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Marvel and DC have both had recent successes with their alt-reality Ultimate Universe and Absolute Universe lines, and Absolute Batman writer Scott Snyder, who is one of the architects of the Absolute Universe, points to each line's similar approach as the hallmark of why they've done so well. 

Specifically, Snyder says that both the Ultimate Universe and Absolute Universe have taken strides to cast their beloved characters in a new light that reflects the current state of reality and the various anxieties and hopes of the modern world.

"I think they're doing a lot of the same things in the way that they're both attempts to reinvigorate fans about how these characters can feel even more relatable, even more heroic, even more immediate and urgent," Snyder tells YouTuber Charli Romero in an interview at La Mole 2026. "We take different paths, but I think it's all the same kind of project. It's about, how do we make these characters even more exciting for existing fans and new fans."

In terms of the Absolute Universe, the line exists with a specific mission statement about how its new twists on DC characters are devised. The Absolute Universe has been described as being infused with "Darkseid Energy," giving it a more tragic and gritty setting in which Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and more are subjected to the brutal nature of their reality with a heightened level of violence and dire villainy.

Here's an update to date guide on the Absolute Batman release schedule.

Unlike the Absolute Universe, which has no plans to slow down at any point, Marvel's latest incarnation of its Ultimate Universe recently wrapped, with elements of its overarching story soon finding their way into Marvel's mainstream reality.

Snyder's Absolute Batman is the flagship title of the Absolute line, focusing on a version of Bruce Wayne who is not rich but a civil engineer using his knowhow and his brute strength instead of his usual array of expensive, high-tech gadgets. Similarly, Superman is depicted as a refugee from Krypton who uses his powers to help those who are preyed upon by destructive corporate interests, while Wonder Woman is a compassionate warrior witch who was raised in Hades rather than Themiscyra and protects humanity from the gods.

Both lines have garnered praise from critics and fans alike for leaning into lesser-seen sides of popular characters while taking care to tell good stories that feel true to their original source material while also innovating. DC's Absolute line in particular has become a huge financial success for the publisher which continues to provide dividends across DC's entire oeuvre.

Interested? Here's where to find your closest local comic store, courtesy of Sweet, and here's a guide to how (and where) to read comics online. If you're looking for the best comics in recent memory, check out the Eisner Awards winners and the Harvey Awards nominees. And if you like free comics, here's everything we know about Free Comic Book Day 2027.