DC Comics Absolute Power reading guide: Will the Justice League return in next event?

Christopher Baggett
Absolute Power #1 cover art

DC Comics has announced Absolute Power, a new event starring Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, which fans already think may herald the return of the Justice League.

DC has been dabbling in smaller events for the past year or so as the Dawn of DC initiative has taken center stage. Now, the company is getting ready for its first massive event in nearly two years, which kicks off with its long-teased Free Comic Book Day special.

Will Absolute Power bring back the Justice League?

Absolute Power is the first truly massive event since Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths. DC has been focused on the Dawn of DC initiative, which saw fan favorites and new heroes take center stage as the Justice League largely stepped out of the spotlight. 

For the past year and a half, the Titans have been DC’s preeminent superteam, while events were limited to smaller-scale (though still undeniably big) affairs such as Knight Terrors and Beast World. Absolute Power looks to be shifting the scale of power back to focus on the Big Three and could be setting up for what many have viewed as inevitable: the return of the classic Big 7 iteration of the Justice League. 

Absolute Power will see Amanda Waller successfully steal the powers of every metahuman on Earth. With Earth’s strongest heroes helpless, it’s up to the very human resistance speared by Batman to save the world and stop Waller’s plans dead in their tracks.

DC Comics Absolute Power reading guide

Contents

Absolute Power consists of a whopping 25 issues, spanning a main series and several mini-series tie-ins. The main series will be penned by the Batman/Superman: World’s Finest team of legendary comics writer Mark Waid and artist Dan Mora.

Absolute Power main series reading guide

FCBD Absolute Power #1Free Comic Book Day 2024: Absolute Power Special Edition #1
(W) Mark Waid (A) Mikel Janin (CA) Dan Mora
In stores May 4, 2024

The prelude to the biggest DC Comics event of 2024 is here! It’s a story 30 years in the making… and in this special Free Comic Book Day tale, the final domino to fall in an epic scheme comes tumbling down, and the DC Universe will never be the same.
DC Comics Absolute Power Ground Zero #1 cover artAbsolute Power: Ground Zero
(W) Mark Waid, Chip Zdarsky, Gleb Melnikov, Joshua Williamson, Nicole Maines (A) Dan Mora, Skylar Patridge, V. Ken Marion (CA) Dan Mora
In stores June 25, 2024

As the DC Universe braces for the Absolute Power onslaught, the key to capturing all metahuman powers on planet Earth will finally be unlocked in this oversize one-shot prelude. Bridging the events of Batman, Superman, Action Comics, and Suicide Squad: Dream Team, Absolute Power: Ground Zero #1 brings Amanda Waller’s total dominance to the doorsteps of DC’s Super Heroes, using the combined might of Failsafe, the Brainiac Queen, and the Suicide Squad. 
Absolute Power #1 cover artAbsolute Power #1
(W) Mark Waid (A) Dan Mora
In stores July 3, 2024

The combined powers of Failsafe and the Brainiac Queen have finally given Amanda Waller the ability to capture the powers of every metahuman, whether Super Hero or Super-Villain, on Earth. As chaos erupts in the streets and a massive disinformation campaign sways public opinion, the Suicide Squad commander methodically targets DC’s most powerful Super Heroes and their allies. But despite all that’s facing Superman, Wonder Woman, and other DC metahumans, a resistance is forming, with Batman leading the charge. 
Cover Art TBAAbsolute Power #2
(W) Mark Waid (A) Dan Mora
TBA 2024
Cover Art TBAAbsolute Power #3 (of 4)
(W) Mark Waid (A) Dan Mora
TBA 2024
Cover Art TBAAbsolute Power #4 (of 4)
(W) Mark Waid (A) Dan Mora
TBA 2024
Cover Art TBAAbsolute Power TPB
(W) Mark Waid (A) Dan Mora
TBA

Absolute Power tie-in reading guide

Superman #15 cover artSuperman #15
(W) Joshua Williamson (A), (CA) Rafa Sandoval
In stores Jun 25, 2024

FALL OF THE HOUSE OF BRAINIAC! Superman and Lex have figured out how to stop Brainiac and his Queen, but it will take a great sacrifice. Can they do the unthinkable to save their family and friends? This all leads directly into DC’s summer event… ABSOLUTE POWER!
Green Arrow #13 cover artGreen Arrow #13
(W) Joshua Williamson (A) Amancay Nahuelpan (CA) Phil Hester
In stores Jun 25, 2024

OLIVER QUEEN BECOMES AN AGENT OF AMANDA WALLER! Roy and the rest of the Green Arrow family want to know why Green Arrow would betray his family and friends and choose to work with Amanda Waller and her deadly plans for the heroes and villains of the DC Universe!
Batman #150 cover artBatman #150 
(W) Chip Zdarsky (A) Denys Cowan, Jorge Jiménez
In stores July 3, 2024

The landmark 150th issue of Batman features not only legendary DC artist and Milestone Media cofounder Denys Cowan joining writer Chip Zdarsky and series artist Jorge Jiménez on the main story, but Zdarsky and artist Mike Hawthorne reuniting (“The Bat-Man of Gotham”) for an Absolute Power tie-in story featuring Batman and Catwoman planning the most dangerous heist of their lives. The target: Amanda Waller!
Green Lantern #13 cover artGreen Lantern #13
(W) Jeremy Adams, Marc Guggenheim (A) Fernando Pasarin, Matthew Clark (CA) Ariel Colón
In stores July 10, 2024

HAL JORDAN IS THE LATEST CASUALTY OF AMANDA WALLER! De-powered and back on Earth, Hal needs to find a way to get to the new power battery and recharge- but Thaaros has other plans, and now Hal is being hunted by the most dangerous aliens on the planet!

PLUS: The secret origin of LORD PREMIERE THAAROS, ruler of the United Planets, is at last revealed!
Superman #16 cover artSuperman #16
(W) Joshua Williamson (A) Jamal Campbell
In stores July 17, 2024

Due to Waller’s Amazo assault by the Last Son, Superman is injured and powerless, having retreated to the Fortress of Solitude. As his home becomes a refuge for survivors, the Man of Steel must go on a dangerous mission into the realm of magic with DC’s backward-speaking spell-slinger, Zatanna.
Wonder Woman #11 cover artWonder Woman #11
(W) Tom King (A) Tony S. Daniel
In stores July 17, 2024

Diana’s quest for the truth is placed on hold as she comes face-to-face with Waller’s latest toy, an Amazo robot ready to take all her powers for good! Wonder Woman can use all the help she can get to survive.
Green Arrow #14 cover artGreen Arrow #14
(W) Joshua Williamson (A) Amancay Nahuelpan (CA) Phil Hester

With a new brand of deadly Amazos on the attack across the DC Universe, no one is safe! So the Green Arrow family tracks down the Amazo’s original creator…PROFESSOR IVO. Can he help them stop Waller’s master plans? But they are not the only ones searching for Ivo…Oliver Queen is also on the hunt!
Cover Art TBABatman tie-in 
August 2024
Cover Art TBASuperman tie-in 
August 2024
Cover Art TBAWonder Woman tie-in 
August 2024
Cover Art TBABatman tie-in
September 2024
Cover Art TBASuperman tie-in
September 2024
Cover Art TBAWonder Woman tie-in
September 2024

Absolute Power mini-series reading guide

Absolute Power Task Force VII #1 cover artAbsolute Power: Task Force VII#1
(W) Leah Williams (A) Caitlin Yarsky (CA) Pete Woods
In stores July 10, 2024

Waller’s living weapon has eliminated the threat of Superman and all his allies in Metropolis, and nowit’s setting its sights on the DC Universe’s other metahuman clan: Shazam, Mary Marvel, and the rest of the Shazamily.
Absolute Power Task Force VII #2Absolute Power: Task Force VII #2
(W) John Layman (A) Max Raynor (CA) Pete Woods
In stores July 24, 2024

Depth Charge has stolen not only Aquaman’s powers, but his throne, and the Atlantean populace must either toe the line or risk having their powers taken as well. It falls to Mera and the rest of the Aqua-Family to launch a revolution without being discovered.
Absolute Power: Task Force VII #3 cover artAbsolute Power: Task Force VII #3
(W) Jeremy Adams (A) Marco Santucci (CA) Pete Woods
In stores July 31, 2024

The Amazo robot Jadestone absorbs the powers of the Justice Society of America. But after being compromised by Green Lantern Alan Scott’s willpower, Jadestone is faced with the possibility of making its own decisions. Will it continue to execute Waller’s orders or exercise free will, as the remaining JSA members attempt a rescue to free their teammates and escape to the Tower of Fate?
Cover Art TBAAbsolute Power: Task Force VII #4
(W) TBA (A) TBA (CA) TBA
TBA 2024
Cover Art TBAAbsolute Power: Task Force VII #5
(W) TBA (A) TBA (CA) TBA
TBA 2024
Cover Art TBAAbsolute Power: Task Force VII #6
(W) TBA (A) TBA (CA) TBA
TBA 2024
Cover Art TBAAbsolute Power: Task Force VII #7
(W) TBA (A) TBA (CA) TBA
TBA 2024
Cover Art TBAAbsolute Power: Task Force VII TPB
(W) TBA (A) TBA (CA) TBA
TBA
Absolute Power Origins #1 cover artAbsolute Power: Origins #1
(W) Alighta Martinez, John Ridley (A) TBA
In stores July 24, 2024

Amanda Waller has been the driving force behind Absolute Power and has long had a serious axe to grind against metahumans. Find out what has led her to this place in a tale of how Waller suffered a catastrophic loss, and how she forged her powerlessness into a path to vengeance, fueled by two words that changed her life, and the lives of everyone in the DC Universe: NEVER AGAIN.
Cover Art TBAAbsolute Power: Origins #2
(W) TBA (A) TBA (CA) TBA
TBA 2024
Cover Art TBAAbsolute Power: Origins #3
(W) TBA (A) TBA (CA) TBA
TBA 2024
Cover Art TBAAbsolute Power: Origins TPB
(W) TBA (A) TBA (CA) TBA
TBA

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