The Absolute Superman hasn’t been in such a tough pickle since Krypton exploded, as Brainiac has him captured in Absolute Superman #11. There seems to be a theme going right now with the Absolute books since Bane just broke Batman, and now, it’s time for Superman to get broken in an entirely different way.
Absolute Superman #11 opens on Krypton, where Superman’s parents are being tried for crimes against the Science League. Not only will they hang, Kal-El will be punished as well. Quickly, however, we see this is all inside Superman’s head. It’s a kind of torture, as Brainiac tries to turn Superman from his altruistic self into a murdering machine for Ra’s Al Ghul. This issue is very much about Superman having a stronger will than Brainiac’s thousands of torture scenarios, but who will win?
Intermixed with the torturing are Lois and Jimmy, who are captors of the Lazarus group, run by Al Ghul. Writer Jason Aaron does a good job of infusing both their personalities into these scenes. Jimmy is somewhat similar as he’s a touch goofy and not self-aware, while Lois is hard as nails and committed to a goal. Talia al Ghul, not so much. She spouts some rather clichéd evil villain stuff that feels heavy-handed for this series.
It looks cool, but honestly, why is there so much stuff on his crotch?
Credit: DC Comics
Two elements lift this issue beyond a rescue mission. One is Lois’ dad, who enters the narrative like some kind of super soldier. It ramps up the action and gives the issue a kind of super spy feel. The other is Superman’s incredible ability to inspire others to do the right thing. It’s done via Brainiac’s drones, and Aaron cleverly makes it feel earned and inspiring.
Aaron also does a great job with Brainiac’s dialogue as he’s equal parts sick and twisted, with a heavy dose of murderous, unfeeling rage. The way he treats his drones is disturbing stuff, plus Aaron layers in some backstory that adds to his evil allure.
Art by Carmine Di Giandomenico is good, but great when Brainiac is on the page. He’s horrific to look at, from his exposed brain to his psychotic smile. Cast in green and purple light, colors by Ulises Arreola, there’s an unmistakable horror movie vibe to his scenes. In one panel, Brainiac’s face is mostly cast in shadow, save for beady red eyes. It’s scary stuff. The various tech keeping Superman at bay is also well drawn with lots of fun details.
Absolute Superman #11 is a dark but inspiring installment, pitting Superman’s unshakable moral compass against Brainiac’s cruelest torments. While not flawless, the issue delivers a potent mix of horror, spy-thriller action, and classic Superman resilience that keeps the Absolute line feeling epic.
You must be logged in to post a comment.