To start reading DC's Absolute Universe, simply pick a hero and open issue #1 of their series. Readers who want the alternate reality's shared origin first can begin with DC All In Special #1, published in Brazil as DC Sem Limites Especial, before moving to Absolute Batman, Absolute Wonder Woman, Absolute Superman, or another title. There is no single mandatory master reading order requiring every comic in the line.
The project began in 2024 as part of DC's All In publishing initiative. It introduces a universe distinct from the publisher's main continuity, where familiar heroes face rewritten backgrounds and circumstances. The worlds are connected, but the most useful entry point depends on what each reader wants to discover.
Three reading routes based on your goal
| Your goal | Read first | What comes next |
|---|---|---|
| Understand the shared origin | DC All In Special #1 (titled DC Sem Limites Especial in Brazil) | Choose issue #1 of any Absolute series |
| Follow one favorite character | Absolute Batman #1, Absolute Wonder Woman #1, or another character's debut | Continue that title in issue order |
| Explore the entire line | The introductory special and the opening issues of the different series | Progress within each series and add specials when they interest you |
These are practical reading suggestions, not a single official chronology. The special adds big-picture context; going straight to an individual series keeps the focus on its protagonist.
Must you read DC All In or Absolute Power first?
DC All In is the publishing initiative encompassing both stories set in DC's core universe and the Absolute reinventions. DC All In Special #1, written by Joshua Williamson and Scott Snyder, went on sale in the United States on October 2, 2024. It establishes the creation of the Absolute Universe amid events involving Darkseid.
The special follows the Absolute Power storyline, known in Brazil as Poder Absoluto, but that does not make the entire preceding event required reading for anyone curious about this Batman or Diana. If you just want to see whether a hero's new interpretation works for you, their own issue #1 is the shortest route. If the cosmic link between the realities is what interests you, the special is the better first stop.
Which Absolute comic suits your tastes?
DC launched three core series first, then expanded the lineup in 2025. Each takes a different approach, and the creative credits below make the right debut easier to identify.
- Absolute Batman: Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta introduce a Bruce Wayne without his familiar wealth and resources. A fit for readers interested in urban action, violence, and Gotham's conflicts.
- Absolute Wonder Woman: Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman reinvent Diana without her traditional upbringing on Themyscira. This is a gateway to dark fantasy, magic, and mythology.
- Absolute Superman: Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval explore a Kal-El without the family structure and security usually associated with him. The story blends science fiction and social concerns.
- Absolute Flash: Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles place Wally West at the center of a more unstable take on life as a speedster.
- Absolute Green Lantern: Al Ewing and Jahnoy Lindsay move Green Lantern mythology into mystery and cosmic horror.
- Absolute Martian Manhunter: Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez favor psychological strangeness and experimental visual storytelling.
In 2026, DC also expanded the setting with the limited series Absolute Green Arrow and Absolute Catwoman. These are additional options, not prerequisites for the six starting points above. The line may continue to grow, and Brazilian publication order need not match the US schedule.
How to follow the line without turning reading into homework
- Choose a debut. Pick the character's issue #1 or the first collected edition containing their opening issues.
- Keep the series in order. Read #1, #2, #3, and onward within that title. This matters more than switching among every character each month.
- Expand when curious. When a theme, hero, or connection catches your attention, start another series at issue #1. Save specials and spin-offs for when their context becomes relevant.
If a particular release explicitly continues a different title, check that issue's editorial guidance. This targeted step is more useful than assuming each book requires everything published before it.
How can readers find the comics in Brazil?
Panini publishes Absolute Universe material in Brazil and maintains a catalog organized by collection. The origin special has its own Brazilian title, DC Sem Limites Especial, corresponding to DC All In Special #1. For other releases, compare the series title and original issue numbers collected in each Brazilian edition: a single issue and a collected volume can include different amounts of material.
Availability, reprints, and formats change. This guide provides a reading path, not a fixed stock schedule or an exhaustive list of publications. If all you want is to sample the Absolute Universe, one opening issue is already a valid starting point.
Sources and references
- DC: official DC All In hub
- DC: DC All In Special #1 issue page
- DC: Absolute Batman #1 issue page
- DC: Absolute Wonder Woman #1 issue page
- DC: Absolute Superman #1 issue page
- DC: Absolute Green Arrow and Absolute Catwoman announcement
- Panini Brazil: DC Sem Limites Especial
- Panini Brazil: Absolute Universe catalog
- Omelete: Brazilian guide to the Absolute Universe
