# DC All In

**DC All In** is a line-wide [DC Comics](https://www.edgepedia.org/dc-comics) publishing initiative launched in October 2024, following the conclusion of the *Absolute Power* event (issue #4 on sale October 2, 2024). It combines a reimagined alternate-continuity imprint, the [Absolute Universe](https://www.edgepedia.org/absolute-universe), with a refreshed core [DC Universe](https://www.edgepedia.org/dc-universe) line, and it began with a 64-page one-shot, *DC All In Special #1*.<sup>[1](https://www.dc.com/blog/2024/07/18/dc-goes-all-in-on-a-new-status-quo-for-the-dc-universe-in-october)</sup> Writer Scott Snyder described it as "designed as a line-wide jumping-on point," and the initiative presents itself as accessible to all readers.<sup>[1](https://www.dc.com/blog/2024/07/18/dc-goes-all-in-on-a-new-status-quo-for-the-dc-universe-in-october)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.cbr.com/dc-all-in-explained/)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | A line-wide publishing initiative beginning October 2024 after *Absolute Power* #4 (on sale October 2), spanning the Absolute Universe and core-line titles<sup>[1](https://www.dc.com/blog/2024/07/18/dc-goes-all-in-on-a-new-status-quo-for-the-dc-universe-in-october)</sup> |
| Launch special | *DC All In Special #1*, a 64-page flipbook co-written by Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson, art by Daniel Sampere (one direction) and Wes Craig (the other)<sup>[1](https://www.dc.com/blog/2024/07/18/dc-goes-all-in-on-a-new-status-quo-for-the-dc-universe-in-october)</sup> |
| Absolute launch titles | *Absolute Batman* #1 (Snyder, Dragotta) October 9, 2024; *Absolute Wonder Woman* #1 (Thompson, Sherman) October 23, 2024; *Absolute Superman* #1 (Aaron, Sandoval) November 6, 2024<sup>[1](https://www.dc.com/blog/2024/07/18/dc-goes-all-in-on-a-new-status-quo-for-the-dc-universe-in-october)</sup> |
| Absolute premise | Heroes come of age with fewer advantages and face greater opposition; the universe was created by "Darkseid energy" from *Absolute Power*<sup>[1](https://www.dc.com/blog/2024/07/18/dc-goes-all-in-on-a-new-status-quo-for-the-dc-universe-in-october)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://www.cbr.com/dc-absolute-universe-explained/)</sup> |
| Second wave | *Absolute Flash* (Jeff Lemire, Nick Robles), *Absolute Green Lantern* (Al Ewing, Jahnoy Lindsay), *Absolute Martian Manhunter* (Deniz Camp, Javier Rodríguez)<sup>[3](https://www.cbr.com/dc-absolute-universe-explained/)</sup> |
| Second act | DC Next Level, announced for March 2026 after the scheduled March 4 conclusion of the *DC K.O.* event, to be helmed by Snyder and Williamson<sup>[4](https://www.dc.com/blog/2025-12-15/dc-all-in-starts-its-second-act-in-march-2026-with-dc-next-level)</sup> |

## The All In special

The initiative opened with *DC All In Special #1*, a single-issue mega-event presented as a symmetrical flipbook: one direction features art by [Wonder Woman](https://www.edgepedia.org/wonder-woman) artist Daniel Sampere, while reading in the other direction features art by Wes Craig, co-creator of *Deadly Class*.<sup>[1](https://www.dc.com/blog/2024/07/18/dc-goes-all-in-on-a-new-status-quo-for-the-dc-universe-in-october)</sup> The script is co-written by [Scott Snyder](https://www.edgepedia.org/scott-snyder) (*Absolute Batman*) and [Joshua Williamson](https://www.edgepedia.org/joshua-williamson) (*Superman*). The 64-page one-shot carries a main cover by Sampere and variant covers by Rafa Sandoval, Wes Craig, and John Giang.<sup>[1](https://www.dc.com/blog/2024/07/18/dc-goes-all-in-on-a-new-status-quo-for-the-dc-universe-in-october)</sup>

In the core-line half, the story follows from *Absolute Power*: the heroes have fought against deep divisions to usher in a new era of unity, establishing the status quo for the ongoing line.<sup>[1](https://www.dc.com/blog/2024/07/18/dc-goes-all-in-on-a-new-status-quo-for-the-dc-universe-in-october)</sup> The special is listed as the first entry in DC's All In Saga reading collection, dated October 2, 2024.<sup>[5](https://www.dcuniverseinfinite.com/collections/cc-dc-all-in-saga)</sup>

## The Absolute Universe

The Absolute Universe is a separate continuity in which DC's biggest icons come of age with fewer advantages while facing greater opposition than ever before.<sup>[1](https://www.dc.com/blog/2024/07/18/dc-goes-all-in-on-a-new-status-quo-for-the-dc-universe-in-october)</sup> Spinning out of the events of *Absolute Power*, Darkseid has a hand in establishing this new world, which was created by way of "Darkseid energy" and completely rips its heroes from their moorings.<sup>[3](https://www.cbr.com/dc-absolute-universe-explained/)</sup>

**Three launch titles.** *Absolute Batman* #1, by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta, launched October 9, 2024, introducing a Dark Knight without the money, mansion, or butler of his core-line counterpart.<sup>[1](https://www.dc.com/blog/2024/07/18/dc-goes-all-in-on-a-new-status-quo-for-the-dc-universe-in-october)</sup> *Absolute Wonder Woman* #1, by [Kelly Thompson](https://www.edgepedia.org/kelly-thompson) and Hayden Sherman, followed on October 23, 2024, with a Diana who has no island paradise, no sisterhood, and no mission of peace.<sup>[1](https://www.dc.com/blog/2024/07/18/dc-goes-all-in-on-a-new-status-quo-for-the-dc-universe-in-october)</sup> *Absolute Superman* #1, by Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval, launched November 6, 2024, presenting a Man of Steel with no family, no [Fortress of Solitude](https://www.edgepedia.org/fortress-of-solitude), and no home.<sup>[1](https://www.dc.com/blog/2024/07/18/dc-goes-all-in-on-a-new-status-quo-for-the-dc-universe-in-october)</sup>

**Second wave.** A second wave of Absolute titles was announced: *Absolute Flash* #1 by Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles, *Absolute Green Lantern* #1 by Al Ewing and Jahnoy Lindsay, and *Absolute Martian Manhunter* #1 by [Deniz Camp](https://www.edgepedia.org/deniz-camp) and Javier Rodríguez.<sup>[3](https://www.cbr.com/dc-absolute-universe-explained/)</sup>

## Publishing context and strategy

DC All In is viewed as a combination of past DC publishing attempts. *Dawn of DC* promised a similar idea in January 2023 after the events of *Dark Crisis* and *Lazarus Planet*, but was more of a transitional period following the scrapped plans of DC 5G and the soft relaunch that was *Infinite Frontier*. All In combines aspects of these line-wide shakeups.<sup>[2](https://www.cbr.com/dc-all-in-explained/)</sup>

The initiative emphasizes DC's commitment to presenting itself as accessible to all sorts of readers, a strategy also seen in endeavors like the Compact and DC Finest Collections, trade paperback lines collecting introductory DC Comics at affordable prices.<sup>[2](https://www.cbr.com/dc-all-in-explained/)</sup>

**The Marvel parallel.** The Absolute Universe concept was preceded by rumors, from [Rob Liefeld](https://www.edgepedia.org/rob-liefeld)'s podcast in January 2024, of DC doing an equivalent to Marvel's Ultimate line. Marvel's recent revitalization of that line, with *Ultimate Spider-Man*, *Ultimate Black Panther*, *Ultimate X-Men*, and *The Ultimates* all critical and commercial successes, made such a line attractive.<sup>[3](https://www.cbr.com/dc-absolute-universe-explained/)</sup>

## By the numbers

Per a November 20, 2024 update, *Absolute Batman*, the first Absolute Universe book released, continued to shatter sales records and expectations after its launch.<sup>[3](https://www.cbr.com/dc-absolute-universe-explained/)</sup>

## Core line and later developments

The core DC Universe line continued under the All In banner alongside the Absolute books. October 2024 core titles included *Batman* #153–154 by Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jiménez, and Carmine Di Giandomenico ("The Dying City") and *Wonder Woman* #14 by [Tom King](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-king) and Daniel Sampere.<sup>[1](https://www.dc.com/blog/2024/07/18/dc-goes-all-in-on-a-new-status-quo-for-the-dc-universe-in-october)</sup> The All In Saga collection also lists *Superman* #19 (Williamson, Mora, October 23, 2024) and *Justice League Unlimited* #1 by [Mark Waid](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-waid) and [Jim Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/jim-lee), dated November 27, 2024.<sup>[5](https://www.dcuniverseinfinite.com/collections/cc-dc-all-in-saga)</sup>

**DC Next Level.** DC announced that Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson would begin a second act of the All In initiative called [DC Next Level](https://www.edgepedia.org/dc-next-level) after the *DC K.O.* event series was scheduled to conclude on March 4, 2026.<sup>[4](https://www.dc.com/blog/2025-12-15/dc-all-in-starts-its-second-act-in-march-2026-with-dc-next-level)</sup> DC described it as a series of creator-forward #1s spotlighting Batwoman, Deathstroke, The Demon, Firestorm, Lobo, Barbara Gordon, Zatanna, and the [Teen Titans](https://www.edgepedia.org/teen-titans), scheduled to launch in March 2026 with Lobo, Deathstroke, and Batwoman series.<sup>[4](https://www.dc.com/blog/2025-12-15/dc-all-in-starts-its-second-act-in-march-2026-with-dc-next-level)</sup> Williamson stated that "these books are set in continuity" and exist alongside DC's ongoing series like *Superman*, *Batman*, and *Justice League Unlimited*; Snyder said the line "will launch similar to DC's Absolute line of comics" and is new-reader friendly.<sup>[4](https://www.dc.com/blog/2025-12-15/dc-all-in-starts-its-second-act-in-march-2026-with-dc-next-level)</sup>

## References

1. [DC Goes "All In" on a New Status Quo for the DC Universe in October, DC.com (July 18, 2024)](https://www.dc.com/blog/2024/07/18/dc-goes-all-in-on-a-new-status-quo-for-the-dc-universe-in-october)
2. [DC All-In's New Creative Teams, Explained, CBR](https://www.cbr.com/dc-all-in-explained/)
3. [DC's Absolute Comics, Explained, CBR (updated November 20, 2024)](https://www.cbr.com/dc-absolute-universe-explained/)
4. [DC All In Starts Its Second Act in March 2026 with DC Next Level!, DC.com (December 15, 2025)](https://www.dc.com/blog/2025-12-15/dc-all-in-starts-its-second-act-in-march-2026-with-dc-next-level)
5. [DC All In Saga, DC Universe Infinite collection listing](https://www.dcuniverseinfinite.com/collections/cc-dc-all-in-saga)

---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Literature and written works › Creative written works and worlds › Comics and sequential art › Comic-book series and issues › DC Comics series and storylines*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license
