Why I’m Not Interested In DC’s “Absolute” Universe

I’m also not impressed with the glove straps.

One of the definitions for “absolute” in the Oxford dictionary goes “viewed or existing independently and not in relation to other things; not relative or comparative”. This is surrounded on a Google search by two other definitions: “not qualified or diminished in any way; total” and “noun Philosophy a value or principle which is regarded as universally valid or which may be viewed without relation to other things”. These three seem to describe what numerous fans see as DC’s answer to Marvel’s “Ultimate” Universe, the “Absolute Universe”.

In a video where the creator was talking about how excited he was for the Absolute universe I commented on why I wasn’t. I might have been more harsh than intended, or not, but I got accused of being closed minded, of potentially missing a good story because of a narrow perspective. This point of view annoys me. There are 24 hours in a day, roughly 8 of which we spend sleeping (more if you’re tired a lot like I am…I also spend too much time in the bathroom), plus the time eating, doing jobs and chores, spending time with loved ones, and having decades and centuries of stories to consume. Few people will ever read every story ever, even if they stick to one format like comics. If fact, I doubt anyone will completely read every publically available comic out there. I don’t have time for things that don’t look like something I want to read.

Thus far, that includes Absolute Batman and the other Absolute titles we know about thus far. That is not a slam against anyone who likes it, though nowadays we seem to act like it is. It just means I have no interest in this, and I have a blog so I can tell you WHY I’m not interested in the Absolute universe. So since I’m here, let’s do that.

First, what is the Absolute Universe concept? I have not read the DC All-In special that resulted probably from yet another event. Sasha Woods of Casually Comics has and I’ll let her explain the idea behind this new universe.

I had just come off of being accused of that close-minded thing in a response to someone else’s videos, so if you go to the actual video page and see my response, I was a bit angrier that I wanted to come off as. My overall opinion still stands, though. The Absolute universe is everything I don’t want in DC characters. It’s why I complain about DiDio’s Darker DC (and here’s where I would try to come up with some DiDio/Darkseid joke, but I won’t). It’s why there’s a Death Of DC subcategory. However, this won’t be on that list because it is another universe. Outside of brand dilution by making darker versions of DC heroes for those who though Jean Paul Valley didn’t go far enough when he was Batman, and he actually killed people, here you go. This is the DC universe you’ve always wanted, with Batman violently attacking dudes like he’s in the Matt Reeves movie.

It is not the DC Universe that I want. Batman punching a man in the face until his face is hamburger, like in the movie, or Batman turning his costume ears into giant knives that he can throw into a man without killing them, like in the Absolute comic, are just not what I want. Superman being detached from his supporting cast and Wonder Woman going from growing up in figurative paradise to growing up in literal Hell are not what I want. I reject Darkseid’s universe because I reject Darkseid. He’s the evil one, and while him creating a hopeless universe is certainly on brand for the Apokolips head villain and New God of Evil (not sure if that’s his official title, but it’s his position in the Kirby-created corner of the DC Universe), it’s not the one I want to read about, especially as I see more and more non-side stories pushing against hope and optimism, like I was saying last week.

I remember when Batman used to hide from the guys trying to shoot him and attack them stealthily instead of JUMPING RIGHT INTO GUNFIRE! And what did they do to the coolest cape in comics?

I do wonder how you hit a man with AN AXE MADE FROM A PIECE OF METAL LIGHT ENOUGH TO WEAR ON YOUR CHEST without killing them and still have it be effective, though. And we’ve all made fun of Rectangle Man.

I don’t think I’m being close minded here. Before the book actually came out, I was saying that this idea might be more interesting as an original character. In fact, I have one in my own collection of superhero ideas that this would probably fit better as far as the blades go. I’m not seeing the axe as a viable option in this period unless your Axe-Cop. After it came out, it was too violent a hero for me. He might as well be the Fixer, the “hero” Frank Miller created when DC wouldn’t work with him on an anti-terrorist comic for fear of making it look like a Muslim hitpiece. I’m not going to go into that since I only have Linkara’s review to go by rather than first hand knowledge and in this case I don’t feel like it’s enough. Or Frank Miller’s All-Star Batman. Basically, this feels like all the worse aspects of Miller’s Batman. We don’t have a ton of information on Wonder Woman and Superman, but if this is any example plus what little we do know, I’ll probably pass on them as well. Again, brand dilution of characters who already have been too dark since Identity Crisis and the New 52.

Speaking of which, I’ve also noted that the current DC Universe still maintains DiDio’s influence even though he’s gone from the company, outside of an “anniversary celebration” story where he tries to make the case that Dick Grayson’s death would create world peace or some crap. Meanwhile we’re getting a digital comic about Nightwing’s butt, and I’m sure Sasha already has hers pre-ordered and will buy every variant cover of a potential print version. DiDio’s Darker DC was missing everything I loved about DC Comics and the DC Universe growing up, which is something that was already getting lost in the 90s. The fun, the hope, the optimism, the mix of silly and serious were just missing since he came in. Now if this meant the darker elements were moving to the Absolute Universe while whatever Earth Prime is now would go back to what Rebirth was trying to reestablish in the main DC universe before making the mistake of returning it to DiDio, I’d almost be willing to see it.

Our first look at Superman from the DC Absolute Universe. Darkseid approved.

This is, however, going to be someone’s first Batman, first Superman, first Wonder Woman. It’s going to give them the wrong view of the core ideas of the characters, which have already been warping over the years as cynicism, bad uses of comedy, and activism were already changing the very nature of these comics, and not for the better as both critics and sales point to. You might get a boost out of an event but depending how it went, you might end up with lower sales after it was over, but sales were not growing. Batman using giant throwing knives and axes, while Alfred decides whether or not to kill him as his superiors are demanding he does isn’t the core of Batman, and while that’s the whole point along with the other changes like making him poor instead of rich, it’s still a change I don’t like. It doesn’t feel like Batman, it doesn’t sound like Wonder Woman, and it doesn’t quite look like Superman. I go to fiction to see a better world than the one I live in, not worse, and these versions of the characters are going to influence new fans and creators, and change the view of those characters. It’s happened with the recent Batman movies, which also get so much of it wrong.

I hear this version of Superman doesn’t have the same connection to his cast as he does and did in the main universe. That sounds like My Adventures With Superman if you replaced half-understood anime tropes with grimdark tropes. Could I be wrong? I’ll need more than “it’s not the Injustice universe Superman” to be proven otherwise.

I don’t think this is being close minded. If you like or even prefer these takes for whatever reason, that’s up to you. I’m not telling you to avoid these comics. In return, I don’t want to be told I have to read these versions because they’re good stories or have good art or they’re “not woke” or whatever other reasons. I’m glad they’re good. I’m glad they’re not pushing some social agenda that weakens the comic and their own cause. That doesn’t make them the type of stories I would read otherwise or could think of as these characters I love. This universe is…absolutely…not for me. Please accept this and let us all go and enjoy the stories we love. We only have so much time in the day for entertainment. I expect it to entertain me. If it doesn’t, I don’t want to change it unless it was already changed from what I loved already. If it does, I’m here for it. I’m not here for this.

UPDATE: Just saw this on YouTube:

Nope, not my Superman.