New to Absolute Batman? Start at #1. No prior reading needed. You don’t need All-In, Absolute Power or any other comic first. Read the monthly from #1, or grab Vol. 1: The Zoo (#1–6). The full reading order and which trade has which issues are right below.
Updated through Absolute Batman #25. Updated: October 29, 2026.
Scott Snyder • Nick Dragotta (and guests) • DC Absolute Universe
Is Absolute Batman ending? No, it’s a gap between issues
No. #25 closes The Straw Man arc, and the monthly picks back up with #26 in January. Snyder has said the December break was planned with DC. It’s a pause, not a cancellation.
What comes after #25
| Book | When | Do I need it? |
|---|---|---|
| Absolute Batman: Beyond Ark-M #1 (one-shot follow-up to the Ark M Special) | Delayed to December 2026 | Likely not. Additional information around the Ark operations. |
| Absolute Batman #26 (guest artist Cliff Chiang) | January 2027 | Yes, the monthly continues |
| Absolute Batman #27 (Dragotta expected back) | February 2027 (expected, not solicited yet) | Yes |
| Vol. 4: The Straw Man (#19–25) | March 2027 | If you read in trades |
Is Absolute Batman on hiatus?
Not really. There’s no main issue in December. It’s a planned gap between #25 and #26, not a hiatus. Beyond Ark-M fills December.
When does Absolute Batman come back?
#26 is out in January 2027. Dates move, so check the “Updated” date at the top of this page.
Reading order (one list)
Read the monthly issues in order. Slot the extras here:
- #1–6 — The Zoo
- #7–14 — Abomination
- Absolute Evil #1 — not required, strongly recommended. After Abomination, before the Annual, before #15 and Ark M. It’s the big-villain one-shot: context for the whole Absolute Universe, a look at this Joker, and it sets up Absolute Green Arrow.
- 2025 Annual — not required. Best after #14. Earliest I’d go is just before #13. Later is fine; it just won’t feel as tied to what you’re reading.
- #15
- Ark M — not strictly required, very strongly recommended – best after #15
- Absolute Wonder Woman #15 — not required. It’s part 1 of Batman #16 and provides minor context. First real crossover between the big Absolute characters.
- Absolute Batman #16–18
- Batman of Two Worlds (Batman Day 2026 one-shot) — not required. Two short stories, not a crossover. Fraction’s Batman and Snyder’s Absolute Batman sit on facing pages. Read it after you’ve got some Absolute Batman in — I think around #16 is when the world already makes sense (it came out between 23 and 24). Don’t start the run here. Review.
- #19–25 — The Straw Man. #25 closes the arc. Read my Absolute Batman #25 review.
That’s the whole map. If you only remember three extras: Evil after #14, Ark M after #15, Wonder Woman #15 before Batman #16.
The trades
| Trade | Collects |
|---|---|
| Vol. 1: The Zoo | #1–6 |
| Vol. 2: Abomination | #7–14 |
| Vol. 3: Devil’s Workshop | 2025 Annual + Ark M + #15–18 (hardcover listed Sep 8, 2026) |
| Vol. 4: The Straw Man | #19–25 (out March 2027) |
Vol. 3 does not include Absolute Evil or Wonder Woman #15. Those stay as singles (or Infinite) even if you’re trade-only. They would be collected in Absolute Green Lantern (Absolute Evil has the same author – Al Ewing) and Absolute Wonder Woman trades respectively.
Is Absolute Batman worth reading?
Yes. Pull it. It’s an incredible comic.
If you’re not collecting floppies and you can wait, get the trades or read it on DC Universe Infinite (the official DC comics app). Back issues show up as early as a month late, depending on the subscription tier.
Where should I start Absolute Batman?
Issue #1. Or Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo (#1–6).
I update this guide as new issues drop. Sign up below to get a heads-up when I do.
Don’t jump in at #24. You can piece things together after a few issues, and it gets clearer as you go — you’ll still miss a lot. If you love it, you’ll want the whole run anyway. Start at the front.
I reread #1 after the series was more than 20 issues in. It still holds.
If I only buy one Absolute Batman book, which one?
Vol. 1: The Zoo, which is #1 through #6. That is the arc, and it ends. A single issue does not. If the shop only has the monthly, buy #1. It is the same start, and you will be short the rest of the zoo.
I also track what these books are worth on my Nest Egg Index, updated monthly.
Do I need to read anything before Absolute Batman?
You don’t need other comics.
It does help to already know Batman. Pop-culture Batman is enough: the premise, a handful of villains, the usual faces. If you’ve never touched Batman at all, this is still a fine read — it might just be a weird first bite of the character. The more you know going in, the more you get out of it. A lot of the fun is seeing how this version of these people is different.
Do I need All-In or Absolute Power before Absolute Batman?
No. Skip both until you are curious. They add context if you have been reading modern DC. They can also confuse you if you have not — lots of characters, lots of table-setting.
Absolute Batman vs mainline Batman
This is a different universe running at the same time as the main books. The premise is simple: this world is built to make it harder for Bruce to be Batman.
You can read it with zero DC homework as long as that clicks. Knowing the regular cast deepens it. You don’t need the current Batman ongoing to follow this one.
If you can only add one Batman to the list right now, take Absolute. It’s well written even if you don’t know the mythos. You’ll just get less out of the remix than someone who does.
There is a minor tie-in with DC K.O. That doesn’t make this mainline continuity.
Trades vs singles vs DC Universe Infinite
Reading only: trades or DC Universe Infinite (the app). Cheapest way to stay close to current without a longbox. The highest DC Universe Infinite paid tier gets you comics a month after release.
Shop ritual: pull the monthly. Valid, and the only way to stay 100% up to date, but this is also how the variant pile starts.
Collecting: first prints of #1 (and others) are the grails. Later prints can still matter — homage covers, signed copies, etc all have huge value currently. I have a signed Jae Lee 8th print #1 from Heroes Con. That’s a me book. It’s not a first-print Cover A.
There are also a billion variants that have huge value as well – many have small print runs (shop exclusives etc).
If you want floppies just to read, later prints of the story are fine. There’s variant fatigue on this title. A lot of covers are cool. There are also just too many. Buy what you’d still want if the spec died tomorrow.
Issue reviews on this site
The Run So Far
#1 #12 #13 Ark M #16 #17 #18
#19 #20 #21 #22 #23 #24 #25
Batman of Two Worlds
Related: Absolute Evil #1 · Annual #1 · Absolute Wonder Woman #15 · Absolute Catwoman #1 (spin off)
There isn’t a public review for every issue. Zoo and early Abomination were before I posted like this. I’ve read them, but I’m not going to fake/force those writeups at the moment.
FAQ
Is Absolute Batman in main DC continuity?
No. It runs at the same time. Separate universe.
Is Absolute Batman good for beginners?
Yes — best if you have at least some general pop-culture Batman knowledge. No prior comics required. Zero Batman at all still works; you’ll miss some of the remix.
Do I need to read anything before Absolute Batman?
No. Start at #1. You don’t need All-In, Absolute Power or the current Batman ongoing. Knowing pop-culture Batman helps you get more out of it.
Is Absolute Batman worth reading?
Yes. Pull it. It’s one of the best running comics, and one of the top books I look forward to every month.
Do I have to read the Annual?
No.
Do I have to read Absolute Evil #1?
No. I would. After #14, before #15 / Ark M / the Annual.
Do I have to read Absolute Wonder Woman #15?
No. I would, right before Batman #16.
When should I read Ark M and the Annual?
Ark M: after #15. Not strictly required, very strongly recommended. The 2025 Annual: best after #14. Earliest I’d go is just before #13. Not required.
Is Absolute Batman too violent?
Darker and more physically brutal than a lot of modern Batman. If #1 feels like too much, the run does not soften.
Is Absolute Batman getting a show?
Yes. An adult animated series was announced in June 2026, with Snyder as showrunner and Dragotta as producer. It is in early development. Read the comic first. The show is not out, and this order is for the book.
Should I read this before the animated series?
The comic is the thing that exists. Start at #1 if the show announcement is what brought you here.
What’s in Vol. 3?
Annual + Ark M + #15–18. Not Absolute Evil. Not Wonder Woman #15.
What volume is Absolute Batman #24 or #25 in?
Vol. 4: The Straw Man, which collects #19–25. It’s out in March 2027. (Searching “Absolute Batman vol 24”? Issue #24 is in Vol. 4.)
Is there an Absolute Batman deluxe edition?
DC announced an Absolute Batman Vol. 1 Deluxe Edition (#1–14) for April 2027, but store orders were canceled in October 2026 and there’s no firm date right now. I’ll update this when DC sets a new one.
Do I have to read Batman of Two Worlds?
No. It’s a cheap Batman Day one-shot, not part of the monthly. Fine as a snapshot or promotional of how the two Batmen feel. Wait until around #16. It is not a good first Absolute Batman comic.
I’ll bump the “through #__” line when the next issue lands.
Already in? What issue pulled you? Tag me on X @NostalgicNestEg.
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Not already Reading Absolute Batman?!? Don’t Miss out on one of the greatest currently running comics!
Absolute Batman Vol 1 ‘The Zoo’ (1-6):
Absolute Batman Vol 2 ‘Abomination’ (7-14):
Absolute Batman Vol 3 ‘Devil’s Workshop’ (2025 Annual, Ark M, 15-18):
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