DC Comics has revealed Absolute Power, their latest major crossover event. Kicking off in July 2024, this new limited series will pit the heroes of the DCU against a triumphant Amanda Waller.
As announced at the ComicsPRO retailer convention, Absolute Power reunites the Batman/Superman: World's Finest creative team of writer Mark Waid and artist Dan Mora. The series builds on recent plot points in the DC Universe in books like Batman, Titans: Beast World and Action Comics. Absolute Power sees Waller finally make good on her threat to rid the world of metahumans. With help from Failsafe (Batman's rogue, anti-metahuman android) and the Brainiac Queen, Waller will steal the powers of every metahuman on Earth. It'll fall on Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman to rally their fellow heroes against this existential threat.
Readers will get an early taste of Absolute Power through the prologue issue 2024 Absolute Power Free Comic Book Day Special Edition, which features a 12-page preview story from Waid and artist Mikel Janin. From there, the standalone one-shot special Absolute Power: Ground Zero will bridge the gap between Action Comics and the main Absolute Power series.
Absolute Power #1 will be released on July 2, 2024.
DC made several other big announcements during their ComicsPro presentation. Beginning in November 2024, they'll be kicking off a new line of trade paperback collections called DC Finest. Similar to Marvel's Epic Collection line, these comprehensive graphic novels are organized around specific characters and storytelling eras. The initial lineup of DC Finest books will include:
- DC Finest – The Flash: The Human Thunderbolt (1956-1961)
- DC Finest – Batman: Year One & Two (1986-1987)
- DC Finest – Wonder Woman: Origins & Omens (2007-2009)
- DC Finest – Catwoman: Life Lines (1988-1994)
- DC Finest – Superman: The Coming of Superman (1938-1940)
DC also revealed the release dates for the previously announced revival of the DC Elseworlds line. Elseworlds kicks off with the release of Gotham by Gaslight: The Kryptonian Age #1 in June 2024. Here's the full lineup:
- June – Gotham by Gaslight: The Kryptonian Age #1, by Andy Diggle and Leandro Fernandez
- July – Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #1, by Jay Kristoff and Tirso Cons
- August – DC vs. Vampires: World War V #1, by Matthew Rosenberg and Otto Schmidt
- September – Batman the Barbarian #1, by Greg Smallwood
- October – Green Lantern Dark #1, by Tate Brombal and Werther Dell’Edera
- November – Batman: Nightfire #1, by Clay Mann
Finally, DC and Marvel have joined forces to release new collections of their various crossover series. Fans can look forward to two hardcover Omnibus collections - DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus. DC revealed a new direct market variant cover for the DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus drawn by Jim Lee and inked by Scott Williams.
DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus will be released in August 2024.
In other comic book news, Wolverine and Deadpool are about to start WWIII in the Marvel Universe, and Doctor Doom is taking on Galactus.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
