Double-Sized Issue Reviews!

This article contains spoilers for Absolute Superman #1 (2024) by Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval 

In this Darkseid-infused world, a new Superman searches for his way–but what are the fundamental changes to this “absolute” Man of Steel’s origin?

This is a story of the times and a glimpse into our own dystopia. A warning, as if Krypton was not already a pertinent scream to action, but this version a more relevant one. This is a story about power and hierarchy and control. A story of the weak being suppressed by those in power—and a stark reminder to not bleed the planet in the quest for wealth. Profit is not king. The dollar is not king. People are all that matter. 

I found Krypton to be the most intriguing part of this comic. Life on Krypton was shaped by class designation, with the highest rung being the Science League and the lowest branch being the Labor Guild—a class who had to pay for rain water to flourish their fields, a class who donned an “S” shaped crest on their chests. They were the people of steel. 

Jor-El was an educated citizen destined for the Science League, but who was ostracized for fighting against environmental recklessness (the equivalent in our world would be those fighting to protect the environment, such as indigenous Americans). And his wife, Lara Lor-Van, was reduced to the lower guild because of an essay she wrote about interstellar exploration. She was 9 years old. (We would call this idealism in our world.) And together they had a son who actively watched the world his parents lived in crumble.

We don’t know much about Kal-El yet, aside from the fact that he searches the stars for answers to questions he doesn’t even know. He still fights for the weak and those being taken advantage of. He has found his way to Earth. And he has a portable artificial intelligence, a slight downgrade from the hologram of Jor-El, which guides him. This AI tells him, “Kal-El, this is a planet of combustion engines, fanatical religions, and thermonuclear weapons. These people are never safe.” – (Absolute Superman #1 by Jason Aaron). It reminds him that Earth is suffering as Krypton did, a reminder of truth. It is another way of saying some worlds simply cannot be saved. 

This book is a powerful statement moving beyond the realm of story and into the nature of humanity. A reminder to not prey on the weak and if someone is being hurt, you stand up for them. These dystopian pages bound together to form what we call a “comic” is something special.

This is the Superman we need, the Superman for this age.

I highly recommend everyone pick up this book, which feels somewhat like a more refined New 52 Superman, though not as much of a jerk. In fact, he feels more like a child who has accidently wandered off on their own.

I will not be adding additional commentary here as I normally would. I would like us to sit with this for a little while. 

Overall, I gift this issue a 4 out of 5 stars for the beautiful artwork and impressive didactic story.