It’s the start of another new story arc in Absolute Superman, as issue #22 launches “Get Brainiac”. Ever since the series began, Brainiac’s been a constant thorn in Superman’s side, putting the Man of Steel through mental and physical torture and utterly upending the life of Lex Luthor. Determined to stop Brainiac before he wreaks more havoc, Superman goes on a worldwide quest for the malevolent artificial intelligence, and ends up fighting his latest experiment. Said experiment is a horrific melding of machine and man fueled by Kryptonite, calling itself “Metallo.”
That’s right: Jason Aaron has officially brought Metallo into the Absolute Universe. To say I was excited is an understatement, as Metallo is one of my favorite Superman villains. From the half-human, half-machine visage evoking images from The Terminator, to the fact that his Kryptonite heart makes him one of the few villains who can actually go toe to toe with Superman, Metallo’s a villain that deserves more love. And Aaron actually has an interesting take on him, revealing that this version of Metallo is connected to the series’ first two arcs.
Aaron also continues to remind people that Superman’s greatest power isn’t heat vision or flight, but his ability to connect with others. Nowhere is this made more clear than during the fight with Metallo; the cyborg’s Kryptonite blood is slowly poisoning the Man of Steel, leading him to break his bones and bleed profusely. Yet he strives to get to the man inside the machine, resulting in a final page that is equal parts heartwarming and heart-wrenching. In a day and age where machines are being pushed to potentially replace creators, this is a story that reminds you that you can’t press a button and get a good story. The right creator matters.
Another thing that Absolute Superman #22has working in its favor is the return of Juan Ferrerya to interiors. Ferrerya doesn’t hold back on showcasing how inhuman Metallo looks, giving him a sleek metal suit that covers his entire body – complete with spindly spider legs that skitter around at an inhuman pace. The action is pretty damn epic too; whole buildings are shattered and you can see the damage that the Kryptonite is taking on Superman’s body. Ferrerya’s best work, however, comes in massive splash pages that track the origin of Metallo. In these images, he packs in plenty of body horror, but also doesn’t shy away from the emotional weight that comes from seeing one’s humanity literally being stripped away. It’s those moments, more than any punch being traded, that hits the hardest.
Aaron and Ferrerya are also building up to Absolute Superman #25, which is being teased as a major milestone for the series and the Absolute Universe in general. It’s a milestone that’s well earned; though Absolute Batmanand Absolute Wonder Womando get most of the spotlight, this is a series that’s been consistently engaging and put its own unique take on Superman. I’m more than certain that Superman and Brainiac’s eventual showdown will continue to add even more layers or unique takes on beloved characters.
Absolute Superman #22 launches a brand new story arc, and in the process brings a fresh take on one of the Man of Steel’s most underrated foes. If you haven’t been reading, now is the perfect time to jump on board.
‘Absolute Superman’ #22 brings a fan-favorite villain into the fray
Absolute Superman #22
Absolute Superman #22 launches a brand new story arc, and in the process brings a fresh take on one of the Man of Steel’s most underrated foes.
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Aaron continues to showcase that Superman’s greatest superpower is his empathy, which separates him from his foes.
Ferrerya delivers epic action, emotional weight, and a truly terrifying take on Metallo.
A new story arc that starts drawing on the threads of past issues, resulting in some surprising reveals.
A final page that will hit readers emotionally.
9
Great
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