Premiere issue of an ongoing series in the Absolute Universe, a dimension built on Darkseid energy
Introduction of Alfred Pennyworth, an M16 agent
Introduction of Black Mask
Introduction of Waylon Jones, Killer Crock in the mainstream universe
Introduction of Martha Wayne, Commissioner Gordon, Barbara Gordon, Harvey Bullock
Introduction of Selina Kyle, Oswald Cobblepot, Edward Nygma, Harvey Dent - as children in a photograph
Introduction of Matches Malone
Introduction of Joker, first cameo appearance
Introduction of Julia Pennyworth, cameo appearance
Introduction and death of Thomas Wayne
1st team appearance of the Party Animals, led by Black Mask
Absolute Batman #1 preceded by a 16-page black and white ashcan preview
🏅#1 on the Hot 10
There were 14 copies in 9.8 that sold higher than the previous $272 record high established on November 17th, 2025 and they are as follows:
$275 / $278 / $280 / $285 / $290 x 2 / $294 / $300 / $310 / $320 / $324 / $327 / $330 / $336
There are already new all-time high records for this issue that will be covered next week
The following sales are variants that established a new all-time high:
DETOMMASO VARIANT 9.8 sold for $131 [$69 in Jul] +90%
FOURTH PRINTING DRAGOTTA AKIRA SPOT FOIL SKETCH VARIANT 9.8 sold for $110 [No Previous Data]
OLIVER VARIANT 9.8 sold for $93 [$90 in Apr] +3%
LIAM SHARP VARIANT 9.8 sold for $100 [$100 in Feb] +0%
THIRD PRINTING AKIRA SKETCH VARIANT 9.8 sold for $165 [$162 in Oct] +2%
FIFTH PRINTING DRAGOTTA SKETCH VARIANT 9.8 sold for $130 [$120 in Aug] +8%
By the end of November, 661 copies of Absolute Batman #1 in 9.8 have publicly sold on the secondary market
To put this number into perspective, let’s look at other Modern Age comics that have shown massive demand over the past few years
Ultimate Fallout #4 (1st Miles Morales) in 9.8 sold 521 copies in 2020
New Mutants #98 in 9.8 sold 317 copies in 2016
X-Men #4 (1st Omega Red) in 9.8 sold 583 copies in 2021
Thor #2 (1st Gorr) sold 284 copies in 9.8 in 2022
Venom #3 (1st Knull) sold 367 copies in 9.8 in 2020
Young Avengers #1 (1st team) sold 276 copies in 9.8 in 2021
Darth Vader #3 (1st Doctor Aphra) sold 387 copies in 9.8 in 2022
Edge of Spider-Verse #2 (1st Spider-Gwen) sold 431 copies in 2015
Ultimate Spider-Man #1 (2024) sold 444 copies in 9.8 in 2024
Modern Age comics with a higher quantity of 9.8 sales are limited to the following
Venom: Lethal Protector #1 sold 829 copies in 2022
X-Men #1 (1991) sold 1,335 copies in 9.8 in 2022
Spawn #1 sold 1,070 copies in 9.8 in 2022
Of course, these latter three issues have far higher numbers of copies graded 9.8 overall
Venom (13,690) / X-Men (15,225) / Spawn (18,015)
And given that early 90s print runs exceeded one million copies, a much higher supply of graded books over the past three decades is expected
These Key Performance Indicators demonstrate exceptionally strong and steadily increasing demand for Absolute Batman #1
Most impressively, Absolute Batman has successfully rebooted the Batman universe, making a historically dense and nearly century-long mythology accessible to both new and returning readers
The series’ new take on the Batman mythos has resonated with collectors and readers due to Bruce Wayne’s more humble financial status combined with the extreme violence that unfolds across the pages
Momentum has expanded beyond the first issue, with much of the first arc selling above cover price and later stories featuring Mr. Freeze, Killer Croc, and Bane also projecting high perceived value and demand across the title’s entire run
Absolute Batman #1 Annual generated an additional surge of attention after making headlines and becoming a social-media talking point due to political commentary involving white supremacy and the philosophy of this iteration of Batman
Beyond these market influences, writer Scott Snyder has created an air of dark mystery and excitement around the Joker, who will be the focus of Absolute Batman #15, prompting readers to get caught up on the story so far
