Since it started, Absolute Superman has been about the dynamics between the powerful and the weak. Kal-El grew up working class, suffering at the hands of the elite Science League, before coming to Earth and seeing Lazarus do the same to the Kents. Writer Jason Aaron puts these themes front and center by introducing another DC character who grew up oppressed. Clark will soon have to face his most powerful foe yet.
- Title: Absolute Superman #18
- Creative Team: Jason Aaron (Writer), Rafa Sandoval (Artist), Ulises Arreola (Colors), and Becca Carey (Letters)
- Characters: Superman (Kal-El), Black Adam, Lois Lane, Ra’s al Ghul, and Talia al Ghul
- Villain: Lazarus and The Brainiacs
- Format: Ongoing Series
- Our Rating: 9/10 Stars
Two DC Staples Make Their Absolute Debut
So, who is Shazam in the Absolute universe? Black Adam holds that mantle, and this issue kicks off with his origin. It’s similar to his Earth-0 counterpart; he’s still a former slave from ancient times, but there’s a twist. The Braniacs are the ones who granted him powers. It’s a fascinating swerve that’s sure to inform his motivations and may be the catalyst that puts him at odds with Clark.
In the present, we find Lois Lane hot on the trail of Ra’s and Talia al Ghul. It’s not long before Superman shows up at the scene, trying his best to defuse the situation before Absolute Steel is introduced to complicate an already tense confrontation. It’s soon revealed that Lazarus had been storing Black Adam here, with the powerful metahuman breaking free on an ominous last page.
Black Adam and The Redemption of Ra’s al Ghul
Aaron cleverly focuses on the parallels between Black Adam and Superman. Their stories aren’t all that different. Black Adam had to starve while the Pharaoh was eating well and living in comfort. Superman also grew up a worker on the bottom rung of a caste system. However, these men couldn’t have reacted to their situations more differently. Black Adam allowed his status to make him bitter towards the world, with letterer Becca Carey using bolded words and uppercase fonts to channel his spite, while Clark uses it to find common ground with the people he’s trying to save.
Ra’s is definitely the standout character of this issue. Superman had just reformed him, convincing the man to renounce his evil ways. It would have been too easy for him to fall back into the same patterns, but that doesn’t happen here. Ra’s has changed for the better. He refused Talia’s offer to use the Lazarus Pit and restore his strength, instead sabotaging the machine so no one else could use its insidious waters. It’s another example of why Superman is such a special character. He doesn’t just do the right thing; he inspires everyone around him to do the right thing as well.
Rafa Sandoval Comes Back To Absolute Superman
Rafa Sandoval returns as the chief artist after Juan Ferreyra handled the last three issues and shows why he’s a brilliant choice for this run. There’s an anger that’s plagued Clark’s character in this series, and he leans into that. Superman is borderline scary when he arrives at Lazarus Corp. He bursts through the walls, debris flying everywhere, as Sandoval uses a low angle shot to make the Kryptonian look menacing. Colorist Ulises Arreola bathes Superman’s eyes in sinister reds, while Sol spreads around him like hellfire. This isn’t your cheery Golden Age Man of Steel.
Verdict: Should you buy Absolute Superman?
Ultimately, Absolute Superman #18 knows what makes Superman special. It’s how he inspires the world. Ra’s became a better man because of him, while his contrast against Black Adam shows us a better way to overcome our past. If you’re ever in doubt, just ask yourself one thing. What would Superman do?
