Absolute Superman has been a delight, with a new twist on Superman yet playing to the legacy of the character. So far, the series has explored Krypton and Superman’s youth quite a bit, but with Absolute Superman #4, it’s time to learn a lot more about Lois Lane. The story is back on Earth, and it’s further proof that Superman is a hero of the immigrants.
Absolute Superman #4 opens with a nine-panel grid, each featuring a different victim helped by Superman. Off-panel, Lois Lane speaks to them, although she is not seen. This compelling page draws our attention to the victims Superman fights for while we know Lois fights on the other side. At the same time, we sense her empathy and know she’s probably not as bad as her superiors.
Lois is the main focus of the issue, though Superman does show up to show off some impressive abilities. Writer Jason Aaron and artist Rafa Sandoval use this issue to develop Lois as a kind of free spirit working in a system she was told was righteous. The B-plot, however, shows us that the Peacemakers are anything but righteous and instead are fear-mongering and abusive.
Lois Lane is a badass.
Credit: DC Comics
That abusiveness shines through in the B-plot through a single Peacemaker who reveals to its AI authority that he’s not well. The authority does not care and instead forces him back to work. It’s further proof the Absolute Universe is largely built on fascist rulership. It does ring a little too loudly on some scale, but given the brevity of a comic, it makes sense to have a Peacemaker go from being abused to abusing others within a few pages.
Meanwhile, the character development of Lois is intriguing, revealing a woman who may be realizing what Superman is doing is the righteous thing, not the other way around. One can see the goodness in Lois here, even though she’s been indoctrinated for years. That shines through via a reveal of another Superman series mainstay, who is part of a whole other faction that further complicates things in this timeline.
Art by Sandoval continues to bring a level of detail that’s excellent. Superman’s stardust cape gets a lot of cool moments in this issue, showing a different ability similar to Batman’s smoke bombs. He’s, of course, backed up by colorist Ulises Arreola, who adds a realism that’s unmistakable.
With Absolute Superman #4, Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval continue to elevate the series by deepening the character of Lois Lane and reinforcing Superman’s legacy as a hero for the powerless. Though the B-plot struggles to fully land, the issue excels in its thought-provoking themes and striking visual storytelling. This is a must-read for fans seeking a more layered and morally complex Superman story.
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