REVIEW: ‘Absolute Superman’ Issue 13

Absolute Superman Issue 13 is published by DC Comics. Written by Jason Aaron, art by Rafa Sandoval, colors by Ulises Arreola, and letters by Becca Carey.

The Battle of Kansas begins as Superman tries to protect Smallville from Lazarus.

This is an unreal battle issue, as there are numerous levels. There are phases to the war, with a fascinating structure that unfolds over time. It captures the relentless, limitless might of Lazarus. Tanks, jets, and Peacemakers descend on the small town, and it falls to the Kryptonian to fight back with a tiny militia of townspeople. The battle has multiple facets and fronts, with Superman attempting to tackle them all at once.

There is both a realistic depiction of war and a sci-fi explosion at the same time. The sci-fi elements have invaded this quaint little town. Absolute Superman Issue 13 is hardcore and dangerous, with the weapons becoming increasingly extreme with each passing page.

The people may seem protected by both Sol and Superman, but they still have a vulnerability. Ra’s Al Ghul and Brainiac are resourceful and ingenious, weaseling their way around defenses and Kal-El’s weakest points.

The dialogue is terrific. Aaron is a writer known for bewildering, heavy metal storytelling, which is prevalent in Absolute Superman Issue 13. But the narration in the opening scene, as the magnitude of the battle is unveiled, is absolutely breathtaking.

There’s so much personality and poetry in those words that precede a long and arduous siege. Superman is glimpsed occasionally, but is present mainly at the start and end of the issue. He’s so busy, fearlessly and tirelessly working to win this war all on his own. He’s still a timid young man, not yet integrated into society. But he’s able to be gentle and forgiving.

What is also reinforced is just how cruel the villains are, using whatever tactics they have to gain an advantage, even if it slaughters innocents. There are still those tendrils of sentiment that ring true in this fictional world, where greed and capitalism trample on the hard work of those beneath them, and soldiers on the streets of places we call home, asserting themselves as superior.

The art absolutely excels at showing the bombardment of the tiny Kansas town. The idyllic suburbia gets trapped under the tracks of tanks, and those famous cornfields get bombed to hell. The explosions are massive, with plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. This is just the first wave. Superman’s clashes with these metal monstrosities are epic and cataclysmic. The townspeople are fighting with whatever they have, rifles and shotguns, and riding around on horses. Against the gigantic mechs, these walls create a frontier vibe.

The colors are fascinating because they often represent control. We become accustomed to the red of Superman and Sol. Sol’s crystals cover the town, encasing the buildings and protecting them to the best of their ability. But later, the ref gets invaded and overtaken by the unsettling people of Brainiac and an insidious green that can only ever mean Kryptonite. The lettering is always easy to read. There are multiple narration boxes, but Carey ensures that understanding whose thoughts are being explored is comfortable at all times.

Absolute Superman Issue 13 is a desperate struggle for survival. It’s not a story solely about Superman. It’s about a whole town, a microcosm of people rallying to rebel against authoritarianism. The way Aaron writes this battle makes it more enthralling because it’s a sprawling scramble, not a singular fight in one location. Superman is trying to put out fires against an evil inferno. There’s so much to fight for, and the townspeople giving their all make the issue an emotionally exhausting but engrossing read.

Absolute Superman Issue 13 is available where comics are sold.