Where does Absolute Superman go after the Battle of Kansas? We soon find he returns to the Kent family farm, attempting to build something resembling a normal life. But Superman can’t escape being Superman, and writer Jason Aaron shows that domestic bliss is impossible when you hear every scream on Earth. What we get is a poignant look into the daily grind of being a hero and the unique burdens that are placed on Clark’s shoulders.
Juan Ferreyra Captures the Exhaustion of the Man of Steel
Due to his super hearing, Superman is constantly plagued by the world’s troubles. We see a montage of intense action scenes, where Clark mends a dam from breaking, swallows a wildfire threatening to burn down the Amazon, and rescues a ship from dangerous waters. These panels are beautifully portrayed by guest artist and colorist Juan Ferreyra, as he showcases Superman’s exhaustion through strained facial expressions, jaw clenched in panel after panel, and vivid scenes of destruction.
It’s not pure spectacle, as Aaron smartly slows things down to show another side of Superman. We see him on the farm, finding brief moments of happiness in between the terrified screams that plague him. The most profound scene finds Clark spending time with a terminally ill child. They’re an orphan, so when Superman hears their pleas to not die alone, he takes them to a gorgeous mountaintop where they can spend those final moments together. It reminds us that Superman isn’t always Earth’s warrior. Sometimes he’s our shoulder to lean on – making the time to help anybody no matter how big or small.
A Vulnerable Look at Clark Kent’s Mental Health
This doesn’t mean all is well, as Aaron shows the mental strain developing in our hero. There are multiple scenes where the stress is getting to Clark, and he needs his own release as he flies into the stratosphere to let out a pained scream of his own. Other Superman comics are often criticized for not showing him in a vulnerable state, which makes these glimpses all the more refreshing. Despite his powers, Clark is still a person with emotions, and being Superman is never easy.
Superman vs. Ra’s Al Ghul: A New Dynamic in the Absolute Universe
The best character work occurs whenever Clark visits Ra’s Al Ghul in prison. The villain is slowly wasting away due to his separation from the Lazarus Pit and he’s defiant as ever. Clark isn’t here to gloat though, instead stopping in to give a voice to Ra’s victims. This comes as a journal full of poems, stories and anecdotes from children affected by Ra’s crimes, which Clark recites to him each visit.
It’s a clever story device by Aaron, manifesting Ra’s horrible deeds into something physical. There’s a stunning moment when Ra’s, emaciated and a shell of the man he was, finally begins repeating the children’s words himself, showing Superman can inspire the darkest minds. Letterer Becca Carey cleverly portrays this in Ra’s text boxes. They start out bold and large, but get smaller and less defined as time goes on, giving one more creative nod to the man’s degradation.
Absolute Superman vs. Earth-0: Why This Version is Genuinely Scary
We also get a glimpse into the differences between this Superman and the main one from Earth-0. Absolute Superman isn’t above intimidation, as evidenced in the panels where he confronts a corrupt toy executive. In this scene, Superman is portrayed as downright scary. Ferreyra renders him as a dark silhouette, with his blood-red cape sprawled out like a demon’s wing. The fiery environment is bathed in bright, all-consuming oranges that creep ever closer to the executive. The cherry on top is when Ferreyra uses sinister reds to color Superman’s eyes. This isn’t the hero who comforts dying children, this is a man who terrifies the corrupt.
The Verdict: A Masterclass in Character Depth
After the spectacle of The Battle of Kansas, Aaron shows us the true burden of being Superman. He’s still the person everyone needs, and he doesn’t get to rest because there’s always one more person in danger. Being Superman is a constant choice, and lesser men would walk away. This issue shows Clark never will though, and that’s why he’s the right man for the job.
Read More from KPB Comics:
‘Absolute Superman’ #15 Explores the Burdens of Being Superman
After the spectacle of The Battle of Kansas, Aaron shows us the true burden of being Superman. He’s still the person everyone needs, and he doesn’t get to rest because there’s always one more person in danger.
