New York Comic Con starts Thursday.

And if you're an Absolute Universe reader, this might be the most important convention left on the 2026 calendar.

DC isn't treating Absolute as a side attraction at NYCC. The publisher has an entire panel dedicated to the line, convention-exclusive Absolute comics, exclusive hardcovers, merchandise and creator appearances throughout the weekend.[1][2]

Considering what has happened with the Absolute Universe over the last year, that makes sense.

Absolute Batman has become one of the hottest ongoing comics in the industry. Absolute Superman and Absolute Wonder Woman have developed identities that go well beyond simply being alternate versions of familiar characters. And DC has continued expanding the universe with characters including Green Lantern, Flash, Martian Manhunter, Catwoman and Green Arrow.

So if you're heading to New York—or watching everything unfold from home—here's what we'd be paying attention to.

1. The Absolute Universe Panel Is the Big One

Friday morning is where things could get interesting.

DC's official Absolute Universe panel takes place Friday, October 9 from 11:00 AM–12:00 PM in Room 405.[2]

DC isn't being subtle about what to expect, either. The publisher is promising news, reveals, announcements and behind-the-scenes information about what's coming next across the Absolute line.[2]

That's why this is the panel we'd circle.

We're now far enough into the Absolute Universe that the conversation isn't really, “Will this work?” anymore.

It worked.

The more interesting question is:

What does DC do with it next?

New characters?

Major crossovers?

More limited series?

Another wave of Absolute titles?

Whatever DC has planned, NYCC is a very logical place to show some of those cards.

And yes, we'll be paying particularly close attention to anything involving Absolute Batman.

No surprise there.

2. Bill Sienkiewicz Is Doing Absolute #1 NYCC Foils

Here's one of the biggest comic exclusives DC is bringing to the convention.

Bill Sienkiewicz has created new artwork for special foil editions of:

Absolute Batman #1
Absolute Superman #1
Absolute Wonder Woman #1

The limited-printing editions will be available through the DC Shop at NYCC while supplies last.[1]

And this is one of those situations where the artist matters.

There are already a LOT of covers for the early Absolute issues—especially Absolute Batman #1. If you're adding another version this late in the game, it needs a reason to exist.

Sienkiewicz is a pretty damn good reason.

His work doesn't look like everyone else's. You can generally identify a Sienkiewicz cover from across a convention aisle.

For readers who have built Absolute collections around artwork rather than trying to own every cover ever printed, these are worth watching.

3. Mark Spears Has a Really Smart NYCC Exclusive

This one isn't a comic variant.

And we actually think that makes it more interesting.

DC is releasing NYCC-exclusive hardcover editions of:

Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo

Absolute Superman Vol. 1: The Last Dust of Krypton

Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Last Amazon

The three books feature connecting dust-jacket artwork by Mark Spears.[1]

That's smart.

Put the three books together on a shelf and the artwork connects.

We've seen connecting comic covers approximately nine billion times at this point. Doing it across collected-edition dust jackets feels considerably fresher.

If the finished books look as good together as the concept sounds, this may end up being one of the coolest Absolute collectibles at NYCC that isn't a single issue.

4. Absolute Batman Is Everywhere

This probably isn't surprising anyone.

DC will have Absolute Batman merchandise throughout its NYCC presence, including apparel, and there's also an Absolute Batman bundle being offered through a collaboration involving DC, Shoe Palace and Upper Deck.[1]

That package incorporates artwork by series artist Nick Dragotta and includes an Absolute Batman comic, collectible card, shirt and pins.[3]

There's even an NYCC-exclusive three-piece Absolute Batman foam bag-clip set at the convention.[4]

We're mentioning all of this for a reason.

Absolute Batman isn't merely a successful comic anymore.

DC is building it into a brand.

That's a meaningful distinction.

Batman merchandise has obviously existed forever, but DC is specifically branding products around the Absolute version of Batman.

Different logo.

Different silhouette.

Different axe.

Different visual identity.

That tells you a lot about how DC views the long-term potential of this universe.

5. Don't Ignore the Signings

DC is also using NYCC as a major creator event.

The publisher says its booth signings will be free to NYCC attendees, but select signings will use a digital queue limited to 100 attendees.[5]

That's important if you're actually attending.

Don't walk over five minutes before a signing with a stack of comics and assume you're getting in.

DC's announced signing schedule includes creators such as Jock, Joshua Williamson and Dan Mora, with additional creators appearing throughout the convention.[5]

If you're hunting signatures, check DC's queue instructions before you get to the booth.

Convention time disappears ridiculously fast.

Nothing hurts quite like spending 45 minutes crossing the Javits Center only to discover the signing you wanted filled up two hours ago.

Ask us how we know.

6. What We're Watching at ATL Comics & Cards

This is where NYCC gets especially interesting for us.

ATL Comics & Cards has spent a lot of 2026 working with artists connected to the Absolute line, and we've built a pretty deep selection of Absolute exclusives along the way.

That includes our recent Absolute Batman #25 Mark Texeira exclusive—Texeira's first Absolute Batman cover—as well as books featuring artists including Björn Barends, Mirka Andolfo, Dave Wilkins, Ariel Diaz, Marco Mastrazzo and others.

So we're not heading into NYCC simply wondering which celebrity is going to show up.

We're looking at the creators.

We're looking at the artwork.

We're looking at what DC announces next.

And yes—we're looking for the artists we think should be doing future ATL exclusives.

That's one of the best parts of a convention like NYCC.

Sometimes the most interesting thing you bring home isn't the exclusive everybody lined up for.

It's the conversation that turns into a cover six months later.

7. Is NYCC Becoming an Absolute Universe Convention?

Maybe not officially.

But look at DC's lineup.

An entire Absolute Universe panel.

Absolute Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman Sienkiewicz exclusives.

Three connecting Absolute hardcovers.

Absolute merchandise.

Absolute creator appearances.

Absolute Batman collaborations.

At some point that's no longer coincidence.

DC knows what people are responding to.

And right now, the Absolute Universe is one of the company's biggest weapons.

Our biggest question isn't whether DC will announce something Absolute-related at NYCC.

We'd be shocked if it didn't.

The question is what.

And we'll be at New York Comic Con watching it happen.

Keep an eye on ATL Comics & Cards throughout the weekend. We'll be sharing what catches our attention from NYCC, the creators we're seeing, the covers we're hunting and any Absolute news worth talking about.

Because if Friday's panel delivers what we think it might…

We're going to have plenty to talk about.

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Sources & Credits

[1] DC Comics — DC's NYCC 2026 Convention Exclusives. Official details on the Bill Sienkiewicz Absolute foil editions, Mark Spears connecting hardcovers and DC's NYCC merchandise. DC
DC's NYCC 2026 Convention Exclusives

[2] DC Comics — DC's NYCC 2026 Panel Schedule. Official scheduling and description for the Absolute Universe panel on Friday, October 9. DC
DC's NYCC 2026 Panel Schedule

[3] DC Comics — New York Comic Con 2026 lineup. Additional information regarding DC's Absolute Universe merchandise and convention presence. DC
DC Unveils Its NYCC 2026 Lineup

[4] Temple of Geek — NYCC 2026 Absolute Batman Exclusive. Details regarding Monogram International's three-piece Absolute Batman bag-clip convention exclusive. TEMPLE OF GEEK
Absolute Batman NYCC Exclusive

[5] DC Comics — NYCC 2026 Talent Signings. Official creator-signing information, including DC's digital queue and 100-attendee limits. DC
DC NYCC Talent Signings

New York Comic Con — NYCC 2026 runs October 8–11 at the Javits Center in New York City. New York Comic Con
Official NYCC 2026 Site

Artwork Credits: Bill Sienkiewicz artwork © respective artist/DC Comics. Mark Spears artwork © respective artist/DC Comics. Nick Dragotta artwork © respective artist/DC Comics. All DC characters, titles and related marks remain the property of DC/Warner Bros. Discovery.