After numerous leaks and rumors, Absolute DC is finally here. In a streamed YouTube conversation today, writers Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson officially announced the new line, which will kick off as part of the “DC All In” initiative launching with the oversized, October-shipping DC All In Special one-shot.
Snyder described All In and Absolute DC as as one they’ve been working on for a number of years, and clarified that this is an initiative and not an event. Williamson said the goal of the project is to introduce new elements to the DC Universe while also elevating existing characters and concepts.
October will see every DC title begin a new storyline or arc, as well as the launch of some new titles. “The idea is to create the greatest jumping on point for you guys in many, many years,” Snyder said. He also clarified a number of times that this one-shot and initiative is neither a reboot nor a retcon.
Williamson and Snyder are co-writing the DC All In one-shot, which will be a flipbook with art by Daniel Sampere and Wes Craig. Sampere’s side of the issue will focus on the current DCU in the wake of the Absolute Power event, while the other side illustrated by Craig will tell the story from Darkseid’s point of view. Snyder said the goal is to reintroduce Darkseid as the greatest evil in the DCU, and that the story will also introduce a new Justice League to the DCU.
Darkseid discovers something is missing in the DC Universe, Snyder said, which sends him on a quest to find whatever that is. That quest will result in the creation of the Absolute Universe, “a dangerous new planet” featuring reimagined DCU characters.
Williamson added that, “Even though we have these two worlds, we’re telling one big meta story.”
Describing the Absolute Universe, Snyder described the main difference between it and the main DCU. “Without giving too much away,” Snyder said, “If the main universe is predicated on Superman energy, in this universe, it’s kind of founded on Darkseid energy.” Snyder added that the heroes of the Absolute Universe will come up in ways that make them underdogs.
As for books that Snyder and Williamson are working on themselves, Snyder will be joined by artist Nick Dragotta on Absolute Batman. Teaser images for Absolute Superman and Wonder Woman were also shown, though no creative teams were mentioned for those books despite having been previously leaked. Gotta some some stuff for SDCC.
In the mainline DC Universe, Williamson will remain on the main Superman series, joined on art by Batman/Superman: World’s Finest artist Dan Mora. Future stories in the series will introduce a new Superwoman, and as teased at the end of “House of Brainiac” will feature the return of Doomsday.
“Let’s all take our biggest swing together at one moment.” Snyder said, describing the title as referring to the creators being “all in” on this moment in the DCU.
Incentives for retailers and readers will be announced at next week’s San Diego Comic Con, so look for a lot more on DC All In and Absolute DC then.
I always appreciate a Batman whose biceps are bigger than his head. This looks dreadful.
“The idea is to create the greatest jumping on point for you guys in many, many years” Awesome. Sounds great. No need to reinvent the wheel, just make things accessible.
“the Absolute Universe, “a dangerous new planet” featuring reimagined DCU characters” Ugh. The worst. You might as well bring back Stan Lee Imagines. Watch things spiral out of control in 6 months.
I’m sure some of the Absolute characters will be popular and others not. I have no problem with Nick Dragotta’s stylized Batman art. He’s doing cartooning — he’s not Alex Ross, and that’s fine. I doubt Frank Miller’s or Rob Liefeld’s art would have ever been popular if they had tried to draw like Gary Frank. When I was a kid, Batman readers complained about Frank Robbins’ wild art, but I actually preferred it over Irv Novick’s rather pedestrian stories.
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