Absolute Superman #3 – Jason Aaron, Writer; Rafa Sandoval, Artist; Ulises Arreola, Colorist
Ray – 9.5/10
Ray: While this is ostensibly the story of a Superman who grew to adulthood without the many advantages of the one we know, the fact is we haven’t seen all that much of this Superman on Earth yet – and in fact, this entire episode is set on Krypton. Aaron has done a great job of establishing that this version of Krypton is a deeply repressive place, run by a combination of science denialism, AI, and class warfare. Kal, like his parents, quickly butts up against the system – and they approve. The relationship between the three of them is really the heart of this series, as the countdown to the destruction of Krypton looms. Rafa Sandoval is an artist who I don’t feel gets that much attention, but this is the best work of his career, especially depicting the unique natural landscapes of Krypton’s prairie. It’s a fascinating way to combine Kal’s farm upbringing on Earth with a new direction.
This issue is also the most action-packed of the lot so far, with Krypton’s last days coinciding with Jor-El finally angering the authorities a little too much. Imprisoned with time ticking down, Jor-El’s last hope is Lara – who dons the experimental super-suit and pulls off the best prison break in DC Comics history. We’ve seen the escape from Krypton many times, but rarely with this sense of tension and urgency, and rarely with the twist that comes near the end of the issue. Many of the plots here are a little reminiscent of many end-of-the-world movies that deal with class warfare, just on another planet. But while the main plot may play out as expected, there is one great twist after another that keeps things fresh. The last page in particular brings in an iconic figure from Superman mythos and asks some key questions about what her role in everything was here. Just like the other Absolute books, it’s really interested in keeping us guessing.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
