DC and Marvel are currently locked in a fascinating, high-stakes game of "who can reinvent the wheel better," and honestly, it’s the most exciting time to be a comic reader in a decade. We are seeing a total collision of philosophies between Absolute Spider-Man and the current Ultimate Batman (or more accurately, the Absolute Universe and the Ultimate Universe). It's weird. It’s gritty. It’s precisely what the industry needed to stop the stagnation.
For years, we’ve been stuck in this loop where Peter Parker can’t grow up and Bruce Wayne just buys another Batmobile. But the scripts have flipped.
The Raw Grit of Absolute Spider-Man
Marvel’s new Ultimate line, spearheaded by Jonathan Hickman, gave us a version of Peter Parker who didn't get bitten by a spider until he was a father of two. It was wholesome. It was revolutionary because it allowed him to be happy. DC saw that and essentially said, "Hold my beer," before launching the Absolute Universe.
Enter Absolute Spider-Man. Wait, I’m getting my wires crossed—it's Absolute Batman and Ultimate Spider-Man that are the real stars here, but the way fans compare them makes them feel like two sides of the same coin. Let’s talk about that Absolute version of the Dark Knight first. Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta didn't just tweak Batman; they stripped him of his billion-dollar safety net. This Bruce Wayne isn't a socialite. He’s a city planner who lives in a townhouse. He’s huge. Like, "built like a brick wall" huge.
His cape? It’s weighted. It’s a weapon. He doesn't have a mansion or a loyal butler named Alfred watching his back from a computer screen. He’s a blue-collar brawler. It’s a direct response to the criticism that Batman is just a "rich guy punching the poor." In the Absolute Universe, he's the underdog. That’s a massive tonal shift that mirrors the "regular guy" energy we usually associate with Spidey.
Why the Ultimate Universe Feels Different This Time
On the other side of the aisle, the new Ultimate Spider-Man by Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto is doing something equally radical by being... normal? Peter Parker is a middle-aged dad. He has a wife, Mary Jane, and they actually have a stable, loving relationship. Imagine that!
👉 See also: Questions From Black Card Revoked: The Culture Test That Might Just Get You Roasted
The "Ultimate" branding used to mean "edgy and likely to die," but now it represents a "fixed" timeline. In this world, the Maker (an evil Reed Richards) prevented the heroes from ever forming. When Peter finally gets his powers as an adult, he isn't a teenager learning responsibility; he’s a man reclaiming a destiny that was stolen from him.
It's a slow burn. It’s focused on family dynamics as much as it is on the Green Goblin. Honestly, seeing a Peter Parker who isn't constantly suffering from the "Parker Luck" feels more rebellious than any dark, gritty reboot ever could.
Comparing the "New" Icons
If you look at Absolute Batman and Ultimate Spider-Man side-by-side, you see a complete reversal of tropes.
- The Wealth Factor: Batman is usually the rich one, Spider-Man is the broke one. In these new iterations, Bruce Wayne is a working-class guy using a literal axe-shaped bat-symbol, while Peter Parker has a stable job and a support system.
- The Origin Story: Peter gets his powers late in life through a deliberate choice. Bruce loses his "privilege" but keeps his rage.
- The Stakes: Ultimate Spider-Man is fighting to rebuild a world that was broken by a multiversal tyrant. Absolute Batman is fighting a systemic rot in Gotham without the help of the GCPD or a trust fund.
It’s almost like the two publishers traded notes. Marvel went for emotional maturity and long-form world-building. DC went for high-octane, heavy-metal reimagining.
The Impact on the Market
Collectors are losing their minds. The first issue of Absolute Batman #1 saw massive print runs because people are hungry for a Bruce Wayne who feels dangerous again. Similarly, Ultimate Spider-Man #1 has been through multiple printings because fans have been begging for a "Dad Peter" for years.
✨ Don't miss: The Reality of Sex Movies From Africa: Censorship, Nollywood, and the Digital Underground
What’s interesting is that these aren't just "Elseworlds" stories that don't matter. These are sustained, secondary lineages. They provide an entry point for people who are tired of sixty years of continuity. You don't need to know what happened in Crisis on Infinite Earths to understand why a 250-pound Bruce Wayne is using a power tool to fight crime. You just need to see the art.
The "Absolute" Philosophy vs. "Ultimate" Logic
Scott Snyder has been vocal about the Absolute Universe being about "chaos." It’s meant to be the underdog's universe. In the main DC timeline, the Justice League are basically gods. They have a moon base. In the Absolute world, they are the ones on the run.
Marvel’s Ultimate Universe is more about "reconstruction." It’s a puzzle. Hickman is known for his dense, infographic-heavy storytelling, and he’s using that to show how a world can be methodically rebuilt after a villain literally deleted its heroes.
One feels like a garage band (Absolute), the other feels like a grand symphony (Ultimate).
Is This Just a Gimmick?
Look, we’ve seen reboots before. The New 52, the original Ultimate line in 2000, Marvel NOW!—the list goes on. But this feels different because it’s not trying to replace the main versions. It’s an alternative.
🔗 Read more: Alfonso Cuarón: Why the Harry Potter 3 Director Changed the Wizarding World Forever
The biggest risk here is "event fatigue." If DC and Marvel start crossing these universes over too quickly, the magic dies. We need to see Absolute Batman struggle in his own filth for a while before he meets a Superman with a different set of problems. We need to see Ultimate Spider-Man raise his kids before he's dragged into a "Spider-Verse" crossover that ruins the grounded tone.
What You Should Actually Read
If you’re looking for high-concept sci-fi and a Peter Parker who actually wins for once, Ultimate Spider-Man is the top tier. It’s the best Spidey book in twenty years. Seriously.
If you want something that feels like a fever dream—heavy, dark, and visually stunning—Absolute Batman is the play. It’s polarizing. Some people hate the "thick" design of Batman. Others think it's the coolest thing since The Dark Knight Returns.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
Don't just chase the variant covers. That's a trap. If you're looking to dive into these worlds, here is the best way to handle the current landscape:
- Start with the "Alpha" issues: For Marvel, read Ultimate Universe #1. For DC, read DC All-In Special #1. These give you the "why" behind the new worlds.
- Focus on the creators: This isn't just about the characters. It's about Snyder and Hickman. Follow their newsletters or social feeds; they often explain the "why" behind these massive changes.
- Check your local comic shop (LCS): These books are selling out fast. Digital is fine, but the art in Absolute Batman by Nick Dragotta really demands a physical page to appreciate the scale.
- Don't ignore the side books: While Spidey and Batman are the anchors, books like Absolute Wonder Woman (where she’s the last Amazon and raised in Hell) or Ultimate Black Panther (which feels like a Game of Thrones political drama) are where the real world-building happens.
The landscape of comics in 2026 is defined by this duality. We have the "classic" versions for the purists and these radical, "Absolute" and "Ultimate" versions for everyone who wants to see what happens when you truly break the status quo. It’s a great time to be a nerd. Just keep your eyes on the release calendars, because the momentum isn't slowing down anytime soon.
Check your pull list. If these aren't on there, you're missing the most important conversation in modern pop culture. Grab the trade paperbacks if you missed the single issues—the world-building is dense enough that they actually read better in one sitting anyway.