Absolute Universe will exist alongside the mainline DCU.
We reported on the rumored Absolute Universe project from DC Comics a couple of days ago, and now the publisher has come out and verified it's real. DC Absolute Universe will be joined by DC All In beginning with Absolute Batman on October 9, 2024. As the rumors intimated, the Absolute Universe is not replacing the DCU proper, but is instead its own entity. There's no official word that it's part of the DC multiverse, but the marketing for Absolute and All In is notable for how it tethers the two together with Darkseid in the middle, almost as though they share a common threat in the powerful villain.
Absolute Universe and All In will roll out of the final issue of the Absolute Power miniseries. DC All In Special #1 will release in October and is a being billed as "a startling, symmetrical flipbook" written by Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson and illustrated by Daniel Sampere and Wes Craig. The issue will have one story dedicated to All In on one side, while the other side (once flipped over) will be about Absolute Universe. Let's get into what each of these initiatives is all about:
All In
In the wake of Absolute Power, DC's pantheon of heroes face a resurgent Darkseid:
Following the events of Absolute Power, the heroes of the core DC Universe have fought against the deep divisions in the world around them to usher in a new era of unity.
And it’s just in time, too—because Darkseid has returned! Superman gathers every DC Super Hero on Earth to hold the line against a vastly different version of the Lord of Apokolips as they raise our cosmic defenses and prepare for war. And when the first blows land, the shock waves will ripple across DC’s core series, shaking the nature of their realities to their very foundation!
This part of the initiative is focused on the original DCU. There are a number of creative team overhauls coming to a range of books. Let's dig into who is doing what:
Batman #153: Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jiménez, and Carmine Di Giandomenico are kicking off The Dying City. No new creators here, but the story will be focused on the Riddler.
Detective Comics #1090: Tom Taylor and Mikel JanÃn are the new creative team on Detective Comics. Their opening salvo is Mercy of the Father, which is set to change everything fans know about the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne.
Action Comics #1070: Mark Waid is jumping over from Absolute Power and Batman/Superman: World's Finest to helm Action Comics, which will begin to ship weekly. Joined by artist Clayton Henry, this issue begins the Death of the Phantom Zone arc, where Superman battles to save Metropolis from being destroyed. There will also be backup stories starring Supergirl by Mariko Tamaki and Skylar Patridge.
Superman #19: Joshua Williamson is staying on as writer, but he'll be joined by artist Dan Mora. Superman and Superwoman (Lois with newfound powers) are taking on Doomsday and the Time Keeper.
Wonder Woman #14: Tom King remains alongside artist Daniel Sampere as DC teases Diana just might be becoming a mother.
Green Arrow #350: This issue sees Joshua Williamson wrap his run on the character, while the new creative team of writer Chris Condon and artist Montos hop aboard, as well.
Absolute Universe
According to DC, and as detailed in previous leaks, Absolute Universe is a reimagining of the core trinity of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. Here's how DC describes it:
But a greater threat looms on the horizon in the Absolute Universe. Here, DC’s biggest icons come of age with fewer advantages while facing greater opposition than ever before and retaining the immutable heroism that continues to inspire and entertain fans. But can they really protect the light that shines inside them when the world in which they live is hurtling toward a terrible destiny?
Let's see which creators are attached to the three launch series of Absolute Universe:
Absolute Batman #1 | 10.09.24: Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta bring fans a Batman with "no mansion, no money, and no butler."
Absolute Superman #1 | 11.06.24: Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval team for a Superman with "no family, no Fortress of Solitude, and no home." The book explores what he will stand for, as a result.
Absolute Wonder Woman #1 | 10.23.24: Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman explore a Wonder Woman with "no island paradise, no sisterhood to shape her, nor a mission of peace." The series will examine what it means to be an Amazon warrior in this paradigm.
Big changes are afoot at DC Comics, but will this be enough to right the ship for the struggling publisher? We'll start to find out come October and the release of DC All In Special #1.
Source: DC Press Release + YouTube Channel
Comments