The Absolute Universe has gotten off to a hot start with how Batman and Wonder Woman kicked things off. Now it is Absolute Superman’s turn to solidify DC Comics newest publishing line. Superman can particularly standout given that what is detailed about Krypton can provide us greater insight into the cosmic side of the Absolute Universe. Given the changes we saw with Batman and Wonder Woman origin stories in the Absolute Universe we can expect similar big changes to happen to Superman. Let’s see how the Man of Steel’s story begins with Absolute Superman #1.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Rafa Sandoval
Colorist: Ulises Arreola
Letterer: Becca Carey
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #1 SOLICITATION
“SUPERSTARS JASON AARON AND RAFA SANDOVAL UNLEASH A SHOCKING NEW TAKE ON THE LAST SON OF KRYPTON! Without the fortress… without the family… without a home… what’s left is the Absolute Man of Steel!” – DC Comics
REVIEW
Absolute Superman #1 takes the baton from its sibling Absolute Universe titles and gets across the finish line for the first month of the publishing line getting the best result fans could hope for. As with its Batman and Wonder Woman counterparts, Absolute Superman #1 is a refreshing take on the mythos for the character.
A theme we see with each of the three Absolute Universe titles is the importance the parents have on each member of the Trinity. What is interesting about Superman’s Absolute Universe origin is that it appears to be given some more similar elements to Batman’s. That comes from one of the big changes specifically to Kal-El is that he actually got to grow up being raised by Jor-El and Lara-El. While we don’t know how log Kal-El lived on Krypton with his parents that change alone alters so much what the foundations for Superman are. That has clear snowball effects that further put into question the hand Darkseid had on altering the origin of every DC Universe character.
This revelation is given even more weight with how Krypton, and the House of El specifically, are altered. There has always ben a class system in Krypton’s portrayal but that is taken to another level with its Absolute Universe counterpart. Jason Aaron taking the different emblems to drive home the class divide between the elite and working class was a fascinating change.
Specifically having the classic Superman ‘S’ be the emblem the working-class wears grounds Kal-El as Superman in a new way. That immediately gives more weight to how Superman can turn something that was defined by class divide into a symbol of hope. It also provides some Kent Family values that Kal-El still grew up with because of where his family was positioned on Krypton.
Speaking of his parents, Aaron does a great job using Jor-El and Lara-El’s individual origins to provide further insight into the Absolute Universe’s version of Krypton. The storytelling that was very much appreciated is that Jor-El and Lara-El being that of individuals who were on the path to be part of the elite but their perspective of where Krypton should go clashed with the elites vision that they were kicked out. This was an effective way to have anytime Jor-El and Lara-El are on screen that we are shown the impact of Krypton’s class system.
The way Krypton is shown makes the present-day status quo on Earth stand out even more than it did in Absolute Batman and Wonder Woman. Absolute Superman #1 gets more into how there is a class system on Earth that in this case is controlled by monopolistic corporations. One such company is the Lazarus Corporation who has used its resources to run full military operations to enrich themselves. Their mercenaries decked out in Peacekeeper-style heavy armor along with more normal military-like officials showed that there is a lot of advanced technology on Earth. It was at least advance enough to force Superman to exhaust his solar energy.
This situation that Superman is in the present does put into question how long Kal-El has been on Earth. As Lois Lane, who works for the Lazarus Corporation, finds out in her debrief, Superman has hit several Lazarus Corporation operations around the world. There are enough to give the idea Superman has been on Earth for a little while. The length may not be that long since Superman’s armor, based on the one worn by Jor-El, is advanced enough to have an AI, likely built by Lara-El, but doesn’t look like it was built to adjust to his growth. Though since it is still an unknown it sets up the Krypton flashbacks to continue to be an important angle for when that planet was destroyed.
Ending Absolute Superman #1 with teases with Absolute Brainiac and the Kent Family farm being a desolate land bought by the Lazarus Corporation creates even more questions for future issues to answer. These questions, along with how we see Lois Lane as a military official, is laid the foundation for this series have a strong supporting cast and sub-plots to be going on.
Through it all, Absolute Superman #1 successful debut is also thanks to the excellent artwork by Rafa Sandoval. The design for Krypton with how Sunstone Crystals have been integrated into the look of the its elite cities. That made the farmland setting further show how big the class divide is on the planet.
The present-day scenes also got over how different this version of Superman utilizes his powers. He isn’t the all-powerful God-like hero. He is also someone that is still learning how to use his superpowers based on how quickly he burned through his stored solar energy. That was another subtle way to differentiate Superman from Batman and Wonder Woman, who in their debuts were showed to be well-trained fighters.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Absolute Superman #1 is a phenomenal start. Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval provide a lot of depth to Superman’s mythos in the Absolute Universe. The way that we deep dive into Krypton’s class system and how that alters the House of El’s origin created a greater connection between Kal-El and his parents. That connection leaves us with a lot of questions for the present-day status quo of Superman and what is happening on Earth. This all works together for a must-read comic book experience
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
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