Review: ‘Absolute Superman’ #9 Continues To Drag Out Superman’s Battle Against Lazarus Corp

If there’s one thing you really, really learn from this issue of Absolute Superman is that the Lazarus Corp is bad. Really bad. And it’s a fact that writer Jason Aaron has been letting readers know since the very first issue. However, after nine issues, it’s becoming rather tiresome. 

And so we get another issue of Superman taking on the Peacemakers, but this time getting a helping hand from the Omega Men. The distraction of Brainiac was a welcome relief, but now we’re two issues deep into a new storyline. While there is plenty of world-building occurring, it still relies too much on the all-powerful, all-consuming Lazarus Corp and its leader, Ra’s Al Ghul, to keep the story moving forward. The story of an evil corporation rapaciously dominating the economic landscape of this darker alternative Earth is an old one, played out far too many times in comics to be fresh. And while fans may well be appeased with the inclusion of familiar faces and objects from the DC universe, I’m starting to have second thoughts about this title and how much it has actually achieved in nine months. And I have to say… not a lot.

Yes, there are radically different takes on the likes of Jimmy Olsen, the Omega Men, et al, but these gimmicks can’t detract from drawn-out storytelling for too long. And Superman’s continual battling against the evil corporation of Lazarus Corp can only hold my attention for so long. 

On the plus side, Rafa Sandoval continues to amaze on this title even if he does share art duties with Fico Ossia, whose style is similar enough to Sandoval’s to avoid being a jarring reading experience. But, overall, I feel this story is dragging on a bit too long now and a change in focus would be most welcome. After all, there are so many rogues in Superman’s gallery that are ripe for the picking, so why dwell on Ra’s Al Ghul so incessantly?

Absolute Superman #9 is out now from DC Comics