Absolute Evil Had DC’s Best Plot Twist of 2025

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DC Comics experienced a strong year in 2025. Their strategy of focusing on both the core DC Universe with the ‘DC All-In’ initiative and a separate ‘Absolute’ line for a distinct universe proved highly successful, leading to achievements on two fronts.

Essentially, both the main DC Universe and the alternate Absolute Universe have thrived without diminishing each other’s popularity. A common worry with alternate universe comics is that one will overshadow the other, making one seem better and the other outdated. However, DC has successfully avoided this, particularly with the success of its new Batman series and the DC KO event.

When it comes to surprising plot twists, the main DC Universe doesn’t quite measure up to the Absolute Universe. While a DC comic like DC KO #1 featured a big twist – Batman being killed by the Joker – the story made it clear from the start that any deaths could be reversed depending on the tournament’s outcome. This built-in escape clause lessened the shock and impact of the twist.

Unlike some other universes, the Absolute Universe doesn’t have easy ways to undo events (though, technically, any universe could rewrite its history). Because of this, the surprises in this universe feel more significant. In fact, a particular twist in Absolute Evil #1 was considered DC’s best plot twist of 2025.

What were some other notable Absolute Universe plot twists in 2025?

2025 brought a lot of unexpected turns in the Absolute Universe, making it a competitive year. Here are some noteworthy stories that almost made the top spot.

The initial issue of Absolute Flash (created by Jeff Lemire, Nick Robles, Adriano Lucas, and Tom Napolitano) dramatically revealed that Barry Allen actually died in the accident that gave Wally West his abilities. It was later clarified that Wally’s first use of his powers caused the accident and Barry’s death, adding even more heartbreak for the young hero.

In issue #10 of Absolute Superman (created by Jason Aaron, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Ulises Arreola, and Tom Napolitano), it was revealed that the Omega Men—a group fighting against the powerful Lazarus Corporation—were secretly… This was a surprising development, especially considering Lazarus Corp was led by Ra’s al Ghul, a twist introduced in 2025.

The latest issue of Absolute Wonder Woman (#12, from Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, Jordie Bellaire, and Becca Carey) showed that the Amazons, who everyone thought were gone, are actually alive and attempting to find the lost Princess Diana.

In Absolute Batman #14 (by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin, and Clayton Cowles), the story led us to think Batman would use the Venom serum to become incredibly strong and defeat Bane. However, it turned out Batman didn’t transform himself at all. Instead, he secretly removed the Venom from his own body and injected it into Bane while Bane was at his strongest, effectively overloading him.

Okay, so in Absolute Batman #15, they dropped a huge bomb! Turns out the Joker wasn’t always a criminal – the story revealed he used to be a super-rich guy, basically a mirror image of Bruce Wayne himself. Snyder, Jock, Martin, and Cowles really flipped the script with this one!

All excellent possible choices, but our choice is the key moment from Absolute Evil #1.

What was the most notable Absolute Universe plot twist in 2025?

From the very beginning, the Absolute Universe was intentionally built to reflect Darkseid’s influence, giving everything within it a sense of darkness. This makes the heroes of this universe particularly remarkable – they grow up in a world specifically designed to prevent them from achieving their full potential.

The changing world also dramatically impacts villains, essentially giving them a significant advantage. However, those unaccustomed to fairness often perceive progress towards equality as oppression. In this story, the villains of the Absolute Universe – including the Joker, Veronica Cale, Hector Hammond, Ra’s al Ghul, and Dr. Elenore Thawne – unite to discuss this new reality and form their own team, a kind of ‘Justice League’ dedicated to opposing the heroes.

This issue, created by Al Ewing, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Stefano Nesi, Romulo Fajardo Jr., and Tom Napolitano, revealed the origin of superheroes in the Absolute Universe. It showed that villains consistently found ways to either control or destroy potential heroes, which is why this new group of heroes was so concerning to them.

Throughout the storyline, Oliver Queen started getting ready to transform into the Green Arrow, a well-funded hero dedicated to tracking down criminals, including one inspired by figures like Jeffrey Epstein.

We also learned about Hawkman, a superhero from World War II who was turned to the dark side. Surprisingly, it turns out he’s the one who found and killed Oliver Queen.

This surprising news completely changed our expectations for the new Green Arrow series, and it revealed just how willing the Absolute Universe is to twist the values of traditionally heroic characters like Hawkman, a long-standing member of the Justice League.

Coming soon in Absolute Superman, Hawkman will battle Superman, but the surprising reveal of Hawkman as a villain remains the most shocking plot twist of the year, especially considering how many great comics DC has released this year.

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2025-12-29 18:13