REVIEW: ‘Absolute Superman’ Issue 8

Absolute Superman Issue 8 is published by DC Comics, written by Jason Aaron, with art by Rafa Sandoval, colors by Ulises Arreola, and letters by Becca Carey.

Superman tries to find peace in Smallville, but those hunting him aren’t willing to let him go just yet.

Absolute Superman Issue 8 returns to the main story, after the visceral origin story of Brainiac in the previous chapter. The other main villain steps in. Ra’s Al Ghul also hunts Superman as the head of the Lazarus Corporation. It’s instant slaughter, just like last issue, ramping the pace up and detailing how hardcore this series is. Even in Smallville, a place known for peace and recuperation for Superman, he can’t even be left alone. The pace is always seconds away from exploding into chaos. Each faction, even when they’re trying to help, is militaristic.

And for so long, Superman had had the upper hand. He’s invincible and unstoppable. However, in Absolute Superman Issue 8, that changes drastically. Now the villains have a way of hurting him and intend to do so as well. The end of the issue erupts into noisy chaos. The Peacemakers descend, Superman tries to fight back, and there’s Lois Lane and Omega Men. Smallville becomes a warzone.

Kal-El doesn’t get to speak much in Absolute Superman Issue 8, but his personality is clear to see. He wants to be left alone. He wants a place to relax, but is constantly being hunted. He doesn’t need company, but that is being forced upon him. The first to find him is Lois. She is the one ally he has, besides Sol, his artificial intelligence, but he isn’t yet ready to accept that.

Lois is a notable example of this world’s hard characters softening in Absolute Superman Issue 8, but Superman is not trusting. The Peacemakers, soldiers for Brainiac, were terrifying. They’re led by a leader who was a violent, bigoted maniac before, but Brainiac has since tampered with him and made him even more horrifying. All the villains are savage and uncontrollable, with a penchant for bloodshed and a disregard for human life.

The art in Absolute Superman Issue 8 mixes the brilliant madness of the series with some of the technological horror that the Brainiac issue infused. Sandoval is back. The characters look the same and incredible. Superman looks both vulnerable and hardened. Ra’s also has a fantastic design. He’s huge and menacing, but able to move at an incredible speed. He makes normal humans look tiny and does horrific things to them.

The first section of Absolute Superman Issue 8 is eye-opening and devastating in its bravery. Peacemaker Smith looks demented, tortured, and revamped by Brainiac. He’s also large, transformed into a monstrous and inhuman figure. The battle between Smith and Superman is immense and immaculately executed. There are upgrades and escalation, with armor and tech meeting superpowers—all within a whirlwind of red dust.

The colors are terrific. There is little light in this world, and it’s almost always artificial. The brightness is generated by energy and power. The red that follows Superman is enveloping and suffocating, phenomenally rich in its tone. It separates Superman and those facing his ire from the outside world, focusing on the fight within. But now a new color has been included. This shade is a radioactive green. The lettering has brilliant clarity, even when accompanied by screams of pain and sound effects.

Absolute Superman Issue 8 restarts the main story with remarkable velocity. After stepping aside for Brainiac’s issue, the series builds up speed again. The intensity is intoxicating, never wanting to offer a moment’s peace. There is always someone new trying to drag Superman in their direction. And with two villains at the top who are as powerful and scary as each other. It looks like there’s never a place of safety or somewhere to escape to.

Absolute Superman Issue 8 is available now wherever comics are sold.