Review: Absolute Superman #13

Absolute Superman #13 came out last week, the penultimate chapter in this longform opening arc showing us the Absolute world that this Superman lives in. The Lazarus Corporation and the anti-fascist Omega Men revealed as organizations run by the Al Ghul family who are hellbent to turn Superman to their view. He hold out leading to war ... the Battle of Kansas.

I have been very impressed with Jason Aaron's pacing on this title, a slow burn of us seeing this world, learning about Superman and the supporting cast, and their goals. Even though we were barreling to the battle we see in this issue, Aaron pumped the brakes last month giving us an issue about Superman and Sol. 

But now we are back in it. Kansas is under assault.

Still Aaron gives us so much characterization amid to warfare. Superman still feels isolated, still feels 'other', still feels lost. It feels a little strong here after hearing how he defends the underrepresented, how he loved the Kents, how he is honoring his parents. But it again shows us we are in that Absolute world. If anyone isn't mired in the darkness it is Lois and Jimmy, both of whom look very much like their main Earth counterparts here, being journalists and getting the truth out there.

Rafa Sandoval continues to blow me away on art. This read like a war book, with tanks and planes, and bombs. But mixed in are these powerful character moments and Sandoval captures them too. I am so impressed with Sandoval on this book and glad we are getting him on this finale.

On to the book.

Review: Adventures Of Superman Book Of El #3

Adventures of Superman Book of El #3 came out this week and was another warp-speed issue by writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Scott Godlewski. This is such an interesting book to try and dissect. It is both said at a surpringly quick pace. It is set in a highly constructed world with a deep mythos. It is set basically in two times. I don't know if I know exactly what is going on and who every one is quite yet. But I am here for it.

Johnson is a world builder. This issue is set in the dystopian future brought about by Kryl-Ux's takeover of the universe. There are Summer Men. There is Lanternholm. There is Brainiac. There is Ronan Kent. I have a sense of this world but not the deepest understanding. But in many ways, just three issues in, it reminded me of the Warworld Saga. Three issues in we were just learning of Warworld's culture, of chains and Mongul and Phaelosians. Eventually it was a fully established world. I know we will get there on this book.

Instead of doing all the heavy lifting and exposition, instead we get a fast paced issue where Superman and Ronan battle Brainiac. There is action and battles and fun. Johnson still scratches the surface of what this world but in a sort of glossy way. Throw in some very interesting text pages at the end and it felt like a good meal.

Godlewski's art is also solid. We get all these alien pieces, weird armor and Brainiac drones, but within Earth and it's trappings. His Superman is large and powerful in a very iconic way. 

On to the book.

Wizard Superman Tribute Edition

One of my latest side quests has been scouring the shops, conventions, and warehouses I go to and see if I can find the old comic magazines that were published, especially around creators and topics that I love. I read Back Issue currently for similar reasons.

These magazines are almost time capsules of a sort. Reading creators' ideas about upcoming titles and stories and then comparing to them now that they are in the rear view mirror. In particular, Comics Interview, Comics Journal,  and Amazing Heroes are my faves as they seemed to take the material and the discussions seriously.

At the summer end's Time Capsule warehouse sale, I found a box filled with them and grabbed a few. That included this "Superman Tribute Edition" from Wizard Magazine. Now Wizard has it's critics (and I might be one of them). The book was more hype and journalism but at the time ruled the roost as THE comic book magazine on the shelves. 

But I will admit this one was solid, a magazine that kept out right before Reign of the Superman hit the racks. It was still polybagged, complete with collector card. The cover is a die-cut, chromium enhanced fold-out by Jurgens and Breeding showing the Doomsday fight. 

The table of contents shows this was a mix of historical retrospectives (both pre-Crisis and post-Byrne), a mini sort-of who's who, and a very interesting article looking vaguely at the four 'Supermen' who made up the Reign. The creators can't go into too much detail as the books hadn't been released yet, so speak a bit veiled. Very interesting hearing them talk about these characters so entrenched now.

But I'll cover the Supergirl specific stuff in the book for this site (not that there is much).

Review: Superman Red & Blue 2025 Special

Last week, Superman Red and Blue Special #1 came out, a sort of autumnal surprise in this summer of Superman. I was a big fan of the original Red and Blue series, a prestige anthology series that came out 4 years ago (!!). As with any anthology series, that one had hits and misses. 

But I am happy to say that this special has four stories, all of which are very good and very entertaining. Whether planned or not, the stories seem to focus more on the person of Superman is and less on fast and furious action. 

Moreover, unlike some holiday specials which seem like a type of New Talent Showcase, this one is filled with names of established crators whose work I standardly love - Paul Dini, Mirka Andolfo, Dan Abnett, Rainbow Rowell, Cian Tormey, and Chris Samnee. It also has some established creators that are new to me like Michael Walsh and Caitlin Yarsky.

And yes, Supergirl shows up in the issue and I have to say there was a sigh of relief on my part as the story unfolded. 

So if you are looking for a lot of punches this might not be for you. But if who Superman is at his core is one of the things that intrigues you, you should seek this out for sure.

On to the stories.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween to those who celebrate the spooky holiday.

My tradition is to try and do some cool jack-o-lanterns which I thought I would share here.

First off the Fleischer Studios take on Superman. This truly has been the year of Superman so I thought it made sense to celebrate it here.

I also did an Escapist jack-o-lantern because my girlfriend and I just saw The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay opera at the Met last month. So this seemed timely!

Hope everyone gets more treats than tricks!

DC Comics Solicits - January 2026

DC's January solicits were released last week and while the Summer of Superman might be over, it could be that 2026 is the Year of Supergirl. 2026 opens with a lot of our favorite hero on the shelves as well as some other interesting surprises.

Here is a link to all the solicits:
https://aiptcomics.com/2025/10/24/full-january-2026-dc-comics-solicitations/

But the big thing is that while DC K.O. continues, Kara shows up in some unexpected places. I am pretty excited by what I am seeing here, including a new collection of one of my favorite Supergirl storylines of all time. Let's take a gander.

SUPERGIRL #9
Written by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Art by JOE QUINONES
Cover by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Variant covers by CHRISSIE ZULLO-UMINGA, JOE QUINONES, and LUCAS MEYER
Punk Rock Cardstock variant cover by MARGUERITE SAUVAGE

As the clock and the town of Midvale count down to midnight, Supergirl finds herself surrounded by new friends and found family as she ponders her New Year’s resolution. Will she turn over a new leaf, finally free of the shadow of her famous cousin, Superman? Plus, Lesla has a little secret that could lead to disaster!

I keep wondering if there is a 'chaos stream' story out there for this new Supergirl. So when I read the clock counting down to midnight, I thought it was there, the Witching Hour. But then I saw this was more a New Year's countdown. I wonder what this Kara's resolutions are. I don't mind her feeling independent, free from Superman's shadow and casting her own. But I hope she still feels part of the El family.

Joe Quinones is the perfect fill-in artist for Sophie Campbell on this book. I love his style and think it will mesh with the feel of the book. He drew one of my fave takes on Harley Quinn, so good I reviewed it on another site!

But there's more!

Review: Adventure Comics #291 (redux)

In the DC Comics December 2025 solicits, the plot of Supergirl #8 is shown to be our hero going up against her abandoned Linda Danvers robot duplicate. It is a story I can't wait to read. But it made me wonder when was the last time a Linda Lee robot had been seen in continuity. 

Now I freely admit that I didn't do a deep dive scrub of every comic but Adventure Comics #391 was the last story I found a Linda robot in. And boy what a story it is. The robot bit is the smallest part of a 12 page story that has planetary student exchange programs, a deeper dive into another world's culture than I would have expected, a deeper dive into alien anatomy than I would have expected, and more twists and turns that even the most wacky Silver Age story. It even has a college protest in it so it remains relevant today! So settle in! More plot and info is dumped in this back-up story than in many current comic 6 issue arcs.

But it is also one of those overly elaborate plots that makes little sense if you think about it too hard.

This issue also was a bit of a throwback for me to read again. Hard to believe but 10 years ago, I reviewed the cover story 'Linda Danvers, Super-Star' . That review was spurred on by Melissa Benoist talking about wire-work on the Supergirl show. That feels like a lifetime ago!

Anyways, this was a bonkers fun story to review and I promise that the destiny of one Linda Lee robot is definitively met in this story. If anyone knows of a later appearance of a robot double, please let me know and I will cover it here with full recognition.

On to the book!