Image via DC Comics with art by Nick Dragotta.
Published May 16, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT
Growing up in rural Iowa as a reluctant reader, it all changed when he started reading the original Fantastic Four by Lee/Kirby. Now Austin can't stop reading. He has written about comics for Comic Book Yeti and he has also written tons of indie comics, best known for Big Guns Stupid Rednecks.
The Absolute Universe has been a huge success for DC Comics, and now the publisher is seeking brutally honest feedback from fans about the new universe.
Starting with Absolute Batman, the Absolute Universe has since expanded to include several other titles featuring Wonder Woman, Superman, Green Lantern, Flash, and Martian Manhunter. DC Comics’ parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, recently released an in-depth survey about the Absolute Universe. You can take the survey here.
The survey asks a wide range of questions, such as: Which Absolute Universe comics have you read? Which DC characters do you always come back to? What kind of Absolute Universe merchandise would you like to see? It also includes an open-ended question at the end where fans can tell DC anything else they may not have asked about.
DC Comics Wants to Know Your Thoughts on its Newest Universe
Image via DC ComicsThe Absolute Universe was launched by DC Comics in October 2024 with its flagship title, Absolute Batman, leading the charge. From the creative team of writer Scott Snyder and artist Nick Dragotta, the title brought excitement to the comics medium that extended far beyond regular comic book store customers. Absolute Batman gave new readers a jumping-on point and featured artwork that drew heavy inspiration from manga.
“Some fans really don’t like interconnectivity, and that’s one of the reasons the Absolute line has been a lot of fun for them. It’s just that it’s so standalone. We are starting to interconnect those characters there. Wonder Woman and Batman meet for the first time in January. So, you have a place to go that’s really sort of individuated titles,” said Scott Snyder in an interview with Casually Comics.
Many new fans jumped into reading comics through the Absolute Universe. Sometimes referred to as the “Dog Man” generation of comic book readers, fans who grew up reading Dog Man by Dav Pilkey, finally had a new and exciting superhero series they could follow from the very beginning. Requiring no prior knowledge of the characters’ previous incarnations opened Batman up to an entirely new fanbase. Even more impressive is that those readers have continued sticking around for each new release in the Absolute Universe.
After the breakout success of Absolute Batman, the single title evolved into an entire universe. As it expanded, DC brought in fan-favorite and award-winning creators like Jeff Lemire and Kelly Thompson. The survey is a fantastic sign for fans, as publishers rarely ask for feedback in this way. Many fans speculate that the survey could mean there are plans to expand the universe even further.
What is next for the Absolute Universe, hats or shirts? Will DC be launching more comics? Are animated features from The Absolute Universe on the horizon from Warner Bros. animation? Which character will be the next to join the universe? Will new characters be created specifically for The Absolute Universe?
One thing is for sure, the Absolute Universe continues to change the landscape of modern comics.
Comics in the Absolute Universe can be purchased wherever comics are sold.
English (US) · 