DC's All In publishing initiative offers powerhouse creators a unique opportunity to explore 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 new ongoing arc introduces a fresh status quo for Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, promising to subvert all expectations for fans familiar with these characters.

Since its launch in October, the Absolute Universe has been unfolding across multiple ongoing titles, making it challenging to keep up with the narrative's chronology and reading order as we move into 2025. To help, we've put together a comprehensive guide to DC's Absolute Universe reading order for 2025.

Note: It's important not to confuse Absolute Universe titles with DC's "Absolute" collected editions, such as the new Absolute Batman: Zero Year; these are entirely separate.

The Reading Order

For all ongoing series, start with our recommended reading order, then follow with subsequent issues in their release order. Each main Absolute series will consist of a six-issue run, eventually collected into 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 Amazon This oversized one-shot by Scott Snyder lays the groundwork for the Absolute Universe. It's the essential starting point before diving into Absolute Batman.

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

Absolute Batman #1

1See it at Amazon First published in October 2024, Absolute Batman #1 marks the true beginning of the Absolute Universe. It offers a fresh, gritty take on the Dark Knight, imagining a Bruce Wayne who is not rich, without a high-tech Batcave, and lacking the grounding presence of Alfred.

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

Absolute Wonder Woman #1

0See it at Amazon Released at the end of October, just weeks after Absolute Batman #1, this issue reimagines Wonder Woman, presenting Diana as a heavily armed Amazon warrior on a quest for purpose, diverging significantly from the traditional Greek mythos.

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

Absolute Superman #1

0See it at Amazon Written by Jason Aaron, known for Southern Bastards and Thor, Absolute Superman explores how the Man of Steel would cope if he started from nothing, making him more relatable to readers.

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

Absolute Flash #1

0See it at Amazon Kicking off the second wave of the initiative in 2025, Absolute Flash follows Wally West as he learns the ins and outs of his speed powers 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 Amazon The second entry in the 2025 wave offers a significant departure from the original character. FBI agent John Jones finds his body and mind taken over by a Martian, drawing him into a conflict much larger than he anticipated.

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

Absolute Green Lantern #1

0See it at Amazon This issue reimagines the Green Lantern mythos with four individuals who have previously donned the ring: Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, and Jo Mullein. They must deal with the aftermath of a crashed Green Lantern 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 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

As we look ahead, the Absolute Universe may well culminate in a grand finale or event towards the end of 2025 or beyond, potentially introducing more heroes to the Absolute treatment.