The darker tone of the Absolute Universe has had a more relatable effect on the superheroes, and that includes Absolute Superman. He’s angry for good reason, and in Absolute Superman #6, a better understanding of his upbringing in Smallville further proves that Kal-El has no reason to trust humans. It’s an issue that reveals what happened to Superman after his escape pod jettisoned him to Earth.
Trauma is the name of the game in Absolute Superman #6, and it’s obvious from the very start. Six years prior to the current events, we learn Kal-El was trapped in the escape pod for seventeen months. About as big as a small room, with not a single person to communicate with. One can imagine claustrophobia is just one issue he’d be dealing with once his ship landed.
Thankfully, Earth’s yellow sun powers Kal-El, sending him crashing into Earth without a spaceship to protect him. He does, however, have his suit, which is damaged on impact and can’t aid him when he makes first contact with the Kents.
From there, writer Jason Aaron explores a budding relationship between Kal-El and the Kents, who take him in like one of their own. The origin is similar but different enough to give us a sense that this Superman was pushed off-course ever so slightly; plus, he’s much older than the main universe Superman.
As for the Kents, Aaron and artist Carmine Di Giandomenico show them as hard-working people. In a key conversation between them, we learn a bit about Lazarus and how their own troubles on Earth are similar to Kal-El’s parents on Krypton. The disparity between the super-rich and regular folk is apparent, and keeping people down is a part of Earth’s life.
You’d lose your mind being isolated for so long after your parents were killed.
Credit: DC Comics
This origin story makes Kal-El’s alien nature more obvious, as his powers are downright dangerous around the Kents. It’s nice to see them not give up on Kal-El, even in the face of danger, and it pays off for them. At least for a little while.
The darkness of the Absolute Universe finds the Kents, however, and in a traumatic moment, we learn how Kal-El becomes an orphan a second time.
While most of this issue is a flashback, the closing scenes connect well with the past, including a main thread with Lois Lane. The final few pages will get fans raring to go for more, as a major villain is introduced we all know and love. Seeing them involved in a Sueprman book is a nice twist as well.
Di Giandomenico’s pencils are always very kinetic and impactful, which help with Superman’s speed and laser eyesight. Colors by Ulises Arreola add a sci-fi feel, be it the purples surrounding a villain in the cliffhanger or the explosions all around Superman when Lazarus shows up on the Kent farm.
The twist on the Kent family is compelling, although the length of time Superman is a bit of a head-scratcher. It’s as if their parenting was absent completely, and thus, their relationship is missing from Superman’s origins. In this way, the Kents act more as a way to show what America is like in this world, more than anything else. That said, there’s still room to fill in gaps since so much time takes place to reach the present.
Absolute Superman #6 takes a bold approach to the Man of Steel’s origins, emphasizing trauma, isolation, and the harsh realities of the Absolute Universe. While the Kents’ role feels underdeveloped, the issue makes up for it with strong emotional storytelling, exciting art, and a compelling final twist. It’s a must-read for fans of darker superhero narratives and those eager to see Superman pushed to his emotional limits.
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