If you are a comics fan, the past few days have felt like standing in the middle of a crossover event where every page turn brings a new surprise. The biggest buzz in collector circles right now is DC’s Absolute Batman line, which has quietly turned into the breakout hit of the season. Recent aftermarket reports show Absolute Batman #14 rocketing up charts thanks to the first appearance of Absolute Harley Quinn and a brutal, blood-soaked showdown between Batman, Bane, and an expanding cast of “absolute” allies, including new universe versions of Alfred, Catwoman, and Killer Croc. As readers realize this universe is meant to grow, they are hunting down earlier issues packed with first appearances, especially Absolute Batman #2, which introduced absolute Oswald Cobblepot, Edward Nigma, and Harvey Dent and is now flagged by Scott Snyder himself as a key foundation for his long-term villain plans.
The Absolute universe is not just about cool new takes on old foes, either. The 2025 annual pushed into headline territory by pitting Batman against a gang of white supremacists at a moment when politics in the real world are already running hot, turning a superhero slugfest into a pointed commentary that has driven both sales and debate. Looking ahead, fan channels are already hyping an upcoming issue that finally pulls the Joker into this darker Gotham, with Snyder reuniting with artist Jock to tell a story Alfred has allegedly been chasing for years, setting expectations that this Joker arrival could be one of the most dissected Batman issues of 2025.
If Batman is ruling the spec market, Wonder Woman is about to step into the ring literally. DC’s new DC KO initiative is rolling into an “All Fight Month,” and one of the headline bouts is DC KO: Wonder Woman vs Lobo #1, landing in shops on December 10. The premise is gloriously simple: the Amazon champion and the Main Man pounding each other for a symbolic crown, wrapped in a tone that winks at fighting game culture while still promising the sort of clash only two heavy hitters can deliver. With multiple variant covers and a creative team that includes Joelle Jones, Jason Howard, and Cary Nord, the book is being previewed as the third round in an eight-part bout schedule, and the early chatter suggests fans are lining up less to pick a winner and more to see what kind of chaotic mutual respect emerges once the dust settles.
Marvel, meanwhile, is building to a different kind of finale. Ultimate Spider-Man #23, due the same day as the Wonder Woman and Lobo slugfest, is the penultimate chapter before the grand conclusion of Jonathan Hickman’s reimagined Ultimate run. Marvel’s official summary is intentionally vague, teasing secrets, lies, and tangled webs without revealing the big cards, which has only fueled speculation on what Hickman plans to leave standing when this Peter Parker’s story hits its last issue. With Marco Checchetto and David Messina on art duties, anticipation is less about whether there will be a twist and more about how many.
Beyond individual issues, the business side of comics has thrown in some plot twists of its own this week. Sales charts show Batman and the new title Knightfight topping one prominent bestseller list, confirming that Gotham’s pull remains as strong in 2025 as ever, even as Marvel retools lines like Infamous Iron Man under fresh branding to relaunch interest in Doctor Doom. At the same time, Warner Bros. Discovery appears to be thinking far beyond the page and screen. Reports indicate the company is in active talks with theme park operators, including Universal, about expanding the presence of DC heroes in major parks, a move that could eventually put characters like Batman and Superman in new rides and lands just as Universal weighs how tightly it wants to hold onto aging Marvel attractions.
Layered on top of that, DC leadership under James Gunn and Peter Safran is reportedly mapping a long-term strategy that links comics, films, series, and licensing more tightly than ever, borrowing a page from Marvel’s old playbook but with an eye toward letting stories flow both from and back into the comics line. For readers on the ground, all of this corporate maneuvering translates into a simple reality: whether it is Absolute Batman redefining Gotham, Wonder Woman trading blows with Lobo, or Spider-Man inching toward a universe-shaking finale, the last few days have made one thing very clear. Comics are not slowing down for anyone, and the next issue is already lining up to be another must-read cliffhanger.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
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