DC’s Absolute Universe Has Lapped Marvel’s New Ultimate Universe (And It’s Not Even Close)

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Since launching in 2024, DC’s Absolute line has been surprisingly successful. After Marvel’s Ultimate Universe returned in 2023 with a villain-driven twist and became a huge hit, DC attempted something similar. They created Absolute Earth as a world controlled by a villain, hoping to recapture that success – a strategy that had previously failed for them. However, titles like *Absolute Batman*, *Absolute Superman*, and *Absolute Wonder Woman* not only sold incredibly well, but maintained strong sales over time. The line has continued to thrive with additions like *Absolute Flash*, *Absolute Green Lantern*, *Absolute Martian Manhunter*, and *Absolute Evil*, earning praise from both fans and critics and establishing itself as a lasting success.

While the newer Ultimate Universe line launched after the Absolute Universe, it hasn’t diminished the Absolute Universe’s success. In my opinion, the Absolute Universe has actually developed its characters more effectively. The Ultimate books are still good, but they’ve lost some of their initial polish – and weren’t flawless to begin with. The Absolute Universe, on the other hand, is demonstrating the potential of alternate universe storytelling and continues to improve. It’s now clearly surpassing the Ultimate line, and there are several reasons for this.

The Absolute DC Universe Understands the Assignment

The Ultimate Universe books aren’t poorly made – titles like *The Ultimates* and *Ultimate X-Men* are well-regarded for their fresh perspectives, and *Ultimate Spider-Man*, *Ultimate Black Panther*, and *Ultimate Wolverine* all have dedicated readers. However, the series never felt truly connected or consistent. It lacked a strong overarching narrative, a problem that became especially clear with *Ultimate Endgame*. While the story was supposed to be building towards a climax over two years, that sense of urgency wasn’t always present, as many of the individual books didn’t seem to be focused on it. The stories themselves are enjoyable, but as an alternate universe, it largely felt like standard Marvel event-driven storytelling.

The Absolute books offer a more engaging experience, largely because the first year focused on building a unique and complex world, distinct from the standard Marvel universe. Unlike the Ultimate books, which feel familiar, the Absolute series demonstrates a clear sense of long-term planning. While the Ultimate books are enjoyable, they don’t give the impression that the creators are collaborating effectively. The Absolute books, however, feel cohesive, as if the creators are actively working together – and they’ve even publicly shared that they are – to create a unified and compelling story.

The Absolute series explores a universe where evil is the primary power, and this is particularly well-executed in *Absolute Evil* #1. Fans were eager to see the Justice League appear in this universe, wondering which heroes would be included. The surprise? It’s the villains who *are* the Justice League. This is because the Absolute Universe is fundamentally built around Darkseid, making the villains the natural heroes of that world.

This approach effectively sets up the world the story takes place in. In this universe, evil has always triumphed, meaning the Justice League isn’t a traditional heroic force – they’re more like a force for good as seen in the Absolute Universe stories. A common thread throughout the Absolute books is that the heroes aren’t who we typically think of as ‘the good guys.’ This universe is more successful than the Ultimate Universe because the creators are cleverly using the setting to surprise and challenge readers’ assumptions.

DC Has Always Been Better at Alternate Universes

DC Comics has a long history of exploring alternate universes, and its current ‘Absolute’ line is a prime example. While clearly inspired by Marvel’s ‘Ultimate’ universe, ‘Absolute’ has so far improved upon those ideas, drawing on DC’s rich past to create compelling stories. The creative team behind ‘Absolute’ seems to be working in perfect harmony, resulting in a level of excitement that’s been missing from the ‘Ultimate’ books lately. This has propelled DC to the top of the comic book sales charts.

While the Ultimate Universe isn’t poorly written, each story feels self-contained rather than contributing to a larger narrative. It’s a bit jarring, then, to have an event book that hasn’t been properly set up. In contrast, the Absolute Universe has been carefully crafting a cohesive storyline, creating a world that stands on its own and isn’t simply a reflection of the main universe. It utilizes its villain-controlled setting much more effectively, and the result is a truly enjoyable reading experience.

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2025-10-07 15:41