While the cinematic universe has seen its ups and downs, DC Comics has emerged triumphantly in 2025, achieving remarkable sales success in its comic book line, a development that is likely to have significant implications for both collectors and retailers in the broader collectibles market.
Superman has been recognized as a major financial success for Warner Bros. in 2025, marking a noteworthy turnaround for the company. However, the most compelling success story may lie within the pages of DC Comics itself, as articulated by Anne DePies, the Senior VP and General Manager of DC Comics, in a recent interview with the Hollywood Reporter.
Excluding December sales, DC’s Absolute Universe has dispatched over 8 million copies in 2025, a number not seen in decades. Notably, Absolute Batman has claimed approximately 35% of that impressive total.
Image via DC
Absolute Batman #1 continues its reign as a top seller, now reaching its 10th printing, with further reprints anticipated. Surprisingly, its popularity has only intensified throughout the year.
Additionally, Absolute Batman #15, which unveils the Joker’s origin, has astoundingly moved over 300,000 copies, a staggering achievement for an issue so deep into its run. Importantly, while Absolute Batman leads in sales, it only accounts for 35% of the total sales across the Absolute line, indicating a robust performance from other titles as well.
Image via DC
Of particular note is the success of Absolute Martian Manhunter, a title boasting a fresh revamp of a classic character, which has exceeded sales of 100,000 copies. DePies reflects on this success, noting, “It’s a fresh look that inverted the fundamentals of our characters, and it’s an update that surprised our fans.” She further comments on the significance of the Absolute line’s tight structure, remarking, “That made a big difference. We knew it was going to do well, but we didn’t know it would do this well.”
Image via DC
Moreover, DC’s latest Batman #1 release, crafted by Matt Fraction and artist Jorge Jiménez, has achieved sales surpassing 500,000 copies, with an uptick in sales from its fourth to fifth issues, signifying strong ongoing interest from collectors.
DC’s top five best-selling titles in 2025 include Batman #1, Absolute Batman #15, Batman #158, which marks a sequel to the iconic Hush storyline, DC KO #1, a current crossover event, and Batman/Deadpool #1, showcasing a crossover with Marvel Comics.
Based on reporting by Brian Cronin. Read the full story at https://www.cbr.com/dc-greatest-2025-success-not-film-tv-comics-absolute-batman/.