Absolute Batman #20 Tops Bleeding Cool List

Absolute Batman #20 has secured the number one position on Bleeding Cool's weekly list of the 50 most anticipated comics [2]. This latest milestone for the DC series comes as it continues its run within the publisher's Absolute Universe imprint, a line launched in late 2024 [1].

Key takeaways

• Absolute Batman #20 ranked first on Bleeding Cool's list of most anticipated comics [2].
• Absolute Martian Manhunter #11 took the second spot on the same list [2].
• The Absolute Batman series launched in October 2024 as the first title in DC's Absolute Universe imprint [1].
• The first issue was the best-selling direct market comic of 2024, selling just under 400,000 copies [1].

Absolute Universe leads weekly anticipation rankings

DC Comics dominated the upper echelons of the anticipation list, placing two titles in the top positions. Following Absolute Batman #20, Absolute Martian Manhunter #11 claimed the number two spot [2]. The list, which ranks upcoming releases, saw Image Comics' Transformers #32 take third place, narrowly beating out Marvel's Ultimate Endgame #4 [2]. Other notable entries in the top ten included Action Comics #1098, Uncanny X-Men #28, and Captain America #11, alongside strong performances for Something Is Killing The Children #47 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #18 [2].

Series background and sales performance

Absolute Batman is written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Nick Dragotta, debuting on October 9, 2024, as the first title in the Absolute Universe imprint [1]. The series features a distinct version of Bruce Wayne, a 24-year-old blue-collar civil engineer who grew up without family wealth in Crime Alley [1]. Unlike the mainstream continuity, this Batman relies on self-designed equipment and is stalked by an MI6 agent version of Alfred Pennyworth, while the Joker is reimagined as a billionaire [1].

The title has established a strong commercial track record since its launch. Absolute Batman #1 became the best-selling comic in the direct market for 2024, selling just under 400,000 copies across multiple printings [1]. By the end of 2025, the title had reportedly sold close to three million copies and accounted for approximately 35 percent of the Absolute line's total sales for the year [1].

Why it matters

The continued high placement of Absolute Batman on anticipation lists suggests sustained reader interest in the alternate take on the character. The series has previously achieved significant commercial success, including a number five spot on the New York Times Best Seller list in September 2025 [1]. The upcoming issue #20 continues the story of a Batman who operates without inherited wealth, facing off against a reimagined billionaire Joker and childhood friends who are traditionally villains [1].