DC Comics launched new and outdated followers to his Absolute Universe in 2024 with Absolute Batman, Absolute Marvel Girland Absolute Superman. These collection have been an enormous success for DC thus far, and the writer continues to put money into the Absolute Universe with future collection like Absolute Martian Manhunter and Absolute Inexperienced Lantern. Nevertheless, the Absolute Universe shouldn't be a reboot of the DC Universe on the whole.
The Absolute Universe being a part of a separate continuity from the principle DC Universe is a refreshing change of tempo for the writer, as DC Comics is not any stranger to reboots. One of many writer's most notorious circumstances of reboots is the New 52, which is a reboot to the principle continuity set after the occasions of Flash level by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert.
Typically with a reboot there's a resetting of continuity in order that new readers can dive in with out worrying about previous tales or occasions. There may be nonetheless a threat with a reboot, because it might erase or alter years of canon, alienating longtime followers. The New 52 took that threat, however the Absolute Universe avoids this threat whereas providing a brand new universe for brand new followers.
What did DC Comics need to obtain with their New 52 reboot?
The New 52 wished to welcome a brand new era of DC comedian readers
As with most reboots, the intention of the New 52 was to supply new comedian guide readers with a transparent entry level into the medium and the superhero style. Nevertheless, DC didn't simply reset its comics for difficulty 1. As a substitute, the writer introduced its iconic characters - together with characters which have been round for many years - again to sq. one, giving them new origins. The New 52 was an excessive reboot, however DC didn't do it only for the sake of a reboot. In line with Dan DiDio, co-publisher of DC from 2010 to 2020, an enormous push with the New 52 was to diversify the tales DC instructed (through Polygon).
Once I appeared on the New 52, it wasn't nearly relaunching the books, it was additionally about diversifying the product and the characters. And it was all about diversification, earlier than “diversification” grew to become a buzzword.
Diversifying DC's narrative has meant transferring past conventional superhero fare. Together with new origins and in style characters, the New 52 featured comics exterior of the superhero style, akin to Males of Struggle and I, Vampire. Moreover, with 52 new titles, there was hope of growing sufficient partaking materials to be a monetary success, in order that the writer might take extra dangers sooner or later. Though these have been the intentions of the New 52, The reception of this reboot has not been universally optimistic. There have been some vivid spots, nevertheless, together with some New 52 titles that followers ought to nonetheless take a look at at the moment.
Was the New 52 successful for DC Comics?
The New 52 had best-selling comics, however its legacy isn't universally liked
There's no denying that the New 52 had an enduring influence on DC Comics, however its legacy isn't at all times remembered fondly. By redefining continuity from the start, DC rolled again many years of character improvementand a few characters, groups, and even franchises, like Wildstorm, have been erased or destroyed after Flash level.
Moreover, whereas there was a promise to diversify DC, most of the unique The New 52 comics took on a darker, edgier tonewhich influenced the path Zack Snyder took in his DCEU movies. This tonal shift, in addition to the need to vary characters, has even impacted character design, with some redesigns, like Starfire's, feeling extra regressive than progressive.
The New 52 additionally fulfilled the promise of delivering comics that could possibly be gateways for brand new readers.
Though there are complaints concerning the New 52, This season had its optimistic factors. Batman: Courtroom of Owlsfor instance, it grew to become a beloved Batman story that was reprinted as a DC Compact Comedian as a result of its foundational standing and an incredible introductory story for brand new readers. The New 52 additionally delivered on its promise to ship comics that could possibly be entry factors for brand new readers, with a number of of the New 52 collected editions being amongst DC's prime 100 best-selling commerce paperbacks (through Penguin Random House) and a number of other of the titles being New York Occasions greatest sellers.
The Absolute Universe welcomes new DC readers whereas sustaining continuity
The Absolute Universe sits alongside DC's foremost continuity with out sacrificing it
It's too early to match the legacy of the New 52 with the eventual legacy of DC's Absolute Universe, however each initiatives have related objectives however totally different approaches. DC's Absolute Universe, just like the New 52, reimagines the origin tales of DC's iconic heroes. Nevertheless, the place the New 52 rewrote these origins into the principle continuity, the Absolute Universe does this in its personal universe; due to this fact, the principle continuity can proceed as is. New readers can start their DC journey with no need to know something previous to the Absolute Universe, whereas older followers can observe the usual continuity, go for the Absolute Universe if they need, or take pleasure in each.
Which Absolute Universe titles ought to new followers take a look at? Attempt the primary wave: Absolute Batman by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta, Absolute Marvel Girl by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman, and Absolute Superman by Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval, all out there now from DC Comics.
The Absolute Universe is exploring darker tales, as a result of the Absolute Universe is canonically created by “Darkseid power.” In the meantime, the principle continuity can concentrate on the extra hopeful facet of the heroes. The place the New 52 wished a various tone of tales, most of the early New 52 comics felt related when it comes to tone however with the principle continuity of DC and its Absolute Universe readers even have quite a lot of tales to attract onbe it one thing extra optimistic or one thing darker.
Not even a 12 months into DC's Absolute Universe, and it's confirmed to be an enormous success, with Absolute Batman #1, the best-selling comedian of 2024. Moreover, DC Comics has claimed a brand new period of readers because of the Absolute Universe with its distinctive takes on in style characters. Together with this, it achieved what the New 52 aspired to with out discarding the principle continuity of the method. If the Absolute Universe serves as a reference, DC Comics is heading in the right direction greater than a decade after the beginning of the New 52.
A.D Absolute Universe comics can be found now, with extra to come back!
Sources: Polygon; Penguin Random House