REVIEW: ‘Absolute Superman’ Issue 11

Absolute Superman Issue 11 is published by DC Comics, written by Jason Aaron, art by Carmine Di Giandomenico, colors by Ulises Arreola, and letters by Becca Carey.

Superman, Lois, and Jimmy Olsen are captives of Ra’s Al Ghul, as Brainiac tries to turn the Kryptonian into a killer.

Absolute Superman Issue 11 is closer in content to a Brainiac issue. It’s violent and grim, with a circular, repetitive structure. Superman is being fed false memories by Brainiac, who is attempting to instigate a fatal response. Ra’s Al Ghul wants a weapon, one that is willing to murder. The repetition and relentlessness are part of the plan. It burns at Superman’s resilience and determination, also making it seem inevitable. Elsewhere, the two that came with him, Lois and Jimmy, are completely at the villains’ disposal.

Absolute Superman Issue 11 is another manifestation of the grim darkness of this world. Jimmy’s closest ally was actually Talia Al Ghul, Daughter of the Demon. Their treatment is brutal and torturous, another recurring theme in this series by Aaron.

Absolute Superman Issue 11 is bleak, as it attempts to shake loose Superman’s sense of honor and complete restraint in killing. It’s his spirit, and the arrival of who arrives at the end of Absolute Superman Issue 11, that provides those brief moments of hope. Even liberty starts to be muttered. But this is the Absolute Universe, and hope doesn’t burn for long.

The characters have boots pressed against their necks. It is during this intensity that the strength of this trio becomes prevalent, and the true evil of the villains is also cemented. Brainiac is truly insane, obsessed with the workings of the body. He treats beings like experiments, with parts that can be removed. His absolutism and destruction of free will are what connect him to Ra’s Al Ghul. They both quash entirely any idea of freedom.

Even Brainiac is just a pet for Ra’s to control. It makes the heroes’ defiance even more impressive. Lois is constantly defiant, even when getting beaten. And Kal-El can stick to his principles even when he’s unconscious.

The art combines brutal violence with heroes who have often avoided it. Whenever Di Giandomenico steps into this book, things get nasty. The Brainiac of the main Earth was more technopathic. His experiments were not like this. The Absolute Universe conjures a sadistic body horror genre amid the superheroes.

It’s not quite as grotesque as before, but Superman has a mixture of cracks and tears around his eyes that look painful, and Brainiac inflicts more pain on other creatures. He seems completely depraved, with a massive grin, wild eyes, and wires attached to an exposed brain. Compared to him, Ra’s Al Ghul looks completely normal in Absolute Superman Issue 11. But he and his daughter are just as capable of committing despicable acts of violence.

The colors demonstrate who is in control. When Superman is unconscious, he’s covered in a green glow, indicating that he’s entirely at Brainiac’s mercy. The rest of the laboratory is purple, completing the Brainiac color scheme. There is an extreme red when Superman tries to fight back, but that is all a product of his dreams. The lettering is crisp and clear, even with custom word balloons.

Absolute Superman Issue 11 tries to rewrite Superman’s entire being. It’s a dark issue again, as the three pieces of rebellion fall into the hands of those who rule the world. It’s dangerous and melancholy, trying to find the set spot that will push the Kryptonian over the edge. Absolute Superman Issue 11 is a hardcore chapter that tries to find a way to breach this cabal of evil, but this year of wills may not go as planned.

Absolute Superman Issue 11 is available where comics are sold.