Written by: Jason Aaron
Art by: Rafa Sandoval
Colors by: Ulises Arreola
Letters by: Becca Carey
Cover art by: Rafa Sandoval (cover A)
Cover price: $4.99
Release date: November 6, 2024
Absolute Superman #1, by DC Comics on 11/6/24, brings forth a new version of Superman into a universe composed of Darkseid energy, and the world will never be the same.
Is Absolute Superman #1 Good?
After the first read-through, I'm not sure what to make of Absolute Superman #1. Tonally, if not necessarily in specific plot points, writer Jason Aaron's take on the (young) Man of Steel feels a lot like J. Michael Straczynski's Superman: Year One. Aaron's Superman is younger, less sure of his place in the world, and still trying to figure out his limits, so Year One fans may like this take.
However, this first issue suffers from the same problem as Absolute Batman in that the major differences in Superman's origin are actually minor, leaving the rest of the differences to Aaron's not-so-subtle messaging about class distinction, oppressed workers, and environmental issues. In effect, Aaron's Superman presents as the Superman Tom Taylor tried (and failed) to create in Jon Kent, crossed with Zack Snyder's somber Man of Steel, which is in no way, shape, or form a compliment.
Absolute Superman #1 waffles back and forth between the past on Krypton and the present on Earth.
In the past, Krypton is heavily mired in an oppressive class system structure. The Science League rules over all as the pinnacle of Kryptonian achievement. Everyone wears the symbol of their class on their clothing at all times. The Science League's symbol is their red sun. You have other classes, such as the middle management class and the blue-collar worker class. Aaron's clever twist is that the blue-collar worker class is denoted by the familiar 'S,' so in this version, 'S' stands for "blue-collar worker."
Jor-El, a brilliant scientist ready to make his mark in the Science League, gets booted from consideration for entrance after making a graduation speech railing against the Science League's lack of concern for the Kryptonian environment. Now, Jor-El works in the blue-collar class as a safety inspector for the crystal mines. When a mining catastrophe confirms Jor-El's growing suspicion about an environmental catastrophe, the wheels are set in motion for Jor-El to save his son Kal-El, who stands about eight years old in the flashback.
In the present, Kal-El secretly travels from one location to the next to help oppressed workers who suffer under unsafe working conditions for the omnipresent Lazarus Corporation. Kal-El looks to be in his early twenties, and he uses his powers to help out low-wage workers in environs such as diamond mines to prevent loss of life and undue hardship. The world isn't aware of Superman since Kal-El travels in civilian clothes, covering his face with scarves and hoodies (hence the Year One vibe).
During his latest mission of mercy, Kal-El is confronted by the armed security squad sent by the Lazarus Corporation to capture the strange being causing trouble at the corporation's facilities. During the brief fight, we learn Kal-El's A.I.-driven suit acts as a knowledge base, warning system, and overall source of wisdom, similar to the relationship between Iron Man and his Jarvis A.I.
The issue ends with the realization that Kal-El doesn't have full control of his powers and has limited ability to store solar energy. Finally, the security operative leading the team from Lazarus and who ultimately captures Kal-El is Lois Lane.
What's great about Absolute Superman #1?
If you had no background on Superman or his Kryptonian lineage, Absolute Superman #1 makes for a pretty sound jumping-on point to connect with the Man of Steel that isn't the original but close enough to not be a completely alien version of the character.
Generally, Jason Aaron's pacing is solid, the very brief amount of action is well done, and it feels like Aaron put a lot of thought into the world-building.
What's not great about Absolute Superman #1?
This issue isn't bad on any technical level, so the good and the bad of it comes down to the creative choices.
Tonally, the book is somber to the point of depression. Everyone and everything is depressed or awful, so there's no fun or hope to be found anywhere.
The Darkseid energy twists are obvious, but the twists that exemplify a brand new Superman from a brand new universe aren't big enough to make you believe this Superman is truly different. Absolute Superman's differences are variations on the same basic character and history, so they're novel but not significant.
Lastly, Kal-El's Kryptonian background and the types of heroics he undertakes on Earth heavily suggest an activist-minded story, which makes the character feel overly grounded. Superman is a larger-than-life character, approaching godhood in his abilities and moral compass, so tackling issues of evil corporations and oppressed workers, while certainly an important cause, comes across as Aaron tackling issues that are important to Jason Aaron but wasted on Superman. This Superman feels weak and small.
Again, there's no technical problem with the issue, but Aaron's tone and creative choices are glum (read: not fun), and any major change meant to separate this Superman from the original is cosmetic at best.
How's the Art?
Rafa Sandoval is an amazing artist, so he brings his A-Game to every aspect of this issue, from the Kryptonian costume designs to the cinematic panel progression and transitions. Sandoval's style is certainly different than Nick Dragotta's work on Absolute Batman but equal in terms of quality and overall visual appeal. In short, I'm very happy with the art.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Final Thoughts
Absolute Superman #1 imagines a slightly different Superman who comes to Earth as an adult and sets out on his mission to save the oppressed and disadvantaged workers of the world, inspired by a Kryptonian legacy of class discrimination. Jason Aaron's glum take on Superman feels like a cross between Jon Kent's activist personality mixed with Zack Snyder's dour Man of Steel, sprinkled with a dash of inspiration from Straczynski's Superman: Year One. In a world where it's tough to find shining beacons of hope, Absolute Superman chooses not to be that beacon, but at least Rafa Sandoval's art looks fantastic.
7.8/10
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