DC Comics Absolute Edition is a series of archival quality printings of graphic novels published by DC Comics and its imprints WildStorm Productions and Vertigo. Each is presented in a hardcover, dustjacketed and slipcased edition with cloth bookmark consisting of one or more books which include restored, corrected and recolored versions of the original work, reprinted at 8 inches by 12 inches. Also included are supplemental materials regarding the creation of the work, including sketches, comic scripts, memos, etc.
Titles
The following titles in the series have been released or announced.
Authority
- Absolute Authority Volume 1 - Collects The Authority # 1-12. Released 2002. ISBN 1-56389-882-9. Currently out of print.
- Absolute Authority Volume 2 - Collects The Authority # 13-20, 22, & 27-29. Released 2003. ISBN 1-4012-0097-4. Currently out of print.
Batman
- Absolute Batman: Hush - Reprinting Batman: Hush storyline from Batman #608-619. This absolute volume includes additional sketches and character designs by Jim Lee. Released October 1st, 2005. ISBN 1-4012-0426-0. Currently out of print.
- Absolute Dark Knight - Collects Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again by Frank Miller. Extras include character design sketches. Released August 23rd, 2006. ISBN 1-4012-1079-1.
- Absolute Batman: The Long Halloween - Reprints Batman: The Long Halloween #1-13, and includes an introduction/interview with Batman filmmakers Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer, an interview and commentary by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, and 4 new pages inserted into the story. Released April 4th, 2007. ISBN 1-4012-1282-4.
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Unlike most of the other Absolute Editions which are a single slipcased book, this was a set of two volumes, with the separate 96 page book containing most of the supplementary material. In addition to memos, notes, sketches, and commentary by the creators, it includes The Official Crisis on Infinite Earths Index #1 and The Official Crisis on Infinite Earths Crossover Index #1, both reprinted for the first time. Released November 16th, 2005. ISBN 1-4012-0712-X.
Danger Girl
Contains 2 volumes in a slipcased hardcover set. A 262-page collection of Danger Girl # 1-7 and a separate 64-page Sketchbook. Also includes a signed-and-numbered tip-in plate. Released December 17th, 2003. ISBN 1-4012-0096-6. Currently out of print.
DC: The New Frontier
Released November 8th, 2006. ISBN 1-4012-1080-5.
- "New Printing" re-release August 28, 2009. ISBN 1-8485-6399-X
Death
Collects Death: The High Cost of Living #1-3, Death: The Time of Your Life #1-3, Death Talks about Life AIDS pamphlet, Death stories from Vertigo: Winter's Edge #2 and Sandman: Endless Nights, "The Wheel" from the 9-11 tribute book, Sandman #8 and #20 and extras from the Death Gallery. To be released on November 10, 2009. ISBN 978-1401224639.
Green Lantern: Rebirth
Collects Green Lantern: Rebirth #1-6. To be released in 2010.[1]
Justice
To be released on November 11, 2009. ISBN 978-1401224158.
Kingdom Come
Released July 26th, 2006. ISBN 1-4012-0768-5.
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
- The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume I, Absolute Edition - In addition to the full six issue run of the first series in the first of the set's two books the second book contains scripts for each of the issues as well as penciled original art and production sketches. Released June 18th, 2003. ISBN 1-4012-0052-4. Currently out of print.
- The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume II, Absolute Edition - In addition to the full six issue run of the second series in the first of the set's two books the second book contains scripts for each of the issues as well as penciled original art and production sketches. Released August 1st, 2005. ISBN 1-4012-0611-5. Currently out of print.
- The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black Dossier - Besides the slipcase, no bonus material whatsoever except for two new endpapers (one in 3-D) by series artist Kevin O'Neill. DC solicited the title with an LP that was originally intended by the authors for inclusion in the hardcover release, but reneged. Released August 12, 2008. ISBN 1-4012-0751-0.
Planetary
- Absolute Planetary 1 - Collects Planetary #1-12. Released January 1, 2005. ISBN 1-4012-0327-2. Currently out of print.
- Absolute Planetary 1 "New Printing" - Collects Planetary #1-12. Re-released for July 7, 2010.
- Absolute Planetary 2 - Collects Planetary #13-27. July 7, 2010. ISBN 1-4012-2701-5.
Promethea
- Absolute Promethea 1 - Collects Promethea #1-12. Released on September 30, 2009. ISBN 1-4012-.
Ronin
- Released September 30th, 2008. ISBN 978-1401219086.
Sandman
- Absolute Sandman 1 - Reprinting The Sandman issues #1-20. The more than 65 pages of bonus material include the original proposal for the series and the full script and pencil art for issue 19. Released October 11, 2006. ISBN 1-4012-1082-1.
- Absolute Sandman 2 - Reprinting The Sandman issues #21-39. Bonus material includes two never-before-reprinted stories by Neil Gaiman (one prose story from the box of the Sandman statue, and one comics story from Vertigo: Winter's Edge illustrated by John Bolton [1]), a complete reproduction of the never-before-reprinted one-shot THE SANDMAN: A GALLERY OF DREAMS, and the complete script and pencils by Gaiman and Kelley Jones for Chapter Two of "Season of Mists" from THE SANDMAN #23. Released October 11, 2007. ISBN 978-1-4012-1083-0 [2]
- Absolute Sandman 3 - Reprinting The Sandman issues #40-56, released June 11th, 2008. ISBN 978-1-4012-1085-4
- Absolute Sandman 4 - Reprinting The Sandman issues #57-75, released November 18th, 2008. ISBN 978-1-4012-1084-7
Superman
Reprinting the Superman: For Tomorrow arc from Superman #204-215 by Brian Azzarello and Jim Lee. Released on May 5, 2009. ISBN 978-1401221980.
V For Vendetta
Reprinting V For Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd. To be released on September 2, 2009. ISBN 978-1401223618.
Watchmen
The supplemental material for this volume is reprinted from the limited edition Watchmen hardcover published by Graphitti Designs in 1987. It includes background on characters, the original creation process as well as brief essays by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Originally released October 5, 2005 (ISBN 1-401-20713-8) it–along with other editions and material–was re-released on November 12, 2008 about a year ahead of the film adaptation. This volume remains available, going through five printings as of 2009.
Unofficial titles
The following titles are not officially part of the Absolute series, but are similar to actual labeled Absolute editions in terms of their contents and size.
JLA/Avengers
Released December 1st, 2004. Contains 2 volumes in a slipcased hardcover set. ISBN 1-4012-0207-1.
The World's Greatest Super-Heroes
Released July 6th, 2005. Collects the 6 oversized graphic novels by Paul Dini and Alex Ross in a slipcased hardcover. ISBN 1-4012-0254-3.
See also
- DC Archive Editions
- List of DC Archive Editions
- Showcase presents
- Marvel Omnibus
- Dark Horse Omnibus
References
External links
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