The Popverse coverage of the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting 2026 is brought to you by Lunar Distribution. Commited to Retailers. Focused on the Future of Comics.

8 million comics is a lot of comics, and that's how many DC sold with its Absolute line in 2025. Six series over 12 months, in a line that didn't exist this time two years ago... and it's not a replacement of the existing Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Flash, and Green Lantern titles, but essentially new additional series for each character. 8 million additional sales in just 12 months.

Not bad for its first full year in action.

Here at the ComicsPRO Industry Conference 2026 in Glendale, California, representatives from DC — creators, editors, and executives — were here all four days of the show, participating in one-on-ones with comic shops, roundtables with workshops, and several closed-door panels talking about wins, talking about hurdles, and making a few announcements. During one of several DC presentations, the company's longtime VP of sales & marketing Nancy Spears spoke about the highlights of the past year from their perspective, and also showed they listened to some concerns retailers had had in 2025 which they are looking at solving.

"[2025] was a hell of a year, from a second Hush, to a new Batman, to a certain crossover with a caped crusader and a merc with a mouth, and... well, lets see... some small titles called All In...?," Spears said from the main stage podium. "I remember back in 2024 when Scott [Snyder] and Josh [Williamson] were first stumping for 'All In,' and they were going around to all these venues and talking about it. I bet some of you thought it was a certain pay-per-view event."

Spears spoke about how 'All In' became not just a motto for the stories or what was happening inside DC, but also what she saw after they published the books and how distributors, retailers, and even fans became a part of it to make it a hit.

"I hope that you guys see yourselves in that, and  the role you played in that: selling these books hand by hand by hand, and your customers who told a friend, then they told two friends and so on and so on and so," Spears continued. "Because that is is what happened, and together in 2025 we sold over 8 million copies across all six series of Absolute."

"And yes, we heard the rib about not having enough copies," Spears said, referring to multiple sellouts across the Absolute line and the constant stream of reprints to meet customer demand. (Absolute Batman #1 is about to release its 11th printing.) "We have printed enough, we promise: just order them."

Spears, who is active in the local community including the local Boys & Girls Club organization, also spoke of a younger generation of readers that she's been told have been attracted to comics – and comic shops specifically – with the Absolute line.

"A great thing we’ve heard from all of them is that it’s brought in younger readers: younger readers than you’ve seen in decades in your stores, which is great."

Looking ahead to 2026, Spears painted a broad brush of what DC is publishing, with an intent to have something for everyone, and making comics and editions that are specific to varied tastes.

"So what our job is is to continue to give you things you can sell to these new readers," said Spears. "From our Compact Comics to our DC Finest, to our deluxe editions, to our compendiums, to our omnibuses and our Absolute volumes. We want to continue to make sure we do that. Even our early readers, young adult and middle grade; we want to make sure we have something for you to keep these people coming back in."

And not just all of the above, but the first-ever Absolute DC crossover event, too.

Need more? Here's our picks for the best DC Comics stories of all time, and here's a list of all the free DC comics you can look forward to as part of this year's Free Comic Book Day and Comics Giveaway Days.