DC Comics is gearing up to introduce fans to the new Absolute Universe and its new All In era, starting with DC All In Special #1. This one-shot will show the birth of the Absolute Universe and everything fans will need to know about it. It's certain to be an amazing read that fans should not miss out on, and it's made all the more exciting by writer Scott Snyder's statement that this book is a fusion of the New 52 and Rebirth DC eras.
In a recent roundtable interview attended by ScreenRant, Snyder spilled details about the Absolute Universe, DC All In, and what fans can expect from all the changes. One of the most interesting parts of the DC All In Special #1 by Snyder, Joshua Williamson, Wes Craig, Daniel Sampere, and Dan Mora is that it can be read from back to front, with the major confrontation being in the center. Yes, DC All In Special #1 is a flip-book.
This format means that if fans read the book from the front to the middle, it'll be all about the Justice League, but if the book is read from the back to the middle, it'll be from the point of view of Darkseid and his group.
DC All In and the Absolute Universe Are the Best of Both DC Worlds
Combining the Best Aspects of the New 52 and Rebirth
Snyder has revealed that the theme of each side of the book is very similar to DC's Rebirth and New 52 eras - and one will lead to the DC All In soft relaunches in the main line, much like Rebirth, and the other will lead to the Absolute Universe, a completely new world not unlike the New 52's hard reset. As Snyder himself says, when recollecting the ideas behind both All In and the Absolute Universe:
...we do a kind of Rebirth in the main line, and then New 52 in the Absolute line, where you could really reinvent the characters in radical ways that were personal to you, and you felt made them even more exciting.
Considering how dark the Absolute Universe will be, it makes perfect sense to combine these two eras into a brilliant new one-shot and DC's forthcoming new initiatives. With how the comic is set up, readers can also take their preferred theme into the climax of the book. Readers who prefer Rebirth can read the Justice League side, and New 52 lovers can read the Darkseid half - but they both build to one massive story that will lead to major components of both the new Absolute line and the new and ongoing books that will be part of the main universe's DC All In initiative.
Batman's Scott Snyder Just Convinced Me DC's All In Initiative Is Its Best Idea in Decades
Scott Snyder discussed how DC's All In initiative will celebrate superheroes by returning readers to stores with exciting stories and collectibles.
The New 52 was the result of the Flash causing the Flashpoint timeline. While the timeline was undone, the damage it caused couldn't be fixed. Things weren't placed back together again as neatly as some might have hoped. Instead, characters had new backstories and new histories. Superman was a lot darker, having lost his parents at a young age and becoming significantly more brash because of it. Batman's villains were far more cruel, with the Joker going to new heights of violence unlike ever before. Some characters, like Wally West, were erased entirely and replaced with others. It was a very divisive time for fans of DC Comics.
After the New 52, Rebirth Was the Return to a Hopeful DC Universe
Rebirth Was Widely More Accepted Than the New 52
The New 52 led to some great stories, mostly for Batman, but other characters - notably Lobo, among many others - undeniably suffered during this era. It was a difficult time for some fans, and the New 52 was eventually completely undone. DC even tied how dark this era was into the plot by claiming it was an intentional machination of Dr. Manhattan to see how a universe without hope would function. As the New 52 era ended, it led into Rebirth, which was widely regarded as significantly better by the majority of fans.
What sets the Absolute Universe apart from the New 52 is that it isn't a line-wide reboot. The main DC Universe will continue on with its current stories, launching new jumping on points as part of the DC All In initiative. Meanwhile, the Absolute Universe will be like Marvel's Ultimate line: a new world with brand-new versions of familiar characters in unfamiliar situations. The first round of Absolute titles arrive in October and November: Absolute Batman by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta, Absolute Wonder Woman by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman, and Absolute Superman by Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval.
After several years of running New 52 stories, DC transitioned into the Rebirth Era with DC Universe: Rebirth #1 by Geoff Johns, Ethan Van Sciver, Gary Frank, Ivan Reis, and Phil Jimenez. Wally West, one of the many who were erased in the New 52, tries to make his way back into the world. After several failed attempts, he finally succeeds when Barry Allen re him, bringing him back and ushering in Rebirth. This DC era was a lot brighter, focusing on harmonizing the New 52 continuity and the pre-Flashpoint continuity. Rebirth was far more accepted by fans and led to beloved moments, like the return of the pre-Flashpoint Superman.
DC All In and the Absolute Universe Perfectly Blend Two Major Eras
Variant Cover by Rafa Sandoval
Scott Snyder saying that the Absolute Universe and DC All In are a merging of the Rebirth and New 52 tones is an amazing proposition. It seems to fit perfectly with what readers already know about the Absolute Universe: that it's far darker and harder on the heroes, just like the New 52 was. But in the mainline books, the heroes have a brand-new era, one that is reinvigorating and far more hopeful than usual, just like Rebirth was when it first began.
DC has definitely made some missteps over the years, but it seems the publisher has truly learned from its mistakes.
DC has definitely made some missteps over the years, but it seems the publisher has truly learned from its mistakes, as DC's two biggest eras from the past two decades are blended into something new. The Absolute Universe will be the dark reboot that once was the New 52, with heroes who are in a far more cruel and oppressive world. But the mainline books will see their heroes coming together like never before in a far more hopeful manner - just like in Rebirth. It's honestly a fantastic idea from DC Comics' creative teams as it gives fans more options than ever before.
DC All In Special #1 is available October 2nd, 2024 from DC Comics!
