At a Glance
- DC Comics’ Absolute Universe line sold 8.2 million copies in its first year.
- Absolute Batman drives 35% of those sales, about 3 million copies.
- The line’s bestsellers include Absolute Batman #15, Batman #158, Batman #1, the Batman/Deadpool crossover, and DC K.O. #1.
- Why it matters: The launch proves DC’s new continuity strategy is a commercial success, setting a new benchmark for comic book reboots.
DC Comics has celebrated the first anniversary of its Absolute Universe line, a reimagining of flagship titles like Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, and Flash. The brand reports that the line has sold 8.2 million copies as of November 2025, with Absolute Batman alone accounting for 35% of those sales.
Record-Breaking Sales
The success is anchored by Absolute Batman, an ongoing series by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta that redefines Bruce Wayne as a blue-collar hero battling new takes on classic foes. The first issue is now on its 10th printing, and the series has sold roughly 3 million copies.
The five bestselling books of 2025 are:
- Absolute Batman #15
- Batman #158 by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee
- Batman #1 by Matt Fraction and Jorge Jimenez
- The Batman/Deadpool crossover
- DC K.O. #1 by Snyder and Javier Fernandez
Creative Strategy
Anne DePies stated:
> “the decision to keep the universe in its own continuity as a big win, ditto its “fresh look that inverted the fundamentals of our characters, and it’s an update that surprised our fans. It’s not so overwhelming that we are changing everything at once. That made a big difference. We knew it was going to do well, but we didn’t know it would do this well.”
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Absolute sales | 8.2 million |
| Absolute Batman share | 35% |
| Absolute Batman copies | 3 million |
Beyond Batman
Despite the focus on Batman, other titles in the line are outperforming past relaunches like the 2011 New 52 and 2016 Rebirth. Absolute Martian Manhunter, created by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodriguez, has received orders in the six-figure range, notable for a character not typically in the top tier.
The line will continue as long as its creative teams wish to keep producing it, so readers can jump in whenever a title captures their interest.
Key Takeaways
- The Absolute Universe line has sold 8.2 million copies, a record for DC’s reboots.
- Absolute Batman is the biggest driver, representing 35% of sales.
- Other titles, like Absolute Martian Manhunter, are also performing strongly, surpassing earlier relaunches.
DC’s bold move to keep its reimagined universe in its own continuity is proving to be a winning formula, reshaping expectations for comic book revivals.
