As an effective method of dealing with electromagnetic pollution and realizing equipment battlefield stealth, absorbing coating materials have extensive application prospect. Carbon series materials are highly praised by the researchers home and abroad since they feature in extensive sources, simple preparation technology, low density and high conductivity. The loss mechanisms of absorbing materials were narrated, and resistance loss, dielectric loss and magnetic loss as well as loss and absorption principles of electromagnetic wave were introduced. In addition to research progress in absorbing materials, the characteristics of novel carbon series absorbing materials such as carbon fiber, carbon nanotubes and graphene were reviewed. The activation of carbon fiber, application of porous carbon fiber and spiral carbon fiber instead of common carbon fiber could effectively improve its absorbing properties. Array shaped multi-walled carbon nano tubes were the best absorbing materials of various carbon nano tubes. It was proposed that blending, coating or filling materials subject to magnetic loss and carbon nano tubes was the main research focus at present. Graphene had minor magnetic loss, its impedance match was poor when being used alone and the absorbing property was inhibited. Graphene and magnetic loss type composite absorbing materials were usually compounded to improve the impedance match and absorbing effect. At last, future development focuses were prospected based on the research progress of novel carbon series absorbing coating materials.