An Enjoyable High-Energy, Non-Stop Fight For Survival: ‘Absolute Superman’ #21 Review

After the startling revelations of Seth-Adam’s origins at the hands of Branch last issue, Absolute Superman #21 continues to showcase the kinetic showdown between King Shazam and Superman, in a startling array of speed lines and lightning strikes that both illuminate this grand finale and capture the fierce energy and power of two super-powered beings going at it. Given I wasn’t too enamoured by the opening chapter of this recent story-arc, once again I have been gripped by Jason Aaron’s unfolding saga that introduces Black Adam into the Absolute Universe as well as Hawkman, Steel and, in the last issue, what seems to be our first glance at Raven, Atlantis’ Arion and Vandal Savage. Talk about world building, which was clearly one of the goals of this storyline. That and a truly jaw-dropping last page reveal that can only bode badly for Superman sometime in the future.

Artist Rafa Sandoval continues to dazzle with his art – working over breakdowns by Zander Cannon – with colourist Ulises Arreola really making the difference to the finished art and turning ordinary speed lines into integral, artistic flourishes and textures that make the most of what is possible with digital manipulation.

But it’s not just one drawn-out fight. The narrative depicts a Superman who endeavours not just to leave victims of natural or unnatural disasters behind, like the DC Universe Superman, but one who continues to check in with many, many people around the globe. Even stray dogs get his attention and care. This is a Superman who is arguably even more a beacon of hope – and in such a savage version of the DC Universe – than the mainstream DC Superman. But then, to survive the Absolute Universe, maybe you do need to shine brighter and offer even more hope. He even changes the rather brusque Hawkman to his way of thinking. Everywhere he goes, and everyone he touches, Superman brings much-needed hope to a dark universe. In between the main action, we have Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane taking on Talia Al Ghul, with equally high stakes. And with 21 issues in the bank, what is left in the rear-view mirror is a new universe that now seems to be that bit bigger and that bit more realised too in its inclusion of King Shazam, Hawkman, an ancient Justice League, a Blumhouse Brainiac and even Lex Luthor. 

I may run hot and cold with this title, but overall the work of forging a new, darker universe has been both successful and original in many ways. There’s been far more hits than misses, and this issue is a home run.