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10 DC Characters the Absolute Universe Needs to Avoid at All Costs

cbr.com 2 days ago
Absolute Wonder Woman with Harley Quinn and Kyle Rayner from DC Comics
Image by Scoot Allan

DC Comics has seen massive success in its newest alternate universe in the past few months. The Absolute Universe has reintroduced new takes on different DC heroes and villains, with more variants on the way. While fans are excited to see who will join the new shared universe next, a few characters are best left avoided entirely.

From dastardly villains to some of the most notable DC heroes, the Absolute Universe has more than a few characters that should go without reintroduction. This is for several reasons, be it the controversial nature of somehow making these characters work or the fact that so many might simply be played out. Add a different tone and scope for the Absolute Universe, and they likely won't work in the recently launched new DC world.

10 Eobard Thawne Is No Longer Interesting

First Appearance: The Flash #139 by John Broome and Carmine Infantino

Eobard Thawne is the most well-known version of Reverse Flash, and he's the arch-rival of the Barry Allen version of The Flash. Emulating his "idol" and gaining similar powers, Reverse-Flash has plagued Barry's life for years. The modern origin story involving Barry's mother being killed by Eobard was all an attempt by the villain to ruin The Flash's life. Unfortunately, this concept has been visited entirely too much, and the same goes for the villain.

Absolute Flash with Magenta and Zoom in the background from DC Comics
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With the Absolute Universe introducing a new take on The Flash, this younger version of Wally West can face reimagined foes both new and old.

Wally West will be the Absolute Universe Flash, so there's no narrative need for Eobard Thawne. Likewise, several years of comic books and a nine-season The Flash TV series have made the villain more than tired. Add in the fact that there's little depth to him besides his reversal gimmick, and it would be pointless to try to force the character into the Absolute Universe.

9 Harley Quinn Has Become One of DC's Most Overused Characters

First Appearance: The Batman Adventures #12 by Bruce Timm and Paul Dini

Harley Quinn on the title card of "Harlequinade"
Image via DC Comics

Ever since she debuted in Batman: The Animated Series, Harley Quinn has been a major part of Batman's world. This began to change to make way for her modern interpretation during the New 52 reboot, wherein she was more independent of The Joker and associated with the Suicide Squad. Likewise, she now exists as DC Comics' very obvious attempt at aping the success of Deadpool, and the character's appeal has arguably taken a hit due to this.

Harley Quinn has been overused so much in the past decade that she's potentially a sales detriment for readers who are outright sick of the character. Likewise, many have become critical of her modern incarnation, and the further she strays from her villainous roots, the less interesting she's become. Given how different The Joker seems to be in the pages of Absolute Batman, it's hard even to see how Harley Quinn would work in the Absolute Universe. It might be best to leave that thought unanswered and not deal with the character.

8 Anti-Monitor Will Increase the Scale Far Too Much In the Absolute Universe

First Appearance: Crisis on Infinite Earths #2 by Marv Wolfman, George Pérez, and Jerry Ordway

The Anti-Monitor using his antimatter powers in DC Comics.
Image via DC Comics

The Anti-Monitor is the overarching villain in the iconic Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline, and as a result, he might be the ultimate DC Comics villain of them all. Having the power to decide whether worlds live or die, the Anti-Monitor's power took the combined effort of entire universes to defeat. This made for a grandiose end to DC's classic multiverse, but it's not something that should be revisited in the Absolute Universe anytime soon, if ever.

Batman and Catwoman from Hush with covers to No Man's Land and Batman Year One in the background
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A crossover between the Absolute Universe and any other world would "absolutely" ruin the flow of the new universe, and the multiverse as a whole needs a break in both DC Comics and fiction in general. There's no need for a story of that scale involving the Anti-Monitor, especially this early in the timeline. Hopefully, DC will keep Anti-Monitor out of the Absolute Universe and Crisis stories on the back burner.

7 Vandal Savage Barely Works Even In the Mainstream DC Universe

First Appearance: Green Lantern #10 by Alfred Bester and Martin Nodell

Vandal Savage gives a menacing grin on the cover of Batman Gotham Knights Gilded City #6.
Image via DC Comics

Vandal Savage debuted in the Golden Age of Comics, where he was initially portrayed as an enemy of the Alan Scott Green Lantern. Eventually, he became a villain for the DC Universe as a whole, with his backstory being that of an immortal born in the age of Cro-Magnons who gained superhuman physical faculties and has influenced human society ever since. Sadly, he's more of a superficial threat than anything else, and besides his longevity, he largely lacks a true sense of power or danger to other characters.

Vandal Savage is a villain who tells but rarely shows, and his threat is more metaphorical due to his true influence on history rarely being portrayed. He comes off as one of DC's poorest attempts at legacy, and his lack of standout stories in over 80 years shows this. Instead of trying to make him somehow work in the Absolute Universe, he might be better left unused.

First Appearance: The Brave and the Bold #60 by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani

Donna Troy twirling her lasso on the cover of DC's Tales of the Titans #4.
Image via DC Comics

Donna Troy was the first Wonder Girl and both the sidekick and younger sister of Wonder Woman. Despite this, she has more history as a Teen Titans member, with her role in Wonder Woman comic books largely negligible throughout the decades. She's also a major continuity eyesore due to her many contradictory origin stories. As a result, she's one of the most problematic characters tied to Wonder Woman and the Titans.

Split image of Absolute Superman variant covers from DC Comics
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For now, sidekicks don't even need to be a thing in the new Absolute DC Universe. This is especially true for Absolute Wonder Woman, as this alternate take on the Amazing Amazon is the last of her female tribe. Thus, introducing Donna Troy or any version of Wonder Girl won't make sense; Donna herself is just narrative baggage waiting to happen. If Wonder Girl has to show up, it should be Cassie Sandsmark, Yara Flor, or even an Absolute Universe version of Vanessa Kapatelis, as none of them are literal editorial mistakes like Donna Troy started as.

5 Doomsday's Entire Purpose Won't Work In the Absolute Universe - Yet

First Appearance: Superman: The Man of Steel #17 by Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding, Jerry Ordway, Louise Simonson and Roger Stern

Doomsday somewhat epitomized the "grim and gritty" tone of the 1990s, with the spike-covered monster being the creature that killed Superman. Pure anger and violence in physical form, he isn't a character so much as a story or a moment in time. Lacking much depth or characterization and having his backstory constantly changed with each adaptation, there's little to Doomsday besides his most notorious action.

The Absolute Superman comic book hasn't even been running for one year, and while it's already introduced takes on familiar Superman enemies such as Brainiac, it has a lot more steam and direction ahead. Doing anything resembling The Death of Superman in the next few years would be far too soon and a waste of the new universe's potential. Thus, Doomsday shouldn't even be thought of for the time being, and if he's ever introduced, it should only be after the shared universe has over a decade of publication under its belt.

4 Absolute Batman Never Needs to Have a Robin - Or a Batfamily

First Appearance: Detective Comics #38 by Bill Finger and Bob Kane

An image from Batman and Robin: Year One
Image via DC Comics

Robin the Boy Wonder is the most iconic and popular sidekick in comic books, and his introduction was largely responsible for the "softening" of Batman's image in the Golden Age of Comics. Since then, there have been several other versions of Robin, not to mention other sidekicks and partners for the Caped Crusader. So far, Absolute Batman is the most successful Absolute Universe book, but the title's momentum could be derailed by trying to add too many familiar elements too soon.

Dick Grayson Robinn, Tim Drake Robin, Jason Todd Robin
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The mainstream Batman comic books are already bogged down enough with the bloated, tumefied membership of the Batman Family. If anything, Absolute Batman can be a reprieve by giving fans a book that isn't weighed down with these narrative elements, allowing Batman to act on his own without Robin. This will help differentiate the two universes and show the value of keeping the Dark Knight as a lone wolf in Gotham City.

First Appearance: Booster Gold #1 by Dan Jurgens

Booster Gold flexes in DC Comics.
Image via DC Comics

Booster Gold is one of the B-list DC characters, but he does have a fanbase. Starting as a showboating "hero" from the future, he eventually learned the true meaning of his role and became a staunch member of the Justice League. Besides time travel, Booster Gold is most defined by his friendship with Ted Kord, the second Blue Beetle. Unfortunately, his most prominent concept makes him inappropriate for the current Absolute Universe.

Time travel is somewhat seen in a groan-worthy light, with most comic book fans finding it more of a narrative crutch than particularly interesting. Booster Gold's story is inherently based on time travel and trying to escape a future in which he's a loser. The idea of time travel is overdone and not needed this early in the Absolute Universe. Removing the concept from the hero would also make him a bit too generic, so the hero might not work. Plus, the actual Booster Gold was last seen lost in the Absolute Universe, so there isn't much reason for him to meet his darker double.

2 Mongul Will Take Absolute Superman Away from Earth Too Soon

First Appearance: DC Comics Presents #27 by Len Wein and Jim Starlin

Mongul smiles in a sinister fashion in Action Comics
Image via DC Comics

Superman is usually earthbound, but he has faced several aliens like himself. One of them is the Warzoon tyrant Mongul, who rules the planet Warworld and has made an enemy of both the Big Blue Boyscout and the Green Lantern Corps. Mongul spices up Kal-El's adventures by taking him away from his second home planet, which is why he won't work in the Absolute Universe.

Many have already compared the attitude of the Absolute Universe Superman to that of the more proactive Golden Age Superman, and that more grounded nature and tone will be abandoned if he ups and leaves to fight on Warworld. Mongul is a villain for a more established Superman, which isn't this new version. Likewise, he might also seem too "out there" compared to the scope of the Absolute Universe so far. Given that the mainstream comic book "Warworld" story arc in Superman comic books still isn't that old, it might be a good idea to give him a rest.

1 The Absolute Universe Already Has Enough Green Lanterns

First Appearance: Green Lantern #48 by Ron Marz and Darryl Banks

Absolute Green Lantern is one of the upcoming Absolute Universe books, and it seems to be changing the central concept of the idea. To this end, it will involve not one but three usual Green Lantern Corps members, like Hal Jordan, John Stewart, and Jo Mullein. This feels like an attempt to appease John Stewart fans while using the more iconic Hal Jordan and the newest GLC member, Jo Mullein. Thus, this is more than enough for the new universe, especially since the normal DC Universe has too many human Green Lanterns as is.

Thus, there's no need to introduce others, namely Kyle Rayner. Kyle Rayner is synonymous with the editorial-mandated character assassination of Hal Jordan through the infamous "Emerald Twilight," and beyond being the "torchbearer" in an era without the Green Lantern Corps, he offers little that other characters can't also achieve. He's mainly seen as DC's attempt at a Peter Parker-style character, and from the looks of things, the Absolute Universe's Wally West will cover that base already.

The Justice League, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman and Martian Manhunter, pose together on the Justice League of America Vol. 1 comic cover.
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