the opposite. It’s a world founded on "the spark of the underdog." It’s a darker, more precarious reality.
If you want to understand the Absolute Universe reading order, you have to start here. Without the All In special, the tone of the individual books might feel like they’re just being edgy for the sake of it. They aren’t. They’re responding to a fundamental shift in the physics of their reality.
The Big Three: Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman
Once you’ve finished the special, the floodgates open. The core of this initiative is built on the trinity, but not the trinity you grew up with.
Absolute Batman (The Heavy Hitter)
Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta are doing something legitimately frightening here. This Bruce Wayne doesn’t have a mansion. He doesn’t have a butler. He’s a massive, 250-pound slab of muscle who grew up in the city he’s trying to save.
Reading placement: Start this immediately after All In. It is the flagship. The first arc sets the tone for how "street level" this universe gets. You’ll see a version of Alfred Pennyworth that will probably make you do a double-take. He’s not serving tea; he’s an operative.
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Absolute Wonder Woman
Kelly Thompson is taking Diana to a place that feels more like a heavy metal album cover than a Greek myth. She’s the last Amazon. There is no Paradise Island to go home to. She’s traveling across a desolate landscape with a giant sword and a lot of pent-up rage.
Absolute Superman
Jason Aaron is writing this one, and it’s arguably the most "Absolute" of the bunch. This Clark Kent has no Fortress of Solitude. He has no Krypto. He’s an immigrant in the truest sense, working in the shadows and trying to figure out if humanity even wants him there. It’s lonely. It’s beautiful.
Why Timing Matters More Than Issue Numbers
You might think you should read all of Batman, then all of Superman. That’s a mistake. The Absolute Universe reading order works best if you read them in release order. Why? Because the world-building is interconnected in subtle, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it ways.
The political climate in Absolute Superman mirrors the urban decay in Absolute Batman. You start to see a "Greater Gotham" and a "Global Crisis" that feels like a singular, breathing world.
- DC All In Special #1 (Essential)
- Absolute Batman #1
- Absolute Wonder Woman #1
- Absolute Superman #1
- Absolute Batman #2
- Absolute Flash #1 (Jeff Lemire’s take on a non-speed-force Wally West)
Following this rhythm keeps the stakes high. If you binge one title, you lose the "snapshot" of what the world looks like at that specific moment in time.
Expanding the Roster: The Second Wave
It didn't stop with the Trinity. DC quickly realized they had a hit on their hands, so they started rolling out the rest of the League.
Absolute Flash is a standout. Jeff Lemire is known for his emotional, grounded storytelling (think Sweet Tooth), and his version of Wally West is heartbreaking. Imagine being the fastest man alive but having no support system and no idea why your body is doing what it’s doing.
Then there’s Absolute Green Lantern. This isn't a space cop story. It’s more of a cosmic horror/resistance fighter vibe. Jo Mullein is often the focal point here, and the ring isn't some magical toy—it's a burden.
When you get to these issues, slot them in between the "Big Three" releases. The Absolute Universe reading order is less about a chronological timeline and more about a "thematic vibe." These characters are all struggling against a world that wants them to fail.
Common Misconceptions About the Reading Order
A lot of people think you need to have read Dark Crisis or Absolute Power (the 2024 event) to understand this.
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You don't.
That’s the beauty of it. While those events technically set the stage for the All In initiative in the "Main" DC Universe, the Absolute Universe is a clean slate. You don’t need to know who Failsafe is or why the Hall of Justice got blown up. You just need to know that this is a new world born from Darkseid’s final, desperate gamble.
If someone tells you that you need to read 80 years of back-issues, they're gatekeeping. The whole point of the Absolute line is to kill the barrier to entry.
How to Organize Your Long Box
If you’re a physical collector, keeping your Absolute Universe reading order straight is pretty simple if you use the "Wave" method.
- Wave 1: The Origins (All In + Issues 1-3 of the Trinity)
- Wave 2: The Expansion (Flash, Green Lantern, and the debut of the Absolute villains)
- Wave 3: The Crossover (Expect a mini-event roughly 12-18 months in)
Keep them separate from your "Earth-Prime" books. The art styles alone—Nick Dragotta’s sharp lines versus the more traditional house styles—will make them stand out.
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Actionable Steps for the New Reader
If you’re ready to dive in, don’t just buy everything at once. You’ll burn out.
- Step 1: Grab the DC All In Special #1. Read both sides. Pay attention to the "Omega" side specifically.
- Step 2: Pick one of the Trinity titles based on your preference. If you like "Year One" vibes, go Batman. If you like high fantasy, go Wonder Woman. If you like sci-fi social commentary, go Superman.
- Step 3: Use a digital tracker or a simple spreadsheet to note the release dates. Because this is a new line, delays happen.
- Step 4: Look for the "Absolute" trade paperbacks which will likely collect the first six issues of each series. This is the most cost-effective way to maintain a solid Absolute Universe reading order without hunting down back issues in five different shops.
The Absolute Universe is probably the most exciting thing to happen to DC since the New 52, but without the baggage of trying to fix everything at once. It’s just a raw, unfiltered look at what makes these heroes tick when you take away their toys and their safety nets. Get the All In special first, then follow your gut. You can’t really go wrong as long as you start at the beginning of the "Spark."