Absolute Superman #20 came out last week, the next chapter in the pretty brutal King Shazam storyline. One thing for sure, there is a lot of action in this issue ... a lot. We see what happens when four immensely powerful beings battle across the globe.
What I like about this issue is that we see, again, how writer Jason Aaron shows this young Superman is inspirational in a Darkseid-fueled world. We have seen him turn Ra's Al Ghul. In this issue, we see Hawkman, someone we have seen be a killer, soften in the face of Superman's actions. I think that Hawkman seeing Superman and King Shazam, so similar in powers, next to each is probably a bold contrast.
That contrast is highlighted by the brawl that dominates the issue, a fight that goes King Shazam's way mostly. It shows what Superman could have been while Shazam slept. Watching Hawkman and Steel sort of be more like gnats in the face of this power shows what unchecked power can do.
Rafa Sandoval is on art and brings the kinetic energy to the proceedings. The fight is huge in scope and power and you feel every punch and blast. I think he slightly tilts the panels and even word balloons in some place to give the whole thing an off-kilter feel.
Throw in a new mini-mystery and a great cliffhanger and you have another solid issue in this book.
On to some details.