Moreover, it also seems to wrap up the Brainiac storyline happening in the issue which in some ways wraps up the whole first arcs of the book. It also leans heavily into the building history of the book. We see more of Jor-El and Lara. We get a retelling of the brutal origins of Brainiac. Can Superman survivewhat Brainiac mentally couldn't? We once again see the resilience of this Superman. In this Darkseid fueled universe, this Superman truly is an inspiration. So flashbacks, retelling and adventure all sort of weaved into a great story by Jason Aaron.
Perhaps the biggest treat of the book is art. Like any good anniversary book, we get to see the art of the people who have helped build this book. Rafa Sandoval is back, giving us the flashback pages on Krypton. And Juan Ferreyra handles the pages in the current world. And Carmine DiGiandomenico does the brutal landscape in Brainiac's mind. With these artists working specific parts of the book as well as having done issues on the title, it feels like a true celebration.
The book starts with Jor-El and Lara meeting each other. She is trying to help repair a mine cave in. He has volunteered to go in and try and save miners trapped in the devastation.
It is clear they have similar feelings towards the world around them. It is almost love at first sight.
I have really loved the pro-actove Lara in this Absolute Universe and here her making the first move makes sense. Even this last panel of the two heading into a caved-in mine feels more like them entering the Tunnel of Love.
Here his attack is sending out an army of his drones down to Earth to destroy. Some become giant acting as bombs. Others become miniscule killing people from the inside out.
One thing we have learned about this Brainiac, he isn't a cold-hearted robot. He is a sadist and psychotic. These images are chilling.
And the drone attack is potentially violent enough that Superman has to agree to Brainiac's game or else the Coluan will destroy the planet.
The challenge is simple. Superman has to enter Brainiac's mind and live his early life. If he can survive that process, he can get the codes to deactivate all the drones.
You might remember Brainiac's origin from Absolute Superman #7. In it he has to dump drones like him into an incinerator. It drives him mad. Moving forward, we see Superman living that life, killing drones that look like him for years, losing his power over time and dismembering and battering copies of himself.
We again flash back to Krypton seeing how Jor-El and Lara have fallen in love and under the stars propose to each other.
It is very interesting to see these worker versions of Kal's parents, a mix of the scientists we know in the main universe while also having the workman ethics of the Kents. They are sort of the best of all worlds.
Even here he meets a version of himself who reminds him of being in Brainiac's mind, how this is a ploy to destroy the hero's psyche. But our hero has lost his senses, killing this voice inside and dumping it in the fire.
Is this really his own voice trying to save him? Or another trick? Remember, we have seen Brainiac plant images in Superman's mind in Absolute Superman #10. Either way, his reaction isn't like him, Perhaps he has broken because this violence isn't like him.
She discovers his lab in his home (nice page by Ferreyra, a cutaway of the house) and realizes perhaps Lex has gone mad too.
Back on the ship, it looks like Brainiac is going to get his wish (again from Absolute Superman #10).
Superman seems completely broken mentally. He is allowed to leave the processing center after years of slaughtering his lookalike drones, and confronts Brainiac. At last Brainiac thinks Superman will kill him, something he has dreamt of.
But instead, Superman says he has the drone codes Brainiac said he needed to fine to deactivate the real-life drones. And he isn't going to kill Brainiac at all. He was able to keep his sense by remembering all the good things.
Now that is resilience. Great page by Sandoval, a sort of recap of the series.
But before he can do anything, Lex Luthor shows up, toting some big guns, and shoots Brainiac, destroying the villain. Then he uses the guns to shoot Superman out of the ship and flies off in it.
This isn't your daddy's Lex. Brutal and out for revenge against the villain.
Do the guns look like Omegas? Perhaps Darkseid is nudging things.
Nothing left but the wrap-up.
Superman buries all the deactivated drones because 'no one is refuse', even robots. I really like this Superman.
And we see he has friends. Lana, John Henry, and Lois are all there.
Give me a Lana/Clark reomance in this universe please!
We get one last flashback showing Jor-El and Lara a bit later in life, checking in on Kal at school.
I only bring this to the review to show that Rafa Sandoval can draw children. That looks like a kindergarten aged Kal, not a little adult.
We end with a hint on the next arc.
Luthor has kept Brainiac alive. He is going to track down the Brainiac Collective in Brainiac's ship and then kill all of them, leaving this Brainiac alive to witness it.
I truly have enjoyed seeing this shy, awkward Superman who is still trying to figure out his life on Earth while also being a tireless hero. He is indefatigable. But also he is truly a pillar of good on this world.
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book or the Absolute Universe but this has been boon. This issue with all the artists back for pages and ending the Brainiac arc while showing who Superman is reminded all the reasons I have liked this title.
Overall grade: A-
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