AsDC Comicsfans everywhere have noticed, the Absolute Universe is a major success. Last fall, DC Comics beganits ambitious All In initiativeand a huge part of that was the new Absolute line of comics featuring brand-new takes on classic DC characters.
Set in aworld shaped by Darkseid, the Absolute Universe is a challenging realm where DC’s heroes face greater obstacles than ever. So far, the line has been limited to three books, though the line is about to double in size. Now one pivotal player responsiblefor the Absolute lineis taking the time to reflect on what he credits for books' successes.
Scott Snyder Thinks Fans Appreciate Easy Jumping-On Points
This is a Moment That Invites Fans of All Stripes
They are moments in comics where you can come in and you can read a bunch of books and that stand for something that have the same ethos, even if they’re very different books. You can get in on the ground floor of something that you can actually wrap your head around and read all of.
Snyder discusses the energy that comes with easy entry points like the Absolute and Ultimate lines of comics. He also dives into the differences between the two, highlighting how Marvel’s approach has made it so that fans can pick up any book and jump over to another to get a better sense of the new Marvel world. But with the Absolute line, Snyder emphasizes how he and his collaborators are building a brand-new universe from the ground up andgiving DC Universe fans the chance to watch something develop in real time.
So it’s not just that the characters are reinvented. It’s that you are there at the ground level floor of something that spans multiple comic books…
At the same time, Snyder also downplays the idea of rebooting, renumbering, and relaunching, saying these things aren’t necessary to create new jumping-on points to make things accessible or entertaining for fans. Ultimately, it’s about creating big opportunities to invite fans in and give them something fresh and exciting. Snyder also says thatthis isn’t limited to just the Absolute or Ultimate universes and that even the mainline DC and Marvel continuities can do thisand get readers pumped about engaging with new books.
Snyder’s Not Wrong, The Absolute Line Has Been Absolute-ly Crushing It
Sales Prove Fans Are Responding to DC and Marvel’s Accessible Points
Last year, when DC’s summer eventAbsolute Powerwas still in full-swing, the publisher made a big splash when it revealed its plans for DC All In, a line-wide initiative for the brand. Not only was the main line of titles hyped up with new series, new directions, and new creative teams, but DC made the shocking announcement that it was introducing the Absolute Universe, a new world populated with bold, new takes on classic DC heroes. It took fans a few months,but the Absolute Universe finally made its official debut last fall.
Fans can see the birth of the Absolute Universe in theDC All In Special!
Darkseid’s body was destroyed in a confrontation with the Justice League and the massive amount of energy in his body was dispersed through the cosmos, largely settling on Earth-Alpha, a new world which had just begun to shape after the events ofDark Nights: Death Metal. Darkseid’s energy influenced and corrupted this world, creating a universe where hope was fleeting and adversity was the guiding principle.Familiar DC heroes began to emerge, but they lacked many things that their Prime Universe counterparts relied on.
…sales went through the roof for these titles, with each one’s debut issue having hundreds of thousands of pre-orders.
The Absolute Universe has been explored inAbsolute Batman,Absolute Superman, andAbsolute Wonder Woman, each of which showcases how broken and corrupted this world is. Before the titles even debuted, sales went through the roof for these titles, with each one’s debut issue having hundreds of thousands of pre-orders. And the energy hasn’t waned yet, asthese titles have consistently been some of the best-selling DC Comics books in the last several months, rivaling some of Marvel’s best output with its new Ultimate line, likeUltimate Spider-ManandUltimate Wolverine.
DC Needs to Keep Making This Universe Accessible and Reader-Friendly
It’s an invitation to something new for both seasoned readers and brand-new fans.
So why is the Absolute Universe working where something like the New 52 was a bust? For one, the New 52 wasn’t planned out as meticulously as Snyder and his fellow creatives are currently working on the Absolute Universe. But it’s deeper than that.The Absolute Universe is an optional read that exists alongside the Prime DC Universethat doesn’t demand they know a couple of years' worth of DC history to keep up and enjoy the series. It’s an invitation to something new for both seasoned readers and brand-new fans.
Every fan wants an exciting story, and they want to be able to dive in right away and experience the magic. The Absolute Universe has been succeeding because it does these things and more. Snyder recognized that making spaces for fans to jump in is the best way to succeed. It worked for the first batch of Absolute titles, and it appears to be working for the next. IfDC Comicskeeps this up, the Absolute Universe is very likely going to enjoy success for a very long time.
