Short answer: the DC Absolute Universe was created as a continuity separate from DC's main line, while still connected to it through the larger DC All In narrative. To start reading, you do not need decades of backstory or the entire line. The simplest path is to choose a character and open that character's #1 issue. DC All In Special #1 works as an optional prologue for readers who want to understand how the two universes came to coexist.
What the DC Absolute Universe is
The Absolute Universe debuted in 2024 as a new continuity for reimagined versions of classic characters. In the original DC All In announcement, the publisher presented two parallel tracks: the main line, with new arcs inside the core continuity, and the new Absolute Universe. Absolute titles are built around removing advantages, structures and relationships that normally define these heroes while preserving the moral core that still makes each character recognizable.
That means Absolute Batman is not simply the main Batman wearing another costume, and Absolute Wonder Woman is not a hidden phase in the core Diana's history. They are different versions with their own origins, relationships, settings and rules. DC has described this setting as a separate universe that coexists with the main universe and is linked to it by a larger story that begins in DC All In Special #1.
DC All In and the Absolute Universe are not the same thing
DC All In is the broader publishing initiative. It began in October 2024 and simultaneously organized new jumping-on points in the main continuity and the debut of the Absolute Universe. The official DC All In hub brings together core-line titles such as Batman, Superman and Justice League Unlimited alongside the Absolute series.
The Absolute Universe, by contrast, is a specific continuity within that initiative. The distinction became even clearer in 2026 when DC introduced the second phase of All In under the Next Level banner. DC stated that Next Level books remain in continuity with the regular series of the main universe. In other words, All In does not replace the core universe, and Absolute does not turn all of DC into one new timeline.
Do I need to read Absolute Power or DC All In Special #1 first?
Not to understand the character series. The #1 issues were designed as jumping-on points. The launch announcement itself described All In and the Absolute Universe as opportunities for new readers and lapsed readers.
DC All In Special #1 is useful if you want to understand the cosmological origin of the Absolute Universe, Darkseid's role in the background and why the two continuities exist side by side. Absolute Power, the event that preceded All In in the main line, provides context for the special, but it is not a prerequisite for opening Absolute Batman #1, Absolute Wonder Woman #1 or any other Absolute starting point.
Where to start: choose by character and story type
| Starting title | Debut | Main creative team | What changes at the starting point | Best for readers looking for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute Batman #1 | October 9, 2024 | Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta | Bruce Wayne begins without wealth, a mansion or a butler as pillars of his heroic life. | Urban action, crime, improvised engineering and an aggressive reconstruction of Gotham. |
| Absolute Wonder Woman #1 | October 23, 2024 | Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman | Diana does not grow up on the island paradise or within the traditional Amazon sisterhood. | Dark fantasy, mythology, magic and a heroine rebuilt from different foundations. |
| Absolute Superman #1 | November 6, 2024 | Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval | Kal-El is introduced without the family structure, Fortress of Solitude and home that normally stabilize his mythology. | Science fiction, displacement, power and the question of how Superman's ideal survives under different conditions. |
| Absolute Flash #1 | March 19, 2025 | Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles | Wally West appears without a mentor, without the traditional family network and without the familiar structure of the Speed Force. | A coming-of-age hero story, life on the run, mystery and a young-reader-friendly focus on Wally. |
| Absolute Martian Manhunter #1 | March 26, 2025 | Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez | The Martian Manhunter concept is radically reconstructed with strong visual and psychological experimentation. | Surreal science fiction, identity, perception and unconventional comics language. |
| Absolute Green Lantern #1 | April 2, 2025 | Al Ewing and Jahnoy Lindsay | The Lantern mythology begins without the familiar Corps, ring and power-rule structure of the main continuity. | Cosmic horror, mystery and a reinterpretation centered on Jo Mullein and other Lantern-connected characters. |
| Absolute Green Arrow #1 | May 20, 2026 | Pornsak Pichetshote and Rafael Albuquerque | The six-issue miniseries turns the Green Arrow mythos into an urban-horror mystery and spins out of events in Absolute Evil. | Readers who already know part of the line and want crime, suspense and horror. |
| Absolute Catwoman #1 | June 10, 2026 | Che Grayson, Scott Snyder and Bengal | Selina Kyle gets a six-issue miniseries after already appearing in the world of Absolute Batman. | Heists, technology, international action and expansion of the Gotham corner. |
Which first title works best for a new reader?
There is no single mandatory order because the main books were built to introduce their own versions of the characters. A practical choice is to start with the genre that suits you best:
- Absolute Batman #1: the most direct gateway if you want to recognize an icon immediately and see how the formula is dismantled and rebuilt.
- Absolute Wonder Woman #1: a strong choice for fantasy, magic and mythology.
- Absolute Superman #1: suited to readers who enjoy science fiction and stories about belonging and power.
- Absolute Flash #1: works well for readers who want to follow a younger hero's formation.
- Absolute Martian Manhunter #1: the most experimental option among the first launches.
- Absolute Green Lantern #1: best matched to readers drawn to cosmic horror and mystery.
For a first experience with the line, Absolute Green Arrow and Absolute Catwoman are less neutral as general entry points. The former directly spins out of Absolute Evil #1, while the latter builds on a Selina Kyle who had already been introduced in Absolute Batman. They still start at #1, but they reward some familiarity with Absolute continuity.
A simple reading order without turning everything into homework
Route 1: I only want to sample the Absolute Universe
- Choose one of the first six titles in the table.
- Read issue #1 and continue that same series if the tone works for you.
- Explore another character only after that.
Route 2: I want to understand the origin of the two universes
- DC All In Special #1.
- Absolute Batman #1, Absolute Wonder Woman #1 or Absolute Superman #1.
- Continue the series you chose and treat the other titles as expansions, not required homework.
Route 3: I want to follow the construction of the line
Use the publication order of major milestones: DC All In Special #1, the Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman launch trio, then Flash, Martian Manhunter and Green Lantern, followed by Absolute Evil #1 and the 2026 expansions. You do not need to interleave every monthly issue from every series. Publication order is mainly useful for noticing when shared concepts begin to appear.
How the Absolute Universe differs from the main continuity
| Aspect | Main universe | Absolute Universe |
|---|---|---|
| Continuity | Carries decades of legacy, relationships and events, even when new arcs provide jumping-on points. | Starts as its own continuity in 2024 and rewrites origins, contexts and relationships. |
| Character history | Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and others accumulate families, allies, institutions and earlier events. | Absolute versions can remove or transform those exact supports and structures. |
| Entry point | All In creates new-reader-friendly arcs, but the past still exists. | Each series starts with a new version of the character and demands much less prior knowledge. |
| Tone | Ranges widely across adventure, drama, horror, science fiction and other genres. | Also varies. The line tends toward more radical reinterpretation, but Batman, Flash, Martian Manhunter and Green Lantern do not share one genre or pace. |
| Relationship between worlds | It is DC's core continuity. | It is separate but not isolated from the larger narrative. DC All In Special #1 establishes a link between the two realities. |
What you do not need to read first
- You do not need to begin with the earliest historical stories of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman or the other characters.
- You do not need to read the entire DC All In line to understand an Absolute series.
- You do not need to follow every Absolute series at the same time.
- Absolute Power helps contextualize the main-line transition, but it is not required for the Absolute origins.
- DC All In Special #1 is recommended for the architecture of the universe, not required for basic understanding of each protagonist.
What about Absolute Evil, Catwoman, Green Arrow and Cassandra Cain?
Absolute Evil #1, published in October 2025, is a more advanced connection point for the line and focuses on the rise of antagonists inside the Absolute Universe. It makes more sense after you have already sampled at least one or two series.
In 2026, DC expanded the line with the Absolute Green Arrow and Absolute Catwoman miniseries. DC also published Absolute Cassandra Cain: The Shadow's Hand #1 on September 9, 2026 as an Absolute Catwoman spin-off placed between issues #3 and #4 of that miniseries. For that reason, the special works better as an expansion of a story already in progress than as your first Absolute comic.
Status of the line in September 2026
By September 24, 2026, the Absolute Universe had moved well beyond its original trio and had become a line with several protagonists, miniseries and specials. DC had also announced a first Absolute Universe event miniseries for the fourth quarter of 2026 as the next stage of expansion. Because the line is still growing, the most useful rule for new readers remains simple: start with a #1 issue featuring the character who interests you most, then treat connective specials as later reading.
Quick choice
If you want a practical recommendation without building a huge checklist, start with Absolute Batman #1 for urban action, Absolute Wonder Woman #1 for fantasy, Absolute Superman #1 for science fiction, Absolute Flash #1 for a coming-of-age hero story, Absolute Martian Manhunter #1 for visual experimentation or Absolute Green Lantern #1 for cosmic horror. Read DC All In Special #1 first only if the origin of the new universe is an important part of your curiosity.
Main sources: DC All In Hub; DC All In and Absolute Universe launch announcement; DC All In second phase and Next Level; official #1 issue pages and 2026 announcements linked throughout the article.
