Brainiac had his way with Superman last issue, but now it’s time for Superman to gain his bearings for the fight to come. Absolute Superman #12 is a reset of sorts, as the issue takes us back to key moments in Superman’s time on Earth while Ra’s Al Ghul prepares to get Superman back. In a world where violence gets you more than kindness, can Superman break away from Brainiac’s programming? It’s a question lingering as Superman, Lois, and Jimmy figure out what to do next.
Absolute Superman #12 is very much centered on Smallville, Kansas. The issue begins with Superman’s adopted mother noticing a red streak in the sky, but soon her memory fails her, and she is unsure why she’s standing in front of the window. It’s unclear if something was done to her to give her Alzheimer’s, but Superman’s adopted mother is lost to him, regardless. It’s a foreboding opening, and the closing is equally so, both of which take place in Kansas.
This issue does a marvelous job fleshing out Kal-El, jumping back in time five years, then taking us a few years ahead of that. At this point, writer Jason Aaron has kept Superman closed off from the reader and uninterested in opening up to others. This has made him hard to understand fully, but in this issue, we see him more deeply as a kind of lost boy who hasn’t had the opportunity to connect. He has a deep connection with his AI “brother,” but even the AI knows that doesn’t cut it.
The first flashback reveals the AI as a kind of mother, comically making him take a bath in a volcano. We then see him in the Philippines working with Lazarus Corp workers and encountering his first confrontation. In both scenes, we see Superman as an adolescent alone and trying to make sense of things, with only the AI as a parental figure. Deep down, he wants to be good, but Aaron makes it clear he needs some kind of guidance or else he’ll be lost.
The cape effects rule.
Credit: DC Comics
Fans of continuity and lore will be intrigued by a play on the Fortress of Solitude. It’s unclear if what we see is the definitive fortress, but it’s an interesting take that connects to Superman’s literal loneliness.
Outside of Superman, Lois and Jimmy connect a bit more. Aaron doesn’t forget Lois’ dad just died, and aptly has this new trio of characters express concern. Jimmy continues to be the butt of the joke while Lois is steadfast. This trio has a lot of growing to do with each other, but we’re in a good place for more development.
There’s also an interesting bait-and-switch scene involving the two at a diner. While the twist in the scene is clever, the art does feel somewhat misleading, as the patrons appear rather scary and aggressive-looking. The sentiment that small-town folk are good people is loud and clear.
Rafa Sandoval is back on art and does a great job, especially with the Superman cape and its powers. A standout montage of scenes showcasing Superman’s time on Earth is well done, effectively conveying the solitary nature of his life up until this series began.
Absolute Superman #12 resets the stage with emotional resonance and flashbacks, peeling back Kal-El’s layers while setting up bigger confrontations to come. It’s a thoughtful issue that mixes myth, humanity, and atmosphere, though a few choices keep it from being a knockout.
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