It seems it’s time to flesh out the villains in Absolute Superman, with another getting highlighted in issue #8 out today. The heavy hitter in focus is Ra’s al Ghul, but that’s not all; this issue also forces Superman, Lois, and Jimmy Olsen to confront each other. The start of a new story arc, it’s about time Superman realizes he needs some help from friends, but who can he trust?
Absolute Superman #8 opens with a barbaric fight scene between Ra’s and Omega Men soldiers. He makes fairly quick work of them thanks to his strength and size. He’s ruthless with killing blows left and right, all the while taking an investor call. To put an exclamation point on this opening fight scene, we also see Ra’s al Ghul do something truly horrific to a baby. He’s a monster, yet cold and concise. A threat that should be hard for Superman to take down alone.
Which is a logical place to pick up Superman, who has come to Smallville. Here, he’s visiting his adopted parent, but he’s soon confronted by Jimmy Olsen, who is also an Omega Man. These scenes show Superman as the young and somewhat naive man that he is, especially after losing another parental figure. He’s also deeply untrusting of Lois and Jimmy, who make pleas for him to join their side.
As both Lois and Jimmy speak to Superman, we receive information on what the Lazarus project has done to Smallville, as well as how the public perceives the Omega Men. Lois finds herself in a tricky spot by the end of the issue, further pushing her to make a difficult choice.
This dude is messed up.
Credit: DC Comics
The villain’s side of things is further fleshed out thanks to Agent Smith, who we saw was targeted by Brainiac to be his next pet project. That project comes to light here, and Rafa Sandoval designs quite a costume that’s twisted and sci-fi about itself. On the reverse side, this pushes Superman to go all-out with a new look that’s somewhat like a knight’s suit. We’ve barely scratched the surface of what his suit can do, it seems. The ongoing red space dust effects continue to be a highlight when Superman goes into superhero mode.
At this point, the desire to see Superman make a choice and go against his loner persona is getting a bit frustrating. Though we’re only eight issues into the series, it seems like writer Jason Aaron has been beating the drum that going solo just isn’t going to work. Superhero comic readers will know he’s bound to join up with some faction, so at this juncture, it’s just a waiting game. Being a loner has also meant less exploration of Superman’s personality in the present day, with most being devoted to his childhood in the flashbacks. Another minor gripe, but with more focus on the villains of late, it’d be nice if we could learn how Superman ticks.
Issue #8 gives Absolute Superman another standout villain showcase and pushes the larger political and moral stakes forward, but the narrative still feels caught in a holding pattern when it comes to Superman himself. Gorgeous art and layered world-building keep it engaging, but it’s time for the Man of Tomorrow to stop hesitating and start acting.
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