DC is going back to press with the Absolute periodical comics, which they have continued to keep in print even as the first trades hit the charts and sold out. Newly reprinted issues of Absolute Batman #1-14, Absolute Wonder Woman #1-11, and Absolute Superman #1-10 will be available on March 4, 2026, and Absolute Flash #1-5, Absolute Green Lantern #1-4, and Absolute Martian Manhunter #1-6 on March 18. This comes as the new printing of first volumes of the Absolute trades and a new round of second volumes arrive in stores.
The Absolute Universe was launched in October 2024 (see “DC to Launch ‘Absolute Universe’”), and sales of the Absolute comics were key to DC’s growth in 2025 (see “DC Gains Market Share in Hot Summer”) as well as to the growth of the comics market as a whole; comic sales grew faster in 2025 than graphic novel sales, reversing a longtime trend. At the same time, Vol. 1 of Absolute Batman was the top selling graphic novel of the year through ComicHub, and four more Absolute trades made the top 20 as well (see “Top 20 Graphic Novels – Full Year 2025”). “The Absolute pocket universe is blowing up and driving sales, and the fact that the comics have remained in print over a long period of time allows them to continue to sell in this format, even though the graphic novels are also killing it,” ICv2 CEO Milton Griepp said at the ComicsPRO Sneak Peek event on February 5 (see “ICv2 White Paper”).
Source: ICv2
