DC Absolute: Reviewing Batman, Wonder Woman, & Superman

Originally published March 17, 2026. This article covers the DC Absolute stories of Absolute Batman, Absolute Wonder Woman, and Absolute Superman.

In a world of universal truths and reality-ending stakes, what is absolute? Which parts of a character are the most absolute elements? After nearly a century of history for each character, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman have each been through a lot. But their stories are well-known. A wealthy orphan in a grimy city, a demigod princess from a far-off paradise, and an alien refugee fueled by a foreign sun. Beginnings make all the difference in the world.

Under the powerful influence of Darkseid, the Absolute Universe introduces alternate versions of DC’s most well-known heroes, villains, and infrastructures. The Absolute Universe is also known as Earth-Alpha. Everything in this alternate universe tests a hero’s limits and twists their origins into something familiar yet totally original. Heroes are the exception rather than the norm.

Let’s take a closer look at each of the main Absolute books for DC’s Trinity and how these stories redefine DC lore.

Absolute Batman Review

• First Issue Publication Date: October 9, 2024
• Writer/Artist: Scott Snyder/Nick Dragotta
• Collected Volumes: Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo, Absolute Batman Vol. 2: Abomination
• Best Quote: “If the rules aren’t fair … stop playing by them.”
• Main Differences from DCU Version: not wealthy, friends with Rogues Gallery, Martha Wayne is still alive, Alfred isn’t his butler

Without money, who would Batman be? Absolute Batman removes a, traditionally, vital part of Bruce Wayne: his family’s wealth. Instead, he has resources that DCU Batman never had — namely his mom, Martha Wayne, as well as deep friendships with Waylon Jones, Harvey Dent, Ozzie Cobblepott, Eddie Nygma, and Selina Kyle. That’s right. This Bruce Wayne grew up as friends with iconic members of his Rogues Gallery. Their ongoing poker game is even a fun nod to the Batman: The Animated Series episode “Almost Got ‘Im.”

Unfortunately, an even more brutish and conniving Bane transforms Bruce’s friends into grotesque Absolute versions of their villainous selves. Selina Kyle is the only to escape Bane’s reach, growing up into Catwoman all on her own. Only time will tell how Bruce’s former friends take to their new forms. Elsewhere in Gotham, Harley Quinn is the leader of the Red Hood Gang and The Joker owns JK Holdings. This enigmatic corporation means The Joker is the wealthy one in this universe. His most disturbing purchase? A suit made of baby corpses.

Currently, Batman is contending with the nefarious projects stemming from Ark M.

Absolute Wonder Woman Review

• First Issue Publication Date: October 9, 2024
• Writer/Artist: Kelly Thompson/Hayden Sherman
• Collected Volumes: Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Last Amazon, Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 2: As My Mothers Made Me
• Best Quote: “…I make my own doors.”
• Main Differences from DCU Version: raised by Circe in Hell, separated from Amazons, more violent divine weapons, sacrifices her arm

If Absolute Batman removes something from Batman lore, then Absolute Wonder Woman adds something to Diana’s pantheon. She doesn’t have the knowledge from growing up on Themyscira with her fellow Amazons but she does grow up in Hell with the exiled sorceress Circe. As a result, Wonder Woman relies on magic more than her superhuman abilities. Even her divine weapons are transformed. Rather than a Lasso of Truth, she wields the Nemesis Lasso, imbued with Prometheus’ blood and forged from the last basilisk. Its touch brings pain that’s proportionate to the victim’s sins. That’s gotta hurt pretty bad for the types of enemies Diana faces.

Because of her infernal upbringing, everything in Diana’s story is a bit darker. She uses arcane rituals, like sacrificing an arm to send Steve Trevor home. In battle, she even transforms into Medusa. But that’s not to say this isn’t the same Diana we all love. Her innate virtues shine through, gaining her the trust of close allies and allowing her to show mercy to enemies like Clea the Atlantean. At the same time, she also effortlessly puts an army commander in his place, establishing her authority with calm confidence.

Currently, Wonder Woman is dealing with a treacherous Zatanna and her Suicide Squad, as well as investigating a sigil of Hecate that popped up in Gotham City.

Absolute Superman Review

• First Issue Publication Date: November 6, 2024
• Writer/Artist: Jason Aaron/Rafa Sandoval
• Collected Volumes: Absolute Superman Vol. 1: Last Dust of Krypton, Absolute Batman Vol. 2: Son of the Demon
• Best Quote: “Some worlds simply cannot be saved.”
• Main Differences from DCU Version: uses a solar-powered sentient suit, main enemy is R’as al Ghul, does not work at the Daily Planet

Finally, there’s Absolute Superman. Of all three Absolute Trinity books, this Superman might be the most unrecognizable. Past the shaggier hair and the sentient red cape, he’s soft-spoken. He’s unsure of how to be a hero, lacking that innate sense of morality seen in DCU Kal-El. He doesn’t even like to be called Superman. And he’s full of anger. So much bitter anger.

Yet buried beneath all that there’s still a spark of Krypton’s last son — because he’s also Martha and Jon Kent’s son, Sol’s brother, even a friend to Smallville. Back on Krypton, that famous S stood for the working class, the people of steel who labored with their hands, just like his biological and adoptive parents. In fact, young Kal-El was punished in school for composing his own essay rather than relying on the generative text of the Science League’s archives. It’s eerily similar to the corruption that Kal-El encounters on Earth with the Lazarus Corp.

Speaking of Lazarus Corp, it’s a surprising twist that R’as al Ghul is Superman’s overarching enemy (in addition to Brainiac and the brutal Peacemaker police force). Absolute Kal-El’s journey to becoming a hero is not obvious like Diana or even Bruce. Despite his insistent isolation, there are glimmers of crimson hope. And more than anything, Superman is hope. Currently, Superman is facing the aftermath of the war on Kansas.

What are your opinions and favorite moments of DC’s Absolute books? Are you also reading Absolute Green Lantern, Absolute Flash, and Absolute Martian Mahunter?

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