Absolute Superman has set a strong foundation to explore this new version of the Man of Steel. As we’ve seen in the first two issues in the Absolute Universe the person going by Superman is just Kal-El. Given the history of the character we’ve seen in brief flashbacks it appears that Kal-El live on Krypton for an extended period of time before being sent to Earth. Now Absolute Superman #3 looks to expand on the story we’ve only touched on as the solicitation for this issue promises a look into what happened to Krypton. Will we get the full story of the fate of the Absolute Universe’s Krypton? And what discoveries will be made? Let’s find out with Absolute Superman #3.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Rafa Sandoval
Colorist: Ulises Arreola
Letterer: Becca Carey
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #3 SOLICITATION
“MEMORIES OF KRYPTON! Years ago on Krypton, Jor-El and Lara became utterly convinced that their planet was headed towards cataclysm. But what could two lowly peons of the Labor Guild possibly do to save their entire species? The answer is decidedly not what you think…” – DC Comics
REVIEW
A sign of a master storyteller is the ability to get the reader invested even if they know where the journey ends. That is the case with Absolute Superman #3 as we all know Kal-El’s present on Earth. Even knowing that Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval build a story that your fully invested in. That investment leads you to ignore knowing about Kal-El’s present as Absolute Superman and stay in the moment of this story.
The investment in the story of Absolute Superman #3 most importantly gets you to forget the obvious fate of Krypton. Aaron and Sandoval do such a great job at portraying the dynamic between Jor-El, Lara-El, and Kal-El as a tight family unit. This adds to how different the Absolute Universe is as we are finally seeing a Kal-El raised by Jor-El and Lara-El. Aaron plays into how Kal-El would’ve had a supportive family environment just like he did on Earth.
This makes a young Kal-El’s own journey in discovering what is going on with Krypton’s capital city a stronger event. Kal-El’s going from innocent student to making a massive discovery as he was writing his school report helped peel back the layers to what was going on in Krypton. It gets into how horrifying the lead up to the explosion of the planet is as there were plenty of signs that could’ve helped prepare the public.
Kal-El’s discovery led to us being shown how Krypton’s explosion had this major cover up angle. The Science League covering this up as just natural gas leaks rather than Kryptonite like vapors that were killing people, animals, and vegetation. This further paints the Science League as an oppressive authoritarian government. Even though they had such incredible advance technology that could help rally people the Science League was only concerned for the safety of the elite nobles.
While this all continued to build Kal-El as the series lead, it was Lara-El, his mother, that was the star of Absolute Superman #3. Seeing how Lara wasted zero time in saving her husband when Kal-El told her about Jor-El being captured put her over big. She wasn’t just one of the smartest people on Krypton, she was a total badass that even the Science League couldn’t stand up against.
Lara breaking Jor-El out, with Krypto’s help, also worked to put over the advance tech suit we see Absolute Superman using in the present. Lara’s use of the suit established what the full potential of the suit was. In the process it explained why this version of Superman powers appeared different. It also gives greater meaning to the entire costume rather than just the symbol on his chest.
This event added to the escalation of Jor-El and Lara’s secret plan to build their own spaceship to leave Krypton. In a bit of a swerve, we along with Kal-El learn that the spaceship they built was made to help their family, neighbors, and as many Kryptonians as possible. This highlighted how Jor-El and Lara are the rebels to contrast the Science League, who are only concerned about the elite nobles on Krypton. This revelation is a strong set-up to get us curious what went down in the final day of Krypton and if there are more survivors that made it out with Kal-El.
That set-up played in well to the hook ending of Absolute Superman #3. After it appeared that we wouldn’t be getting much of a hint about them we see a delirious Martha Kent in a retirement home. What stood out even more than Martha’s appearance is that she had a picture of who appears to be Kal-El/Clark Kent on her bedside. What this means for Kal-El’s history after arriving on Earth will be interesting to see.
Once again, Rafa Sandoval delivered a spectacular looking issue. Sandoval gives Krypton a unique look. The planet’s culture and technology comes across as something you haven’t seen anywhere on Earth. It is distinct to what Krypton was as a society before the planet’s destruction. Creating such a vibe made the decisions made by the House of El even stronger as the tension grew with the countdown of Krypton’s destruction ticking down.
FINAL THOUGHTS
After the previous issue focused on the present, Absolute Superman #3 placed a spotlight on the past. Specifically, Kal-El’s history on Krypton before it exploded. Getting this extended time on Krypton opened up the mythology to further craft the unique identity of the Absolute Universe. In the process Lara-El is put over as a total badass with what she and Jor-El continue to work on to save their family given a cool twist. It is a twist that builds anticipation for the inevitable fate of Krypton.
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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