Why You Should Be Excited For DC Comics’ Absolute Universe

DC Comics created a lot of excitement among the comic community when they announced their new Absolute Universe line of comics at San Diego Comic-Con earlier this year. However, many fans still aren’t sure exactly what the point of the new universe is. Sure, an alternate universe story featuring fan favorites like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, etc. sounds great on paper, but those types of stories are published all the time.

With countless popular storylines, like Red Son, Injustice, Marvel’s Ultimate Universe, Secret Wars, and so on, it’s something that the average comic consumer has gotten quite used to. However, DC’s announcement video from long-time DC Comics writers Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson has been promising. Along with solicitations like Absolute Superman and Absolute Flash, it seems the company is justifying the hype. With so many stellar creative teams, a powerful vision, and an endless well of ideas, DC fans have plenty of reasons to look forward to the Absolute Universe.

It’s a Brand New DC Comics Universe

DC Has Needed Fresh Stories Like This For Arguably Decades

The Absolute continuity is not just another alternate story — it’s an entirely new DC universe that could potentially exist alongside the main continuity forever. Fans will be getting drastically different versions of their beloved heroes, like those in the Justice League, and getting to see their stories play out over the years.

It has already been well-documented how dramatic the changes to characters like Absolute Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince will be. However, it’s important to realize that this is not just an experiment; it’s a rivaling line of comics to both Marvel’s famous Ultimate Universe comics, which also saw fan favorites reimagined in fundamental ways. There is limitless potential for stories because, for the first time in a while, fans will see a DC Universe that has no status quo. Not to mention, the amount of talent that has been dedicated to each series so far is an amazing show of faith.

Creative teams like Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta on Absolute Batman, Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval on Absolute Superman, and Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman on Absolute Wonder Woman are all more than enough to be simply ecstatic over. Plus, other teams like Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles on Absolute Flash ensure there’s talent to spare outside the DC Trinity. With seasoned veterans in the comic industry and newer talents alike, there’s a certain guarantee that quality stories will take place.

DC Comics Creators Offer Details on the New Trinity

Readers have already gotten a quick tease about what this will look like in Absolute Batman after Scott Snyder spilled some details in an interview with The Comic Book Podcast. This version of Bruce Wayne will have many drastic alterations, such as growing up in Crime Alley without immense wealth and having parents who work average jobs within Gotham City’s community. As opposed to the usual symbolism in the main universe, this version of him will be using his identity as Batman to face the fear of growing up in such a scary, uncertain world. According to Snyder, this depiction of the Caped Crusader is meant to reflect the reality of many young people growing up in the world today, which speaks to how realistic the Absolute Universe could stand to be.

Unique approaches such as this will offer completely refreshing takes throughout not just this series, but the entire line. Snyder also went on to explain, in this interview, that the entirety of the Absolute universe is purely a passion project for him and the other writers and artists on board. He wanted to combine the themes of other initiatives from his early years working at DC, like the New 52 and DC Rebirth — one prioritizing a fresh start, while the other focused on legacy — to create excitement among fans about buying comics again and demonstrate that they aren’t mutually exclusive. To do that properly, he felt like every creative team on board needed to take their craziest and wildest ideas, and just go for them.

That was my pitch to them […] in the fall: everybody takes their biggest swing […] and so, the goal was to have it be, like, everyone is doing the biggest thing they can, in every book, with everything being a jumping-on point…

— Scott Snyder

Source: The Comic Book Podcast

Between the details about the Absolute Batman series and how the creative team behind the universe is approaching the stories, it’s already very intriguing. But when looking even further at the details of other books, as they were given to fans at San Diego Comic-Con, it gets even better. For example, how Absolute Superman will follow a version of Clark Kent that will be without his family and Fortress of Solitude, and, as a result, carries a lot more anger. This, in addition to Absolute Wonder Woman, which will introduce readers to a version of Diana Prince who never had the luxury of growing up on Themyscira. The overwhelmingly apparent theme of taking DC heroes who are so strongly defined by their usual comforts, and forcing them to exist without them, is quite compelling.

The Absolute Universe Is Meant To Be Part of Something Greater

The DC All-In Initiative Is Going To Be Something Special

With all of that being said, the Absolute Universe is only one piece of the puzzle. DC is attempting to revamp all of its comics with a new initiative simply titled “DC All-In.” And for the first time in a long time, when there’s a massive number of DC characters who deserve their respective series, they all finally have a chance at getting one.

DC’s All-In initiative will be the byproduct of the current ongoing event, Absolute Power, which leads directly into what’s known as the DC All-In Special #1, which will be co-written by Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson. This book will detail the creation and introduction of the Absolute Universe, and how its continuity will run alongside the regular DC timeline. This will also get completely shaken up with new creative teams, new series, and new characters like Superwoman being introduced.

With so many new visions coming into play across so many different books, there is a lot for readers to look forward to. The Absolute Universe seems like it will be there to offer relief from the continuity fans are all so used to. The total contrast in how these different continuities are handled will be refreshing and freeing for longtime DC fans, yet still welcoming to new ones. These seem like the best circumstances for a concept like the Absolute Universe to be introduced, and it speaks to the confidence DC has in the idea of making it integral to their new company-wide initiative.

Getting completely new versions of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman is always a fun concept, but readers knowing that they’ll have an entire new universe to indulge in is even better. Better yet, the teams attached to these projects will get to be creative and carve their paths for these characters, rather than trying to tip-toe around the rules of continuity and other elements that have already been established. For those frustrated by the limitations of stories that have to stick to a status quo, the Absolute Universe is worth keeping an eye on. With it, and the All-In initiative as a whole, it’s going to be a brand-new day for DC Comics and fans alike. It will be a real treat to experience DC’s execution of these ideas, and, more importantly, how veteran and prospective readers see these concepts and characters grow over the years.