Multiple senior sources at New York Comic Con say DC Comics has taken more than 775,000 pre-orders from comic shops for Absolute Batman #25, a single-issue tally that immediately reshapes expectations for the publisher’s flagship line. That volume makes this issue a standout release in an already busy fall comics market and signals significant retailer confidence ahead of its late-October ship date.
The issue is written by Scott Snyder with art by Nick Dragotta, and is scheduled to reach stores on October 28 priced at $5.99. According to creators and material shown at DC’s NYCC panels, #25 contains two large plot beats the team expects will dominate reader discussion — including the first major face-off between Absolute Batman and the Absolute Joker (Jack Grimm).
Retail pre-orders at this scale matter because they determine print runs and how widely retailers will stock variants and back-issue copies. For context, the previous high for the Absolute Batman line was below the half‑million mark; Marvel’s recent Midnight Universe launch claimed a million orders earlier this month, but that represented multiple titles rather than a single issue.
- Title: Absolute Batman #25
- Creators: Scott Snyder (writer), Nick Dragotta (artist/cover)
- Pre-orders reported: over 775,000 copies from comic shops
- Key plot points: major confrontation with Absolute Joker; Barbara Gordon adopts the Bat mantle; a status-quo shift setting up the next story arc
- Release: October 28 — $5.99
- Publishing cadence: #26 will be a Barbara Gordon-focused flashback; the main storyline resumes with #27 in February
What makes this more than a sales statistic is the creative pivot the issue reportedly delivers. Sources close to the project describe #25 as a turning point that will alter the title’s direction for roughly the next 25 issues — a long-term editorial commitment rather than a one-off event.
For readers, the immediate consequence is narrative: Barbara Gordon stepping into the Bat role is a major character development that changes dynamics across the cast. For retailers and the market, the high pre-order figure could mean larger print runs, intensified interest from speculators, and a heavier presence of variants on shelves at launch.
At NYCC, DC also previewed several pages and panels from the issue; those images underline the confrontational tone and the emphasis on landscape-shifting moments rather than a quiet episodic issue. Creators say one scene in particular should spark debate among fans after release.
Longer-term, this performance will be watched closely by publishers and retailers. It tests appetite for high-profile single-issue events within ongoing lines and may influence how DC paces major character changes going forward. If demand remains strong across subsequent issues, the title could shape publishing strategy through much of next year.
Expect the conversation to ramp up as copies ship and reviews and fan reactions arrive in late October. The combination of heavy pre-orders and a promised narrative turning point makes Absolute Batman #25 one of the fall’s most consequential comics releases.
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