You walk into the comic shop and see it instantly: absolute chaos, palpable energy, racks selling out of Anniversary covers and Variant foils before the doors close. It’s October 2025, and DC’s Absolute Universe has hit its one-year milestone—with a knockout slate and storytelling spectacle that fans and speculators won’t forget. Let’s dig deep into why this event broke out, which issues matter, and why the future of DC—and maybe comics—is being rewritten before our eyes.
The One-Year Blowout: What Makes October 2025 Historic?
In a landscape where event fatigue is real and Marvel’s Ultimate Universe heads for closure, DC’s Absolute just became the dominant force. The highlights? Absolute Evil #1 (the line’s first crossover), Absolute Batman 2025 Annual, the debut of Absolute Catwoman, and a sprawling Batman vs Bane arc with Snyder and Dragotta on top form.
Fans are lining up for seven major releases in 31 days, two oversized one-shots, and fan-favorite creators like Al Ewing, Daniel Warren Johnson, and Giuseppe Camuncoli bringing their A-game. Variant covers are sky-high. The Absolute Universe is not cooling off—it’s growing by the week.
DC Absolute Universe October 2025 Milestone Releases
Must-Own Issues: Quick Reference Table
| Title | Creative Team | Date | Major Hook/First Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute Evil #1 | Al Ewing/G. Camuncoli/S. Nesi | Oct 1, 2025 | Unified villains, new Legion of Doom, 2 new debuts |
| Absolute Batman 2025 Annual #1 | D. Warren Johnson/J. Harren/M. McClaren | Oct 29, 2025 | Batman’s origin, Batmobile, Black Mask, formative days |
| Absolute Batman #13 | S. Snyder/N. Dragotta | Oct 8, 2025 | Catwoman joins, Bane arc climaxes |
| Absolute Catwoman #1 | S. Tynion/V. Rodriguez | Oct 15, 2025 | Catwoman solo launch, first Absolute appearance |
| Absolute Superman #9 | T. Taylor/C. Hamner | Oct 22, 2025 | Legacy Superman, supervillain showdown |
| Absolute Justice #12 | J. Williamson/M. Janin | Oct 15, 2025 | Flashpoint echoes, new villain, big status change |
| Absolute K.O. #1 (DC Knock Out) | S. Snyder/J. Williamson/M. Waid | Oct 29, 2025 | Crossover: Batman vs Darkseid, hero tournament |
How DC Won the Sales War: Print Runs and Collector Fervor
While Marvel’s Ultimate Universe fizzles out, DC’s Absolute print runs are historic—”Absolute Evil #1″ and “Absolute Batman Annual” each expected to break 200k in just initial shipments. Check the highest-priority collector picks (October 2025):
Estimated Print Runs for Absolute Universe October 2025 Key Issues
- Absolute Evil #1: 236,000 (foil/variant covers spike)
- Batman Annual: 218,000 (Batmobile origin variant)
- Catwoman #1: 173,000 (first appearance heat)
The consensus among retailers: DC Absolute is outselling and out-pre-ordering Marvel, and fans/prospectors alike are scrambling for early issues.
What Stories Shaped the Month? Editorial Breakdown
It’s not just Batman. As seen in the pie chart below, DC prioritized villain events (Absolute Evil), Batman myth-building (Annual/Bane arc), Superman legacy, and “Big Debuts” including Absolute Catwoman.
Absolute Universe October 2025: Story Focus by Segment
- Villains United (Absolute Evil #1): Ra’s al Ghul, Joker, Veronica Cale, and Hector Hammond form a new Legion of Doom—working together for the first time, but threatened by betrayal from within.
- Batman’s Early Days: Snyder & Dragotta climax their Bane arc, Catwoman joins, and Daniel Warren Johnson’s Annual explores formative Batmobile action.
- Superman’s Growing Legacy: Tom Taylor and Cully Hamner gear up for a villain-dominated showdown that tests Clark’s ideals and power.
- Debuts: Catwoman and knockout crossover fighters get spotlight intros in Absolute Catwoman #1 and DC Knock Out.
Year-Over-Year: Absolute Universe Sales Growth
DC’s gamble has paid off. From launch to the present, Absolute Universe sales chart a line of continuous ascent—defying industry trends. Take a look:
One Year of Growth: Absolute Universe Average Sales (Oct 2024 – Oct 2025)
Absolute vs Marvel: Who’s Really Winning?
October 2025 marks a changing of the guard: DC Absolute issues now outsell their Marvel Ultimate counterparts by 41% on average, and collector forums are abuzz about DC’s sales momentum, with shop owners reporting “record sellout weeks.” Here’s the data:
October 2025: DC Absolute vs Marvel Ultimate – Avg Monthly Sales Per Issue
Collector’s Table: Hot Picks for October 2025
Absolute Universe 1-Year: Collector’s Hot Picks for October 2025
Reader Spotlight: What Fans Are Saying Now
- “Catwoman’s debut floored me. Her intro was the most electrifying moment of the DC year.” (Reddit)
- “Snyder and Dragotta lit a fire with Batman vs Bane. You can feel the tension, every page.” (Comic Book Roundup)
- “Absolute Evil #1 just became my favorite villain event since Death of Superman. Ra’s/Joker/Cale all together is nuts.” (AIPT Comics)
- “Marvel can’t compete with this variety—DC is owning October.” (Twitter/Threads)
Why This Isn’t Just Numbers—A New DC Era Begins
You’re seeing it in shops, online forums, and now sales: one year in, Absolute Universe proved what fresh myth-making and bold editorial can do. Batman/Catwoman, supervillain alliances, collector fever, and hero tournaments spell an era of dominance for DC just as Marvel’s own world resets.
Every bit of the data—print runs, sales, fan buzz—show that October 2025 is DC’s moment. If you want to collect, speculate, or just fall in love with comics again, the Absolute Universe is the place to be now.
Key Takeaways
- Absolute Universe’s first year sets new records for DC, with October 2025 marking peak sales and viral fandom energy.
- “Absolute Evil #1”, Batman Annual, and Catwoman #1 are must-own issues for both collectors and fans.
- DC’s risk paid off: Absolute Universe issues are outselling Marvel’s Ultimate by 41% on average as of this month.
- Editorially, villains, myth-building, legacy, and debuts drove story growth and fan excitement.
- If you missed any October launches, demand is still spiking on the secondary market—grab your hot picks now.