DC's Absolute Universe has become, pound-for-pound, the most popular superhero line in comic book stores. How? By taking its most recognizable characters and reimagining them for today's world, keeping all that matters, but being unafraid of changing the rest to meet readers where they are here and now. In the flagship title, Absolute Batman, they are doubling down on that with the recent debut of the Absolute Robin mechs. But that's not all. There's Absolute Clayface and Absolute Batgirl the Bat coming as well.

With all that, it may be hard to keep track of the most essential question: when is the next issue of Absolute Batman coming out? Well, we have that for you - and more, in absolute fashion.

Related: Absolute Batman and the broader Absolute DC Universe resonate because they’re trying to change the world, not preserve it

What is the Absolute Batman release date?

Absolute Batman is planned to put out a new issue each month — so every four weeks, give or take. To do that, series writer Scott Snyder and series artist Nick Dragotta are locked in, but bring in some high-caliber guest artists from time to time to keep the very swole Absolute Batman train running.

The current Absolute Batman release schedule is:

• Absolute Batman #22 release date: July 8, 2026
• Absolute Batman #23 release date: August 12, 2026
• Absolute Batman #24 release date: September 9, 2026
• Absolute Batman #25 release date: To be announced
• Absolute Batman #26 release date: To be announced
• Absolute Batman #27 release date: To be announced

Where can you read Absolute Batman online?

New issues of Absolute Batman are released simultaneously to their print debut on several platforms, including Amazon's Kindle and comiXology services. DC's own internal subscription service, DC Universe Infinite, adds issues of Absolute Batman several weeks after release.

How often is Absolute Batman released?

DC is aiming for Absolute Batman to be released monthly. To help with that, series artist Nick Dragotta is taking breaks between arcs with other artists filling in, such as with Gabriel Hernandez Walta on issue #4, Marcos Martin on issues #7 and #8, Clay Mann on issue #11, Jock on issue #15, and Eric Canete on issues #17 and #18. Issues 19 through 21 will be drawn by Nick Dragotta. 

How many issues are there in Absolute Batman?

Currently, there are 21 issues of the main Absolute Batman title out, with announced plans for new issues to be released monthly - at least through June. Outside of the main title, there have been two specials (Absolute Batman 2025 Annual #1, Absolute Batman: Ark M), and titles in the broader Absolute DC Universe.

Here is a full Absolute DC Universe list of books:

• DC All In Special one-shot (2024)
• Absolute Batman ongoing series
• Absolute Wonder Woman ongoing series
• Absolute Superman ongoing series
• Absolute Flash ongoing series
• Absolute Green Lantern ongoing series
• Absolute Martian Manhunter limited series
• Absolute Green Arrow limited series
• Absolute Catwoman limited series
• DC All In/Absolute Universe Special Edition (2025)
• Absolute Evil one-shot
• Absolute Cassandra Cain: The Shadow's Hand one-shot
  
  

What exactly is Absolute Batman?

Forget what you know about Batman. In the Absolute DC Universe, Bruce Wayne is a 20-something engineer who carries the trauma of seeing his father killed in a mass shooting years ago. As a terrorist organization known as the Party Animals descends on Gotham, Wayne goes to stop it under the guise of Batman - complete with a combat vehicle that you can call the Batmobile, but is really a retrofitted dump truck.

Successful in his first official outing, Wayne begins to regularly go out to save the people of Gotham through different actions, including investigating a mysterious black site constructed to house the most dangerous of criminals, and discovers that it's been co-opted, with it now making Gotham's most dangerous even more dangerous.

What is the setting of Absolute Batman?

Absolute Batman still lives in Gotham, but it's even darker than you have seen it elsewhere - beginning with the lack of a Wayne Enterprises as benefactor and funder for someone like Batman. No Batcave, No Batmoney. In essence, every street is Crime Alley - and Bruce Wayne lives at the center of it. Whereas there was a time when James Gordon was the mayor, he was ousted with a corrupt replacement named Hamilton Hill in his place.

Is Absolute Batman a different universe?

Absolute Batman is set in a different universe inside the DC Multiverse and began with October 2024's DC All-In Special. This title co-exists in that Absolute Universe with other current titles bearing the Absolute moniker, such as Absolute Wonder Woman and Absolute Superman, among others. Although it exists in a separate universe, plans are already in place for it to crossover with DC Comics' main universe.

How old is Bruce in Absolute Batman?

According to an easter egg in Absolute Batman #1, Bruce Wayne was born on February 19, 2004, and the series is currently set in the present day of 2026 - making Bruce 24 years old.  

Batman is the most well-known superhero in the world — surprisingly, given how much he loves hanging out in the dark. But between his comics, TV shows, movies, games, and more, DC's Dark Knight is the hero this city/country/world/universe needs, and we have all you need to enjoy him even more: 

• All the best Batman comics
• The best Batman villains, ranked
• How to watch all the Batman live-action movies in order
• How to watch all the Batman animated movies in order
• All the Batman actors, ranked
• All the Batman TV series, ranked
• All the Batman movies, ranked