Written by: Jason Aaron
Art by: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Colors by: Ulises Arreola
Letters by: Becca Carey
Cover art by: Rafa Sandoval, Ulises Arreola (cover A)
Cover price: $4.99
Release date: April 2, 2025
Is Absolute Superman #6 Good?
Recap
When we last left young Kal-El in Absolute Superman #5, Krypton came to a violent end when over-mining and lack of ecological care caused the planet to fall apart. The El family planned to take a number of friends and neighbors with them aboard a ship designed to escape, but the ship was catastrophically damaged during the takeoff. Only Kal-El managed to escape Krypton's destruction...as far as we know.
Plot Synopsis
In Absolute Superman #6, the series graduates from the last days of Krypton to the first days on Earth. After Kal-El was cast into the void of space to avoid Krypton's destruction, Kal-El suffered through moths of uncertain isolation. Sol, the ship's A.I., supplied the Kryptonian with information and guidance, but the hunt for a habitable planet stretched into an uncertain future.
After eighteen months, the mental weight of isolation drove Kal-El to consider ending his journey prematurely and permanently. When Kal-El reached his lowest point, Sol found a planet that met all the criteria for habitation, but the planet's yellow Sun seared Kal-El's body with intense pain. Lower on power, the ship crashed in a farm field owned by an older couple named Kent.
The Kent Farm was on the verge of financial ruin due to a lack of rain and healthy crops. Martha Kent was certain that their unwillingness to sell their land to the Lazarus Corporation resulted in a lack of rain from the Lazarus weather pacification network. Pa Kent wasn't convinced about the extent of Lazarus Corp's power, but he agreed that rain always seemed to pass their farm by.
When the ship crashed, the Kents witnessed a teenager stumble from the wreckage, but the ship disappeared as if it was absorbed into the teenager's body. Martha spent weeks nursing the teenager back to health, avoiding sudden outbursts of deadly power that neither the Kents nor the teen understood. Eventually, Sol's cells recharged enough to fully activate Kal-El's suit and provide language translation. The Kents finally make a connection with a teenager they don't fully understand, but the moment of happiness is interrupted when Lazarus Peacemakers arrive to take Kal-El into custody.
Elsewhere, we learn the mastermind behind the Lazarus Corporation and Brainiac is the eternal Ra's Al Ghul.
First Impressions
Absolute Superman #6 is probably the first issue in the series that gives the older Kal-El a personality and a sense of purpose. Now that the rehash of Krypton's fate is over, Aaron has circled around to bring focus to what matters. On the whole, this is the strongest issue so far.
How’s the Art?
It seems odd that the start of a new arc, the arc that finally defines this alternate take on Superman and drives the story forward, would be kicked off by a guest artist, but here we are. That said, Carmine Di Giandomenico does a fantastic job with dramatic framing, powerful action, and strong emotional beats. Carmine Di Giandomenico has a different style than regular artist Rafa Sandoval, but the level of quality is just as good, which is all you could ask for a guest artist.
What’s great about Absolute Superman #6?
The two big complaints of Jason Aaron's take on the Man of Steel have been the slow pace and the over-focus on Krypton. Thankfully, this new arc addresses both problems by picking up the pace and focusing on Kal-El's journey after Krypton. Kal's brief relationship with the Kents explains their role as Kal's would-be adoptive parents and Kal's first unpleasant interaction with Lazarus Corporation explains his motivation to work against the organization in the first issues. Aaron establishes quite a bit of character development and motivation, which has been sorely lacking.
What’s not great about Absolute Superman #6?
Now that we're at the pivotal moment where Kal-El crashes to Earth and meets the Kents, besides Kal's age and the special suit, the story still looks and feels like the traditional origin story. In other words, Jason Aaron spent six issues (and thirty dollars of your money) to rehash an old story with minor tweaks. Therefore, the big downside of this issue, and the series as a whole, is a genuine lack of imagination in making Absolute Superman truly distinctive.
Absolute Superman #6 picks up the pace and re-centers focus on Kal-El when he first arrives on Earth. Jason Aaron's script reinvigorates the series by building out Kal's character and explaining why he thinks and feels the way he does about Earth and Lazarus Corporation. Sadly, the five-issue building up to this point leads you to the classic Superman origin story with just a few tweaks, underlying a lack of imagination or surprise in Aaron's concept.
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 #6 picks up the pace and re-centers focus on Kal-El when he first arrives on Earth. Jason Aaron's script reinvigorates the series by building out Kal's character and explaining why he thinks and feels the way he does about Earth and Lazarus Corporation. Sadly, the five-issue building up to this point leads you to the classic Superman origin story with just a few tweaks, underlying a lack of imagination or surprise in Aaron's concept.
7/10
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