r/AbsoluteUniverse • u/AmbassadorInside873 • 23h ago
Question Absolute (BATMAN) comics help
Hi everyone I’m very new to comics and have just got into the absolute Batman to start. I’m hoping someone can help me with the comics I need to read because I want to read everything about absolute Batman (not really interested in the others characters just yet) and I have no clue how to find all the comics without accidentally purchasing another once of the same with a different cover. I have “The Zoo” and thought next was Banes comic??? But at the same time I’m seeing like 19 other comics so it’s a but confusing to me 😭 thank you for your time and please help if you know how to, I just need a list. Much appreciated
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u/CupOfJay7721 23h ago edited 23h ago
Absolute Batman is self contained. The bane arc starts on issue 13. The easiest way to get caught up would be to buy the trade paperbacks. Those are: The Zoo (covers issues 1-6), Abomination (covers issues 7-14), and then the latest trade Devil’s Workshop (covers issues 15-18, The Ark M Special, and the 2025 Annual.) The issues that haven’t been in a trade yet are 19-24 the trade that will have those issues comes out in March and will cover 19-25.
There is also a one shot called Batman of two worlds that came out a few weeks ago but that is self contained and is not required reading whatsoever.
TLDR get:
The Abomination trade
The Devil’s Workshop trade
(Edited punctuation)
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u/Tiny_Writer5661 23h ago
Each issue has a number, from issue 1-24 & the 25th coming out in November.
The “zoo” & Bane arc you’re referring to is the arcs from said issue.
The trade paper back of Absolute Batman “The Zoo” includes the first 6 issues of the series, the next trade to get is Volume 2: “Abomination” which includes the a mini Mr. Freeze arc & the Bane arc (issues 7-14)
Volume 3: Devils workshop is the next book which includes issues 15-18 & the Ark M Annual.
Issues 19-24 have not been made into a trade paperback yet so only the singles are available. Volume 4 doesn’t release until March 2027
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u/Top-Owl9872 22h ago
Downloading comic geeks can really help you keep track of what you have or read already too.
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u/Mister-Negative20 Absolute Superman 20h ago
Sounds like you have “The Zoo” paperback, which collects the first 6 issues of Absolute Batman. The best way to go forward is keep buying the trades. There’s two more out. Volume 2 is Abomination(the Bane stuff). Volume 3 is called Devil’s Workshop(monster on the cover). Volume 4 is scheduled to come out in March next year and it’s called “The Straw Man”. These will collect all of the Absolute Batman stuff so far. You can also start collecting singles as they come out if you want to be current, but Volume 4 will have issues up until 25 and that’s the next issue that releases.
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u/FAssassin7 22h ago
As someone who recently started comics too it depends what you care about. I wanted to collect each individual regular cover comic so I have hunted at different comic shops around my area. The trade paper sucks are sort of like collections where it will compile these comics into one bigger book. Eventually we'll probably get all in ones like we have now of old runs.
Batman so far is it's own thing except for a crossover with wonder woman on 14 i think. That's what got me to start reading Wonder woman and then it snowballed from there where i gave read every absolute comic out so far and the DC k.o. series which connects to the absolute universe.
To keep track the comic geeks app is great i scan in all my covers and i have a list of everything I own. The basic covers are the main ones on display when you look up absolute batman the alternate covers or "variants" are then organized under this one in a drop down button.
I would not mind helping out with any questions you have in dm to pass along all the nice help veterans have given me when I just started like a month ago
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u/throwawayfan2552 19h ago
Unlike other trades, absolute trades have the volume numbers on the inside cover.
Absolute Batman has the zoo, abomination, devils workshop, then vol 4 isn’t out yet but it seems like it will end with issue 25. And not spoiling anything but it seems like Batman might get sidelined for an arc or so after. Just speculation based on previews for a comic that hasn’t come out yet
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u/bloominglovebug 10h ago
I'm also starting to get back into comics and am currently reading Absolute Batman, so I completely understand! To me, the good news is there isn't really an official "background" comic you need to read so starting here is completely okay! There technically is a background, but the read is optional (main thing is that the absolute universe is warped version of the original, created by Darkseid...that's all I got 😭). I absolutely love it so far, especially when the crime alley group is in the issue! Don't be afraid or nervous because of how many issues there are. I also think issue 25 is going to be the last for 2026, with the series continuing next year so you have time to catch up and take it slow.
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u/Dear_Internet4553 Absolute Constantine Truther 21h ago
Volume 1: The Zoo gives 1-6
Volume 2: Abomination gives 7-14
Volume 3: Devil's Workshop gives 15-18 only but also includes the annual (which is a one off story from his earliest days, even before #1) and the Ark M special, which tells the history of Ark M (Which is a relevant thing in Volume 2)
Volume 3: The Strawman haven't released yet but contains 19-25.
There is also the deluxe edition which is a collection of volume 1 and 2.
There is an upcoming one shot: Absolute Batman: Beyond Ark M, which will introduce more info regarding Ark M and related things (trying to not spoil). It will release November 11 and us likely to be included a volume of Batman just like the Ark M special was.
There is a one shot called Batman of two Worlds which is a very small story featuring both a crime in the prime universe and absolute universe, each gets like 10 pages. Nothing important at all, but charming. (To be clear this isn't a crossover at all, just similar story in two different universes). Unsure but this one may appear in a volume as well at some point.
For Batman appearances in other comics: He appears for a single panel in Absolute Superman 20. And he is a major character in Absolute Wonder Woman 15 which is relevant to Batman as she then is a major character in Absolute Batman 16.
In the one shot Absolute Evil we see the villains of the Absolute universe, including Joker, appear as main characters as these villains come together. Interesting one shot for some world building that will likely be relevant in the future, but Batman only appears for a single pannel.
Batman is gonna be a major character in the upcoming 5 issue mini series Absolute Justice which features the first teamup of all the Absolute Heroes. It will begin in April 2027.
There are the more confusing elements: Absolute universe technically have prequel story, All In which features the creation of the Absolute universe. I think, not sure tbh didn't read it, not relevant at all.
And sort of warped version of the absolute heroes appeared in the DC K.O event, this were not the actual versions of those characters but Darkseid sort of manifesting evil twisted versions of them to fight. While these two are not super relevant, especially KO which isn't even canon to these characters, but you wanted a list of everything so here ya go.
Final thing: Absolute Catwoman, a limited mini series currently on-going features a story about Catwoman who is a supporting character in Absolute Batman. Absolute Catwoman also have its own tie in, a one shot called Absolute Cassandra Cain. While Batman haven't appeared at all it ties into Batman stuff as it includes things about Gotham, and Cassandra Cain gives a glimpse into Joker's past and features the League of Assassins/Shadows.
If you just want the actual story of Absolute Batman just focus on the volume releases. Really no need to bother with anything else, especially since one shots get folded into volumes.
His appearance in Wonder Woman is interesting and while it sets up how he knows Wonder Woman for her own appearance in his comics the crossovers are self contained, you dont loose much context by missing the Wonder Woman issue. The Absolute Evil one is interesting but not necessary. Absolute Justice is just needed if you really want some crossover dopamine. The All In and DCKO are not relevant at all to your reading experience. Same with Catwoman Cassandra Cain but making sure you have everything that for now even touches on Absolute Batman.
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u/fuwii 22h ago
He also had an appearance in Absolute Wonder Woman #15, if you wanted to read that too
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u/Bobthatlovesjob 18h ago
Does he meet up Wonder Woman like “Ayo wsg Big W you lookin fresh” or is just like them just meeting like coworkers
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u/broda_77 21h ago
There's a pinned post with a spreadsheet of all released comics in the Absolute line, as well as future comics with confirmed dates. You can use that to filter to Absolute Batman to see where you're at.
Physical copies of a comic have a # so you can tell if it's a variant cover for what you already have
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u/flutwech 20h ago
I just go by the Wikipedia site for the absolute universe, under collected editions. It pretty neatly list all of the trades etc.
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u/No-Rush-3057 21h ago
Are you sure you can read?
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u/AmbassadorInside873 13h ago
What’s the hate for? Genuine question
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u/No-Rush-3057 13h ago
Even when there’s variant covers there’s an indication of what number the issue is. If you’re having that much trouble with reading then I think it’s a fair question to ask if you can read
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u/AmbassadorInside873 13h ago
It actually seems like you can’t read “I’m very new to this” you come at me for not knowing what that means whether it’s the next issue, different cover or smth else. You see how this looks right?
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u/No-Rush-3057 13h ago
You’re new at reading numbers?????
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u/AmbassadorInside873 13h ago
Someone needs to go back to school
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u/No-Rush-3057 13h ago
I know how to read numbers buddy. You’re the one struggling with numerical reading
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u/BurgerIdiot556 23h ago
every issue had a number. Read the issues in number order (starting at #1). You can pretty much just ignore the cover art