DC's Absolute Universe: Chronological Reading Guide

DC's All In publishing initiative is a thrilling venture that gives top-tier creators the opportunity to explore the iconic heroes of the DC Universe without the shackles of established continuity. Spearheaded by industry giants Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson, All In introduces the Absolute Universe, which follows up on the Absolute Power arc from late 2024. This ongoing saga promises to redefine the status quo for Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, delivering unexpected twists and fresh takes on these beloved characters.

Since its launch in October, the Absolute Universe has been unfolding across multiple ongoing series, making it challenging to keep up with the narrative threads, timelines, and character developments. To help fans navigate this expansive event, we're providing a detailed breakdown of DC's Absolute Universe chronology and reading order for 2025.

Note: It's important to distinguish the Absolute Universe titles from DC's "Absolute" collected editions, such as the new Absolute Batman: Zero Year. These are entirely separate entities!

The Reading Order

For all ongoing series, begin with our suggested reading order and then follow the subsequent issues in their release sequence. Each main Absolute series will consist of a six-issue run and will eventually be collected into trade paperback editions.

1. DC All In Special #1 by Scott Snyder, Joshua Williamson, Wes Craig, and Daniel Sampere

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This oversized one-shot by Scott Snyder, the architect behind Absolute Universe, sets the stage for the entire event. Start your journey here before diving into Absolute Batman.

2. Absolute Batman #1 by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta

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Originally released in October 2024, Absolute Batman #1 marks the official beginning of the Absolute Universe. It offers a gritty, reimagined take on the Dark Knight, where Bruce Wayne is not wealthy, lacks a high-tech Batcave, and misses the grounding influence of Alfred.

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

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Published just weeks after Absolute Batman #1, this issue reimagines Wonder Woman's origins, portraying Diana as a heavily armed Amazon warrior in search of her purpose, diverging from traditional Greek mythos.

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

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Written by Jason Aaron, known for his work on Southern Bastards and Thor, this issue explores a more grounded Superman, examining how the Man of Steel would cope without his usual advantages.

5. Absolute Flash #1 by Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles

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Launching the second wave of the initiative in 2025, Absolute Flash delves into Wally West's journey as he navigates the complexities of speed without the support of his Flash family or the Speed Force.

6. Absolute Martian Manhunter #1 by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodriguez

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The second entry in the 2025 wave, this title takes a dramatic departure from the original Martian Manhunter. It follows FBI agent John Jones as he grapples with a Martian takeover of his body and mind, leading him into a conflict far greater than he anticipated.

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

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This installment reimagines the Green Lantern mythos, featuring four individuals—Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, and Jo Mullein—who must deal with the aftermath of a Green Lantern crash-landing in a small town.

Upcoming Collected Editions

Currently, only the first three Absolute titles have announced release dates for their collected editions:

• Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo releases August 5
• Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Last Amazon releases August 12
• Absolute Superman Vol. 1: The Last Dust of Krypton releases August 19

As of now, these are the highlights of what the Absolute Universe has to offer. However, given the momentum, it wouldn't be surprising if these narratives lead to a grand finale or event towards the end of 2025 or later, with more heroes potentially receiving the Absolute treatment in the future.