Absolute Superman #2 – Jason Aaron, Writer; Rafa Sandoval, Artist; Ulises Arreola, Colorist
Ray – 9.5/10
Ray: Of all the Absolute books, this is probably the one that has taken the least huge swings so far, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a fascinating thrill ride of a book. It spins out of the question of what would have happened if Krypton blew up when Superman was a teenager, not a baby, and this has created a hero who is far more distant from humanity but very akin to the original 1930s who was a hard-core defender of the disenfranchised. Last issue we saw him playing the role of a miner in Brazil, defending a team of hapless workers against the brutality of their masters in Lazarus Corp. He helped a group escape, but soon found himself under the gun from one of the corporation’s soldiers – Lois Lane, who here likely never had the opportunity to get out from under her father’s influence. And so these two iconic figures find themselves tied together once again – but in a very different way.
The dynamic between Kal and Lois this issue is a lot of fun, as she cuffs him and completely underestimates his ability – and her fellow soldiers, particularly the Peacemakers, do not care if they hit her in the process of capturing him. There is barely time to breathe, let alone talk, but it’s clear those two start to understand each other a little slowly before they part ways, and Lois may start to discover a little more of who she’s supposed to be. But we also get some more glimpses of Krypton, and this is clearly the most modern-inspired version of the planet we’ve seen. This is a world where disinformation is law, where AI has become not only a part of life but more valued than human thought, and where two people’s quest to save their son makes them outlaws. This is a fast-paced, thrilling read with some great moments, but it keeping its lead at arms’ length means it can’t quite reach the heights of its two counterpoints yet.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
