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DC Absolute Universe reading order

The DC All In Special and the Absolute Universe series and specials in release order, from the 2024 launch titles to the current issues. Start with the first wave of Absolute Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman.

  1. The spark: DC All In Special2024

    1 issue · about 20 min0 essential issues · about 0 min

    The one-shot that relaunched DC's main line also reveals where the Absolute Universe comes from. Half of it is about the regular DC Universe, so it is background, not required.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. All In Saga (2025)Covers DC All In Special #1Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. DC All In Special (2024)#1December 2024, optional

      A flip book: the Darkseid half sets up the Absolute Universe, while the Superman half belongs to the main DC line.

  2. Start here

    The first wave2024–2025

    14 issues · about 4.5 hours14 essential issues · about 4.5 hours

    Three reworked versions of DC's biggest heroes, each built without the advantages they usually have. Every series stands on its own, so read one, two or all three.

    Read this stretch in 3 books
    1. Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Last Amazon (2025)Covers Absolute Wonder Woman #1–5Find it
    2. Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo (2025)Covers Absolute Batman #1–5Find it
    3. Absolute Superman Vol. 1: Last Dust of Krypton (2025)Covers Absolute Superman #1–4Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Absolute Batman (2024)#1–55 issues
      1. #1December 2024
      2. #2January 2025
      3. #3February 2025
      4. #4March 2025
      5. #5April 2025
    2. Absolute Wonder Woman (2024)#1–55 issues
      1. #1December 2024
      2. #2January 2025
      3. #3February 2025
      4. #4March 2025
      5. #5April 2025
    3. Absolute Superman (2025)#1–44 issues
      1. #1January 2025
      2. #2February 2025
      3. #3March 2025
      4. #4April 2025

  3. The second wave arrives2025

    35 issues · about 12 hours35 essential issues · about 12 hours

    Flash, Martian Manhunter and Green Lantern join the line while the first three series move into their second arcs.

    Read this stretch in 6 books
    1. Absolute Martian Manhunter Vol. 1: Martian Vision (2026)Covers Absolute Martian Manhunter #1–6Find it
    2. Absolute Flash Vol. 1: Of Two Worlds (2026)Covers Absolute Flash #1–6Find it
    3. Absolute Batman Vol. 2: Abomination (2026)Covers Absolute Batman #7–11Find it
    4. Absolute Green Lantern Vol. 1: Without Fear (2026)Covers Absolute Green Lantern #1–5Find it
    5. Absolute Superman Vol. 2: Son of the Demon (2026)Covers Absolute Superman #7–10Find it
    6. Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 2: As My Mothers Made Me (2026)Covers Absolute Wonder Woman #8–11Find it

    Not in these books: Absolute Batman #6; Absolute Wonder Woman #6–7; Absolute Superman #5–6. Look for the single issues.

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Absolute Batman (2024)#6–116 issues
      1. #6May 2025
      2. #7June 2025
      3. #8July 2025
      4. #9August 2025
      5. #10September 2025
      6. #11October 2025
    2. Absolute Wonder Woman (2024)#6–116 issues
      1. #6May 2025
      2. #7June 2025
      3. #8July 2025
      4. #9August 2025
      5. #10September 2025
      6. #11October 2025
    3. Absolute Superman (2025)#5–106 issues
      1. #5May 2025
      2. #6June 2025
      3. #7July 2025
      4. #8August 2025
      5. #9September 2025
      6. #10October 2025
    4. Absolute Flash (2025)#1–66 issues
      1. #1May 2025
      2. #2June 2025
      3. #3July 2025
      4. #4August 2025
      5. #5September 2025
      6. #6October 2025
    5. Absolute Martian Manhunter (2025)#1–66 issues
      1. #1May 2025
      2. #2June 2025
      3. #3July 2025
      4. #4August 2025
      5. #5September 2025
      6. #6October 2025

      Planned as six issues and extended to a twelve-issue limited series; the tone is stranger and slower than the rest of the line.

    6. Absolute Green Lantern (2025)#1–55 issues
      1. #1June 2025
      2. #2July 2025
      3. #3August 2025
      4. #4September 2025
      5. #5October 2025

  4. Annuals and one-shots2025–2026

    30 issues · about 10 hours27 essential issues · about 9 hours

    The ongoing series continue alongside the first specials, which add side stories and villain spotlights around the main books.

    Read this stretch in 5 books
    1. Absolute Flash Vol. 2: Still Point (2026)Covers Absolute Flash #7–11Find it
    2. Absolute Superman Vol. 2: Son of the Demon (2026)Covers Absolute Superman #11–14Find it
    3. Absolute Green Lantern Vol. 2: Sojourner (2026)Covers Absolute Green Lantern #7–10Find it
    4. Absolute Batman Vol. 2: Abomination (2026)Covers Absolute Batman #12–14Find it
    5. Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 2: As My Mothers Made Me (2026)Covers Absolute Wonder Woman #12–14Find it

    Not in these books: Absolute Evil #1; Absolute Batman #15; Absolute Batman 2025 Annual #1; Absolute Wonder Woman #15; Absolute Batman #16; Absolute Wonder Woman #16; Absolute Superman #15; Absolute Green Lantern #6; Absolute Martian Manhunter #7–8; Absolute Batman: Ark-M #1. Look for the single issues.

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Absolute Evil (2025)#1December 2025, optional

      Villain-focused one-shot that introduces characters used across the line; worth reading if you follow several Absolute titles.

    2. Absolute Batman (2024)#12–154 issues
      1. #12November 2025
      2. #13December 2025
      3. #14January 2026
      4. #15February 2026
    3. Absolute Batman 2025 Annual (2025)#1December 2025, optional

      Side stories around Absolute Batman; skip if you only want the main plot.

    4. Absolute Wonder Woman (2024)#12–154 issues
      1. #12November 2025
      2. #13December 2025
      3. #14January 2026
      4. #15February 2026

      Issue 15 pairs with Absolute Batman 16, so read them together.

    5. Absolute Batman (2024)#16March 2026

      Pairs with Absolute Wonder Woman 15.

    6. Absolute Wonder Woman (2024)#16March 2026
    7. Absolute Superman (2025)#11–155 issues
      1. #11November 2025
      2. #12December 2025
      3. #13January 2026
      4. #14February 2026
      5. #15March 2026
    8. Absolute Flash (2025)#7–115 issues
      1. #7November 2025
      2. #8December 2025
      3. #9January 2026
      4. #10February 2026
      5. #11March 2026
    9. Absolute Green Lantern (2025)#6–105 issues
      1. #6November 2025
      2. #7December 2025
      3. #8January 2026
      4. #9February 2026
      5. #10March 2026
    10. Absolute Martian Manhunter (2025)#7–82 issues
      1. #7February 2026
      2. #8March 2026
    11. Absolute Batman: Ark-M (2026)#1March 2026, optional

      One-shot spin-off from Absolute Batman; not needed to follow the ongoing series.

  5. The line settles in2026

    24 issues · about 8 hours23 essential issues · about 7.5 hours

    The five ongoing series and the closing chapters of Martian Manhunter continue through spring and early summer 2026, with a Wonder Woman annual on the side.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Absolute Green Lantern Vol. 2: Sojourner (2026)Covers Absolute Green Lantern #11–12Find it

    Not in these books: Absolute Batman #17–20; Absolute Wonder Woman 2026 Annual #1; Absolute Wonder Woman #17–20; Absolute Superman #16–19; Absolute Flash #12–15; Absolute Green Lantern #13–14; Absolute Martian Manhunter #9–11. Look for the single issues.

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Absolute Batman (2024)#17–204 issues
      1. #17April 2026
      2. #18May 2026
      3. #19June 2026
      4. #20July 2026
    2. Absolute Wonder Woman 2026 Annual (2026)#1April 2026, optional

      Side stories around Absolute Wonder Woman; skip if you only want the main plot.

    3. Absolute Wonder Woman (2024)#17–204 issues
      1. #17April 2026
      2. #18May 2026
      3. #19June 2026
      4. #20July 2026
    4. Absolute Superman (2025)#16–194 issues
      1. #16April 2026
      2. #17May 2026
      3. #18June 2026
      4. #19July 2026
    5. Absolute Flash (2025)#12–154 issues
      1. #12May 2026
      2. #13May 2026
      3. #14June 2026
      4. #15July 2026
    6. Absolute Green Lantern (2025)#11–144 issues
      1. #11April 2026
      2. #12May 2026
      3. #13June 2026
      4. #14July 2026
    7. Absolute Martian Manhunter (2025)#9–113 issues
      1. #9April 2026
      2. #10May 2026
      3. #11July 2026

  6. Green Arrow, Catwoman and current issues2026–present

    34 issues · about 11 hours33 essential issues · about 11 hours

    Martian Manhunter concludes, the six-issue Absolute Green Arrow and Absolute Catwoman series widen the line, and the ongoing series carry on from here. New issues will appear in this phase.

    1. Absolute Batman (2024)#21–244 issues
      1. #21August 2026
      2. #22September 2026
      3. #23October 2026
      4. #24November 2026
    2. Absolute Wonder Woman (2024)#21–244 issues
      1. #21August 2026
      2. #22September 2026
      3. #23October 2026
      4. #24November 2026
    3. Absolute Superman (2025)#20–245 issues
      1. #20August 2026
      2. #21September 2026
      3. #22October 2026
      4. #23November 2026
      5. #24December 2026
    4. Absolute Flash (2025)#16–205 issues
      1. #16August 2026
      2. #17September 2026
      3. #18October 2026
      4. #19November 2026
      5. #20December 2026
    5. Absolute Green Lantern (2025)#15–195 issues
      1. #15August 2026
      2. #16September 2026
      3. #17October 2026
      4. #18November 2026
      5. #19December 2026
    6. Absolute Martian Manhunter (2025)#12September 2026

      The final issue of the limited series.

    7. Absolute Green Arrow (2026)#1–66 issues
      1. #1July 2026
      2. #2August 2026
      3. #3September 2026
      4. #4October 2026
      5. #5November 2026
      6. #6December 2026

      A six-issue limited series and a good second starting point for the line.

    8. Absolute Catwoman (2026)#1–33 issues
      1. #1August 2026
      2. #2September 2026
      3. #3October 2026

      A six-issue limited series that reads alongside Absolute Batman but stands on its own.

    9. Batman of Two Worlds (2026)#1November 2026, optional

      Batman Day one-shot with one main-line Batman story and one Absolute Batman story.

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