Major Spoilers Ahead: Absolute Power #4 and DC All In Special #1
The DC Universe has undergone a massive transformation that redefines its iconic multiverse. In the climactic conclusion of Absolute Power, the only way to halt Amanda Waller’s ambitious power grab is to enact a move that dramatically impacts DC’s alternate Earths.
The Threat of Amanda Waller
Amanda Waller has achieved the unimaginable: she has siphoned powers from every superhuman on Earth, imprisoning most of them. However, her ambition extends beyond Prime Earth, as she sets her sights on conquering every Earth in the DC multiverse. An assemblage of heroes rises to thwart her plans, yet their efforts lead to a seismic shift in the DC cosmology.
Flash’s Sacrifice: Severing Prime Earth from the Multiverse
In Absolute Power #4 by Mark Waid, Dan Mora, Alejandro Sánchez, and Ariana Maher, the heroes regroup after escaping Waller’s incarceration, equipped with Green Lantern’s weaponry. As the battle rages above, Flash, still endowed with his powers, faces several speedsters from the multiverse alone. Waller has amassed an army of villains, including the Crime Syndicate, to consolidate her dominion over the DC Universe.
With the aid of Green Lantern, Flash examines the multiversal gate Waller has devised. Despite the gate’s baffling physics, Flash is urged by Jay Garrick and Wally West to deactivate it swiftly. He warns them of the dire consequence: severing Prime Earth from the multiverse permanently. With no alternatives left, the Scarlet Speedster channels his powers to their utmost and obliterates the gate.
Consequences of Victory
The heroes triumph over Amanda Waller, regaining their powers by dismantling the Amazos that had originally stripped them. Some heroes even discover newfound, unexpected abilities. As the dust settles, Jay, Wally, and Flash assess the aftermath. Garrick confirms Barry’s fears: the vibrational access speedsters once had to alternate worlds is now unreachable. Despite Wally’s attempts, he too is unable to penetrate the barriers to other Earths within DC’s multiverse.
Evolution of DC’s Multiverse
From Infinite Variations to Consolidated Worlds
Throughout the last century, the DC Universe has evolved through numerous iterations, particularly with reboots and shifts in continuity. The multiverse concept originated during the Silver Age when Barry Allen inadvertently accessed another Earth by tuning his molecular vibrations. This journey to Earth-2, home to DC’s Golden Age heroes, integrated the stories of the past into DC’s continuity, eventually expanding into an infinite multiverse.
This classic event is depicted in the iconic “Flash of Two Worlds” in The Flash #123.
However, the boundless multiverse was drastically reduced during the seminal Crisis on Infinite Earths, where the Anti-Monitor obliterated countless alternate worlds. Surviving Earths were merged into a single timeline, a status quo that persisted for about two decades. The multiverse was revived with Infinite Crisis, albeit limited to 52 worlds. Nevertheless, DC’s multiverse would undergo further transformation.
Recent Developments and Challenges
Following the Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, the multiverse was restored to its limitless form. The Convergence event revealed the survival of all previous timelines. Later, Dark Nights: Death Metal saw the multiverse’s destruction and subsequent recreation as part of a larger ‘omniverse,’ comprising multiple multiverses within the Divine Continuum. Despite Pariah’s near-catastrophic actions, the Justice League’s intervention preserved reality, enabling Barry Allen to begin cataloging this reinvigorated multiverse.
A New Reality: Prime and Absolute Worlds
The Emergence of the Absolute Universe
The severing of the DC Universe from the greater multiverse marks a significant turning point, but Absolute Power only reveals part of the narrative. Concurrently, DC All In Special #1 unveils Darkseid’s physical demise, which releases his energy into the world. This energy breaches reality, impacting the nascent Elseworld and birthing the new Absolute Universe.
This pivotal issue, DC All In Special #1 by Scott Snyder, Joshua Williamson, Daniel Sampere, Wes Craig, and Dan Mora, is now available.
While DC Comics explores its alternate worlds in series such as Batman: Gotham by Gaslight: The Kryptonian Age and DC vs. Vampires: World War V, these narratives remain disconnected from Prime Earth. With Flash’s destruction of the multiversal gate, the heroes are isolated from alternate realities. Their sole connection is with the Absolute Universe, a realm imbued with Darkseid’s energy, making it an undesirable destination for Prime Earth’s heroes.
The Future of DC’s Multiverse
Although the multiverse is not eradicated, it remains inaccessible. The extent of Amanda Waller’s impact is unknown, leaving fans in anticipation of its potential return. As long as the Absolute Universe endures, a remnant of the multiverse persists. For now, enthusiasts must embrace a more streamlined multiverse, eagerly awaiting the Prime DC Universe’s eventual reconnection.
Absolute Power #4 is currently available from DC Comics.