DC's Incredible New Absolute Universe Is Still Tragically Incomplete Without One Hero
DC Absolute Universe has made waves in the comic community by reimagining many of DC Comics’ most iconic heroes and villains with darker, more hard-core origins set within a world shaped by Darkseid. Despite the line’s success, however, DC still seems to be overlooking one of its most legendary heroes, a character who arguably has the potential to deliver the very best Absolute title yet.
The Absolute Universe has become one of the hottest things in comics right now, with several titles regularly topping sales charts and even helping DC edge out Marvel Comics over the last two years. So far, the line has introduced titles such as Absolute Batman by Scott Snyder, Absolute Superman by Jason Aaron, Absolute Wonder Woman by Kelly Thompson, Absolute Green Lantern by Al Ewing, Absolute Flash by Jeff Lemire, and Absolute Martian Manhunter by Deniz Camp. With the exception of Absolute Martian Manhunter, which concludes with issue #12 in June, the rest of these titles remain ongoing. The line is also set to expand with the upcoming launches of Absolute Catwoman by Scott Snyder and Che Grayson, as well as Absolute Green Arrow by Pornsak Pichetshote. The fact that the Absolute Universe continues to grow only highlights how popular the initiative has become. Looking at this lineup, it is clear that DC has made an effort to spotlight many of its most recognizable heroes. Yet one name remains glaringly absent: Aquaman. Considering that Arthur Curry was one of DC’s earliest superheroes and a founding member of the Justice League, it feels almost criminal that the King of the Seven Seas hasn't yet received his own Absolute series, especially given the immense horror potential tied to the character.
The Absolute Universe Needs Aquaman More Than Any Other Character
Why Is Aquaman the Only 'Big 7' Hero Who Hasn't Debuted in the Absolute Universe Yet?
As mentioned earlier, the Absolute Universe thrives on darker reinterpretations of classic heroes. Many of its stories also lean heavily into horror, particularly titles like Absolute Batman, Absolute Superman, and Absolute Green Lantern. With these darker, horror-leaning tones helping define the line, it is surprising that DC has not yet utilized Aquaman, a character whose setting and mythology are naturally suited to unsettling, atmospheric storytelling. After all, Earth’s oceans remain one of the planet’s greatest mysteries. Vast, dark, and largely unexplored, the deep sea is inherently eerie. With Aquaman ruling this domain, he becomes the perfect conduit for an Absolute Universe story that fully embraces horror and darker themes. In fact, the character has already proven that he can anchor an outstanding horror-focused narrative.
DC Already Proved Aquaman's Unparalleled Horror Potential
Ram V & Christian Ward's Aquaman: Andromeda Is Arthur Curry at His Best
Fans need only look at Ram V and Christian Ward’s Aquaman: Andromeda to see just how powerful the hero's horror potential can be. The Black Label miniseries delivered a Lovecraftian-esque survival horror story centered on the crew of the submarine Andromeda, who investigate a mysterious ancient structure at Point Nemo, the most remote point in Earth’s oceans.
Rather than relying primarily on visual horror, Aquaman: Andromeda leaned heavily into psychological terror, creating an atmosphere that arguably surpasses many of the horror elements seen in the current Absolute titles. In many ways, it is a shame that Andromeda arrived before the Absolute Universe launched, because the series would have fit perfectly within this darker continuity as Aquaman’s introduction.
All of this makes one thing clear: as impressive as the Absolute Universe has been so far, it will feel incomplete until Aquaman finally joins the lineup. Hopefully, that debut will take the form of a full Absolute Aquaman series, allowing the King of Atlantis to explore the darker, more horrifying side of his mythology. And if there is any creator perfectly suited to bring that vision to life in the Absolute Universe, it may very well be Ram V himself.
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