Review: Absolute Superman #22

In what feels like a fast turnaround, Absolute Superman #22 came out this week, a mere 2 weeks after the last issue came out. It also starts a new arc for the book with Superman trying to track down Brainiac and, it seems, running into new villains on the way. 

The last arc with Superman fighting Black Adam alongside Hawkman and Steel was a beautiful brawl spanning the world and the moon. This issue, writer Jason Aaron continues to keep the action at a high level with Superman fighting Metallo, the mutated and tortured Christopher Smith Peacemaker. Indeed, the bulk of the issue are these two going at it, blood-soaked and brutal.

But much like the Black Adam story, throughout the brawl, Superman is hoping to make a connection, the de-escalate, and to help Metallo. I think that this is Absolute Superman's biggest strength. In this dark world where Metallo is a mentally addled young man tortured by Brainiac into being a weapon ... a sort of poster boy for the Absolute universe ... here is Superman trying to lift up, not punch down. 

Juan Ferreyra is back on art and brings it. Yes, the violence is gloriously rendered. But the character design is great too. And there is a page layout in the middle of the book that really reminded me of the power of comics, where words and images can mesh. Ferreyra is the perfect partner for a 1-2 punch art combo with Rafa Sandoval for this book. Sandolval does a great job on the cover with the looming Brainiac staring over the impending battle.

This almost felt like a rest issue rather than an opening chapter and was a bit of an exhale after the intensity of the Adam story. On to the book.

Review: Absolute Superman #17

Absolute Superman #17 came out this week, the finale of a quick two parter bringing Absolute Hawkman and Absolute Superman together to fight the Parasite. The first arc of this book was something of a slow burn, world-building and introducing our cast and fleshing them out. So this fast, action packed and brief story was an interesting change of pace.

Quick doesn't mean light or superficial. Writer Jason Aaron infuses the whole story with a comparison of Hawkman and Superman, their approach to 'heroics' and morality. Hawkman is an 'ends justify the means' guy. Superman is a much more inspirational figure, willing to sacrifice himself to save anyone else. Add in the Parasite, who seems more of a victim than a villain here, perhaps another way the Absolute Universe is a new angle and approach to characters. But the hero here is still Superman, who has matured in this book already, becoming the hero this world needs.

Juan Ferreyra again brings a sort of pastel panache to the proceedings. He brings the horror of the Parasite as well a Brainiac as well. This book has, at times, veered into body horror and we see that here. It is all gorgeously if not grotesquely rendered. 

I wouldn't mind a few more of these mini-arcs to help increase the mythos of this Superman.

On to the book.

Review: Absolute Superman #16

Absolute Superman #16 came out last week and was another fast-paced book for this title which was a sort of simmering pot for the first 13 issues. Writer Jason Aaron was doing a wonderful job of world-building in the first year of this title, layering depth so we understood this Kal's history and world. It stood out as a stark contrast to the go-go-go world of Absolute Batman. But with the Ra's book behind us, Aaron is putting his foot on the gas.

That isn't to say that Aaron has moved away from character moments and world-building. This issue gives us a lot of new threads and seeds to follow. Obviously, we get a lot of Absolute Hawkman in here, first seen in the Absolute Evil one-shot. We see his origin and we learn about his mission. And he is a brawler much like his main-universe counterpart. But we also get Lois moment, Clark moments, and the addition of an Absolute version of a classic Superman villain. I say it all the time. I didn't think I'd love this book. But this feels like an inspirational Superman doing his best in a dark world. Aaron is truly building this world.

Juan Ferreyra is again on art and brings a lot of action to the proceedings. He also is on color and I love how everything pops. There are flashback scenes in a sepia overtone. The color of the Sol-less cape blazes against the sort of washed out Hawkman. The action really is palpable. If this series becomes a 'Rafael Sandoval on one arc, Ferreyra on the next', I'd be happy!

On to the book!

Review: Absolute Superman #15

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.

You can tell immediately the change in tone and direction by comparing the covers by Rafa Sandoval.

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.