Just a couple of weeks ago, I reviewed Absolute Superman #14, the ending of a long, world-building arc for our hero. I thought perhaps the ending seemed a little too quick with Ra's Al Ghul almost laying down after a gruesome battle. But that was that, the opening arc teaching about this Kal and his fight against the Lazarus Corporation was over.
Last week, Absolute Superman #15 came out, a 'new story' trumpeted on the cover, complete with a new artist Juan Ferreyra. This new direction has been earned by writer Jason Aaron whose deliberate pace gave us wonderful world-building here. With Ra's defeated and the existence of the Superman a bit more public, it is time for our hero to come into the sunlight.
And that is what this issue is about. Superman is a public hero now, trying to do everything he can to help people, perhaps overdoing it. He is an inspiration in action all over the world. But he also is trying to be an inspiration to the defeated Ra's. What I really like is how while trying to do what's right, it is clear this Superman is a little uncomfortable in this role, a little taxed.
All that said, this is an issue filled with hope, something I haven't seen much of in the absolute universe.
Issue #1, black-garbed Superman, face looking down, in shadows walking through a parched field.
Issue #15, blue-garbed, flying upwards, face in the sun, birds flying around him, angelic.
A new story indeed.
Part of that new feel is artist Juan Ferreyra. His style is strong and energetic in the heroic scenes. It is quiet enough in the smaller moments to convey emotion. I hope he is on the book for a long time.
On to the book.
Superman blasts the wall of Schott's highrise office and tells him that his times of being untouchable is over.
She also asks him if he ever wants to head to the diner together.
And Brainiac tells Talia to buzz off, he has a new person to try and work with ... Luthor.
The book starts out in a Smallville which is suddenly a sleepy little town again. With Ra's defeated, Lazarus has packed up and left. Clark is working the Kent farm.
There is little rest for him.
A running theme in the book is that Clark hears the screams of all those in need all the time. And he feels compelled to help everyone he possible can. There is no rest for him. This will be an interesting theme if Aaron keeps exploring it, how this Clark learns to draw a line somewhere to protect himself.
A running theme in the book is that Clark hears the screams of all those in need all the time. And he feels compelled to help everyone he possible can. There is no rest for him. This will be an interesting theme if Aaron keeps exploring it, how this Clark learns to draw a line somewhere to protect himself.
Great transformation panel here by Ferreyra. I like the 'colored pencil' feel of the dust cape. And peek into the cracks and you see overalls, skin, and his suit as he dons the costume. Pretty cool.
We get a really great representation of this theme in this panel. Superman is trying to hold back a collapsing dam. He is small in the near splash page. But the screams from people, both big threats and small, are huge in comparison. This is the noise he is bombarded with.
No wonder he feels overwhelmed.
And then a wonderful introduction to the new Toyman.
Winslow Schott is a billionaire toy developer who abuses his overseas workers, has deplorable work conditions which has led to deaths, and is raking in more money. And this populist Superman isn't going to stand for it.
Superman blasts the wall of Schott's highrise office and tells him that his times of being untouchable is over.
Or maybe his feast is over. This completely smacked of the famous scene Batman Year One where the Dark Knight confronts the millionaires of Gotham. I asked it I was on the right track.
Jason Aaron confirmed it. This time I was right.
But while he is rushing around saving people (and we see plenty of mini-adventures), he is still trying to close the loop of what he has been through.
Brainiac's lab is destroyed as are all the shrunken cities he had. And there does not appear to be any evidence of a Kandor here in this universe.
Again, the art does a lot of work here. Clark is mourning the lack of Kandor. He is missing Sol. These panels are small, in silhouette, like he is shrouded. It amplifies the sorrow.
It would have been easy for Aaron to just have the issue solely show us this overworked Superman flying all over. But he gives us a couple of scenes bolstering the supporting cast.
Lois Lane is in Metropolis, fielding job offers, as she veers into investigative journalism. Even she can sense he is over-doing it, exhausted.
But I like how she asks him out on a date. I really like this take on Lois.
And in Smallville, where everyone knows Clark Kent is Superman, they see him rushing off and want to help him. Lana asks if he is sleeping or taking care of himself.
She also asks him if he ever wants to head to the diner together.
A Lois/Lana/Clark love triangle?? I doubt it. But I like how those old notions are creeping into this Absolute world.
I have said that there are plenty of mini-adventures and rescues throughout the book. But there is a sort of scaffolding storyline. Clark visits Ra's in his Pakastani prison and reads Al Ghul the poems and letters from victims of the Lazarus Corp.
Throughout these scenes we see Ra's rapidly aging away from whatever Lazarus goo he uses in this universe. He is reprehensible, screaming he will kill Superman and these people if freed. But as he ages, he grows wiser? The rants are there but more muted.
As much as saving dams and giving peace to dying cancer victims is being inspirational, this focus on trying to turn Ra's is just as inspirational if not moreso.
This panel stuck out though. Who is he? Clark? Kal? Superman? The main universe hero has had a life to navigate those waters. This one? These identities have been sort of thrust on him. I hope this is another character plot Aaron investigates.
Truly, this issue showing us this new active Superman trying to save the world and instilling hope big and small was wonderful.
But we get two cliffhangers.
One, the Absolute Hawkman decides to confront our hero.
Gorgeous splash by Ferreyra.
And Brainiac tells Talia to buzz off, he has a new person to try and work with ... Luthor.
Whew!
If you needed an issue to showcase this world, epilogue the old arc, and be a jumping on point for a new arc, this was it. While I felt a little flat with last issue, my enthusiasm for the book has rebounded. Wonderful issue.
Overall grade: A
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