Review: Absolute Superman #24

Absolute Superman #24 came out this week and was another interesting, world-building issue. As I have said many times before, this book has, for the most part, been a bit of a potboiler, slowly building who Superman is over the initial skirmish with Ra's Al Ghul. But now we know who he is. 

While this is the middle of the 'Find Brainiac' arc, this really would be a perfect jumping on point for this title. If you want to know this world and this Superman, you could pick this up and get a great idea of both those things. And what I like about this issue is that it is told through the view of John Henry Irons. Steel is witnessing Superman up close and he comes out impressed and inspired. There could have been a 'Great Jumping On Point' cover dress here.

Writer Jason Aaron is showing us an interesting take on this Darkseid-fueled world. Yes, it is a darker world. But Superman is able to inspire and change this world. He is still Superman. Moreover, we see it in this issue three times over. This is the first appearance of Absolute Chemo, Atomic Skull, and Bloodsport. All of them are turned by Superman and Steel towards kindness. 

Superman is also shown to be the shy kid who is overworked and too busy thinking about others to think about himself. I wonder if we will eventually see him get to a point where he feels he can take a night off.

Juan Ferreyra is on art and his art here is less color pencil-y than I am used to but it is still gorgeous. I love the designs of the villains. And his Superman is a specimen.

On to the issue.

We are a bit nonlinear in this issue as the story unfolds on several timelines and battles. 

John Henry is now working for Superman, on the Kent Farm, utilizing Sun Crystals to help. 

Superman remains on the hunt for Brainiac. He runs into a living Lazarus Project chemical pile. That's Chemo! But he is in pain!

I like how Irons remains almost dumbfounded on how Superman is single-minded and put his own life in danger to help others. 

Superman divulges he is from Krypton, carrying all that is left from his world on his back.

In perhaps the most poetic and purple-est prose in the book, Irons notes how Superman is 'caked with the ashes' of his past. That is both literal and metaphorical. If Superman can rise above, maybe Irons can rise above his own past. Remember, he was bilked by Lazarus, put to work in a slaughterhouse, and was prepping to kill Ra's. 

Next up, a failed Brainiac experiment ... the Absolute Atomic Skull. 

Like Chemo, Skull is in agony. While he is screaming, and trying to eat radioactive material from nuclear power plants, and lashing out. He is screaming about leaving him alone but his projected telepathic thoughts are ones of wanting to be put out of his misery. He can even mind-blast Superman!

He is absolutely terrifying. Great design by Ferreyra. 

But you feel for him. Another created villain living his life in agony.

Irons finally admits that he was close to killing someone, only to see Superman fly into peril to fight the Parasite. How could he be so callous with Superman so virtuous.

I love Superman's response. He points out Irons didn't kill Ra's. And he helped against King Shazam.

Superman chooses to believe in who people are, not what this evil world can make people. 

Now that is a very Superman thing to say. But saying it on this world, where the world seems hell-bent to warp everyone in a dark way, it is even more powerful.

Clark and Irons friendship grows. Irons continues to learn about sun stones. He is making a new suit.

But there is downtime. Here they are at the Smallville diner where Lana is waitressing. 

After all this inspiring talk and big presence, I love to see shy Clark unable to chat with Lana, let alone ask her out. He is quiet. He doesn't sleep. He is constantly on the move, to help.

I hope he asks this Lana out. Yes, we have seen sparks between this Superman and Lois. But I'd love to see a Smallville romance.

Next we see the new Bloodsport. Another great design. Looks like something out of Aliens. He has been armed by Brainiac. 

As with Atomic Skull, the newly armored Steel helps out here. I love the wide-screen pages for this battle. I love how the back of Steels armor has sun crystals poking out like the rays of the sun. Very very cool.

Another fun moment for Superman telling Irons that he should not wear his helmet all the time.

This is a warm moment. You want to help people feel comfortable. A hero showing his face is much easier to relate to and to not be afraid of.

I don't always post whole pages. 

But here we see how all three villains have been helped by Superman and Steel so much to basically change their life direction. 

Chemo in a containment suit is now not in pain and lashing out.

Atomic Skull is in addiction therapy and improving.

Bloodsport is in jail but is thriving in classes.

Even on Absolute Earth, Superman can help and inspire.

And he inspired Irons.

He is a 'man of steel' like the workers on Krypton forced to wear the S-shield. So he adopts it too. 

Now that is a great ending.

I have to say, this is part three of 'Get Brainiac' but this is a standalone issue. If you want to understand this world and this character, or share an issue to a friend, this should be the issue.

Overall grade: A