Absolute Batman Just Outsold Incredible Hulk in CGC Sales

Absolute Batman is now the biggest modern comic in the graded market. In two weeks of reported CGC sales (October 5 to 18, 2026), Absolute Batman brought in $206,876, more than any other 2020s title and more than Incredible Hulk, the top-selling 1970s title in the same window, according to The Collector Hub's analysis of GPAnalysis data. Here's what the numbers say, which issues collectors are chasing, and what to keep in mind before you buy, grade or sell.

The numbers: two weeks of CGC sales

The Collector Hub breaks down reported CGC-graded sales by decade, using transaction data from GPAnalysis. For the October 5 to 18 window:

19,091 CGC books changed hands for $6,709,282 in total, with a median sale of $100.
Absolute Batman (2024) led every 2020s title with $206,876 in sales.
That's 87.6% of the combined sales of the decade's top five titles ($236,061). The other four added up to $29,185, and the runner-up, Amazing Spider-Man (2022), brought in $8,865, per The Collector Hub's follow-up.
Incredible Hulk, the top 1970s title, brought in $198,382, about $8,500 less than Absolute Batman.
Four of the five most-traded 2020s issues were Absolute Batman: #1, #19, #15 and #20.

One note on that 87.6% figure: it's a share of the top five 2020s titles, not of every 2020s book sold. It still tells you how lopsided the modern graded market is right now.

Why a two-year-old book outselling the Bronze Age matters

Bronze Age keys like Incredible Hulk #181 have anchored the graded market for decades. Seeing a series that launched in October 2024 out-earn the top 1970s title, even for two weeks, is a sign of how much collector money is flowing into modern books.

Keep it in perspective, though. Absolute Batman didn't touch the top 1960s title, Amazing Spider-Man (1963), at $363,474, and a single CGC 9.0 Action Comics #1 sold for $1.3 million through ComicConnect in the same window. Those are high-dollar sales of scarce books. Absolute Batman's total comes from volume: lots of graded copies selling at modern-book prices.

How Absolute Batman got here

Absolute Batman #1 launched on October 9, 2024, as the first book in DC's Absolute Universe, written by Scott Snyder with art by Nick Dragotta. This version of Bruce Wayne grew up without the family fortune, works as a civil engineer, and builds his own gear, while the Joker is a billionaire. The series won the 2026 Harvey Award for Book of the Year and picked up five Eisner nominations the same year, per Wikipedia.

The sales came fast:

DC originally expected about 100,000 copies per issue. Strong pre-orders pushed the #1 first print to around 250,000, according to Wikipedia's summary of Snyder's comments.
Across its 2024 printings, #1 sold just under 400,000 copies to the direct market, per DC as reported by AIPT.
By December 2025, #1 was in its tenth printing.
The Hollywood Reporter, via Gizmodo, put the whole Absolute line at 8.2 million copies by November 2025, with Absolute Batman making up about 35%, or roughly 3 million copies.
In June 2026, Snyder said Absolute Batman #20 "sold over 500k," as reported by Bleeding Cool. That's an order figure for comic shops, including retailer-exclusive covers.

The Absolute Batman issues collectors are chasing

These are the issues showing up most in graded sales, with links to each in the ZKCC catalog.

Absolute Batman #1: The launch issue and the series' first appearances. Only true first printings carry the premium, so check the indicia before you buy. ZKCC currently lists 85 versions of #1, from foils to Batman Day editions.
Absolute Batman #15: Drawn by Jock, it reveals this universe's Joker origin. It had nearly 300,000 pre-orders, per Bleeding Cool.
Absolute Batman #19 and #20: These introduce the Absolute Universe's Robin characters. Sources disagree on which issue gets first-appearance credit. My Comics Collection points to #19 for Tim Drake, Jason Todd, Stephanie Brown and Duke Thomas, while other listings credit #20. Both issues are trading heavily in graded sales. ZKCC tracks 117 versions of #20 alone.
Absolute Batman #6: The end of the first arc, where the Joker is revealed as the force behind it. GoCollect noted sales reaching $100 in late 2025.

What graded copies are selling for

The top of the census is where prices get wild. Bleeding Cool reported in September 2026 that an unsigned CGC 9.9 copy of #1 sold on eBay for $10,000, and another sold for $18,000 about a month later. At the time, only ten copies had graded 9.9, and none had graded 10.0.

Most copies trade far lower. In December 2025, GoCollect counted 3,730 CGC-graded copies of #1 and a record CGC 9.8 sale of $401. For raw copies, ZKCC's price guide lists a Near Mint 9.4 copy of #1 at about $275 at the time of writing.

The bigger picture: comic shops are booming

The graded market isn't the only place the Absolute line is moving numbers. ICv2 reported on October 16, 2026, that comic shop dollar sales were up 22% from January to August 2026 compared with the same months in 2025, based on ComicHub store data. Graphic novels rose 28%, which ICv2 linked partly to Absolute collections reaching shelves. Single issues were up about 19% even against a tough 2025 comparison driven by the Absolute launches.

Before you buy, grade or sell

Absolute Batman's graded numbers are real, but a few things are worth weighing:

Print runs are big. Hundreds of thousands of copies per issue means scarcity lives in high grades, true first printings and limited-ratio variants, not in the regular covers.
Variants multiply fast. With dozens of retailer exclusives per issue, make sure you know exactly which cover you own.
Record the details. Printing, cover, grade and certification number all change what a copy is worth, so log them when you buy.
Two weeks is a snapshot. One strong fortnight doesn't guarantee where prices go next.

Track your Absolute Batman collection on ZKCC

With 85 versions of #1 and more than 100 versions of #20, keeping track of what you own gets complicated quickly. Zap-Kapow Comics Club catalogs the full Absolute Batman run, variants included, with price guide values and recent sales on each issue page. Add your copies, note your grades and printings, and see what your run is worth as the market moves.

FAQ

How much did Absolute Batman sell in CGC sales?

From October 5 to 18, 2026, reported CGC sales of Absolute Batman totaled $206,876, according to The Collector Hub's analysis of GPAnalysis data.

Is Absolute Batman #1 a good comic to collect?

It's the series' most-traded graded issue. Values depend heavily on printing and grade, so verify first printings and look closely at condition.

Which Absolute Batman issue has the first appearance of Robin?

Sources are split between #19 and #20, which together introduce the Absolute Universe's Robin characters.