ComicsDc ComicsSupermanAbsolute Superman #1: Everything you need to know about the Man of Steel’s epic reinventionWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
ComicsDc ComicsSupermanAbsolute Superman #1: Everything you need to know about the Man of Steel’s epic reinventionWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: DC)
This is a really strong first issue and it’s one that, thanks to its place in a separate universe to mainline DC continuity, takes the opportunity to fully reinvent Superman for our present moment. We’re going to break down how and why here, but be warned, we’ll be getting intospoilersright from the off… Ready? OK, here are all the ways that Absolute Superman reinvents the Man of Steel.
Krypton is a classist hellhole
(Image credit: DC)
There have been many different takes on Superman’s home planet, but traditionally it’s been depicted as a place of hugely advanced science and a world lost before its time. That’s still the case here, but Absolute Superman #1 really plays up the societal issues that will presumably leave a mark on our hero.
Notably, they both wear Superman’s familiar S symbol – in different parts of the mainline continuity a coat of arms and the Kryptonian symbol for hope, here recontextualised as the emblem of Krypton’s scorned Labor Guild. “We were the children of the sun, they said,” Superman reflects on his parents. “Those who made their way with their own two hands. We were the people of steel.”
Amusingly there is another class above the Labor Guild and below the Science League. In the issue we meet a classic asshole boss figure who is revealed to be a part of the League of Middle Management…
Kal-El is following in his father’s footsteps
(Image credit: DC)
Our first glimpse of the adult Superman – though it’s worth noting that much like Bruce in Absolute Batman, this is a far more youthful hero – comes in present day Brazil, at a diamond mine. The laborers there work under punishing, perilous conditions, toiling away in asbestos-filled caverns under constant threat from the Peacemakers – not one person, but a private army of goons working for Lazarus Corp.
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It turns out that Kal-El is living among the people and already putting his powers to good use, sneaking into the mines and using his powers to mine the diamonds before leaving them for the workers to find and collect. It’s something he’s been doing in different locations around the world, turning him into something of an urban legend, and echoing his father’s work on Krypton. It’s an altruistic act, but it has not gone unnoticed…
Lazarus Corp has a familiar leader
(Image credit: DC)
The main villain for this first arc is Lazarus Corp – a newly-introduced big sinister company who clearly wield a lot of power on the Absolute Earth. But who are they? Although concrete details are currently slim, their actions speak volumes. They enforce terrible working conditions with Peacemakers, run sweatshops around the planet and clearly care little for the environment. And as the issue reaches its climax we get a glimpse at the figure running the show…
Inhis recent interview with usabout the series, Jason Aaron promised a mix of old and new villains for this book and it looks like the head of Lazarus is the former… Although he’s never named, and only seen from the back, it seems pretty certain that it’s the Absolute Universe version of Braniac studying footage of Kal-El – he even has various bottled cities on his desk, filled with screaming civilians begging for death!
Superman has a new suit – and a new friend
(Image credit: DC)
As you can see from the comic’s cover, Kal-El has a new outfit for this book. As well as looking different – it’s much darker, far more black than blue – it seems to have some new abilities, including shifting and changing shape around Kal-El while he’s fighting and glowing a fiery orange when he is forced to call on his heat vision. It even has an onboard A.I., named Sol, who advises Kal-El in battle, urging him to retreat – a directive he pointedly ignores.
Meet Agent Lane…
(Image credit: DC)
In our interview with Aaron he revealed that, “Anytime we meet a character in this book that we know from Superman’s previous stories, they are not where they ‘should be.'” That’s certainly the case with Lois Lane, who only shows up towards the very end of the issue, appearing on the final page to detain Kal-El, declaring “Move and I fry your face, ‘Superman.'” Yep, unless she is working undercover, it very much looks like Lois is working as an enforcer from Lazarus Corp!
Kal-El knew his parents
(Image credit: DC)
Absolute Superman #1 is out now from DC.
These arethe best Superman stories of all time.
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”