Can you believe 2025 has already come to an end? I know, everyone says that every year, but I mean it. Overall, 2025 has been an amazing year to be a DC fan, and I wanted to share a few of the projects that I enjoyed the most over the past twelve months. It is an absolute honor to be doing my first ever Top Three for DC.com!
Absolute Martian Manhunter
If you have been online at all this year, you know everyone has been praising this project. And everyone is 100% right to do so. Absolute Martian Manhunter is one of those rare comics that truly bends and pushes the limitations of the medium. From the exploration of trauma and humanity through gripping psychological and psychedelic visuals to playing with backlighting to reveal something special as you hold your copy up to the light, there is so much to adore about this book. The artwork by Javier Rodríguez is quite literally out of this world—nay, out of this dimension. Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou brilliantly demonstrates the power of lettering and how it is a tool used to tell the story. And Deniz Camp masterfully retells the story of DC’s Martian Manhunter in a uniquely powerful way—an incredibly human way. This creative team will go down in comics history for their work on this series.
Absolute Martian Manhunter follows John Jones, an FBI agent who is recovering from a devastating explosion. He soon finds out that the accident has resulted in an extraterrestrial being becoming entangled with his mind. Now he is trying desperately to grasp his new reality. (John describes it as "somewhere between a color, a feeling, and a philosophy.”) As he discovers his new abilities and his new understanding of our universe, he learns to work with the “Martian” to take down an enemy that is influencing people to give in to their darkest impulses. Soon, John finds himself caught in the middle of a mind-bending cosmic war that threatens the fate of humanity, all the while he’s forced to deal with his own trauma and fears.
As somebody who wasn't overly familiar with Martian Manhunter outside of group settings, I didn't know what to expect with an Absolute version of his story. Yet when I opened the book and saw the stunning artwork, I knew this was something special. This book will move you. It will hold a mirror up to your own humanity, and you might shed a tear or two. I’d recommend Absolute Martian Manhunter to anyone wanting to get into comics, regardless of their familiarity with the DC Universe. It's that powerful!
Superman
This movie has had a cultural impact on the world: it has reignited hope in the hearts of millions. Superman is the original superhero, and everyone knows his story, but not everyone may be as familiar with who he is and what he represents. Superman does a perfect job of giving the world the hero we all need, especially when so many of us are feeling hopeless. David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan have ushered in a new era of superhero movies triumphantly.
This is the Superman movie we have always needed, and 2025 was the perfect time to bring it to life. And yes, that’s due to the political climate of the world. However you see things, we could all use some hope. But why do I love this movie as a comic book fan? The world feels so lived in. We get to see all these different characters from DC comic books. There are kaijus, magical beings and an emphasis on science fiction—all elements that, to me, make DC Comics so special. Sure, there are many dark stories within DC, but Superman is a character that typically represents the light. The fun. The hope. And this movie achieves these elements while setting up and crafting a new shared cinematic universe.
Superman was exciting, but most of all, it brought so many people together. It brought me closer to the character and history of Superman. And perhaps I'm biased, but it also introduced one of my all-time favorite characters to the DCU: Kara Zor-El. I am counting down the days until Supergirl comes out!
Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma
Let’s start this one with a warning. This comic might break your brain a little. Quantum is a key word in the series, after all.
I was drawn to Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma not because I knew much about the character, but because I'm a huge fan of Ram V’s work. His past projects have often explored existentialism and humanity through the curse of immortality, and Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma is no different. Joined by artist Anand RK and colorist Mike Spicer, this is a stunning story I can only describe as a Lovecraftian cosmic journey told through an Eastern lens with Indian and Buddhist visuals and mythology exploring the concepts of Samsara and Karma. (My dad is Buddhist, so I was very excited to see these elements explored!)
Much like Absolute Martian Manhunter, I’d say this explores a lot of the darker aspects of humanity, but through themes of war and death, we still see what makes people, people. The good and the bad. And the beauty of the small moments.
This concept is enough to draw in superhero and non-superhero fans alike. What if every time a man dies, whatever killed him determines the powers he will wield when he resurrects from the dead? For example, death by electrocution would give him the power of electricity. But what happens when this man gives up being a hero to settle down and fall in love, have a family and grow old? What happens when time kills him?
Mitch Shelley awakes, now, with the power of time. Every life forgotten now swirls in his head and fills him with purpose and regret. We explore Mitch’s lives through wars, through superheroics and through love, along with all the regrets that come with it. A big question Shelley explores is: What is the meaning of life if you have infinite of it? And how do you escape the cycle of suffering? This is a stunning book from concept to visuals, and I think the rereadability value is high. Every time you pick this comic up, you’ll notice or gain something new!
Visit DC.com tomorrow for another 2025 Top Three list!
Sami DeMonster writes about superheroes, horror and sci-fi for DC.com and reviews comics every week on social media. Follow her at @samidemonster on Instagram and Substack.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Sami DeMonster and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.
