REVIEW: ‘Absolute Superman’ Issue 17

Absolute Superman Issue 17 is published by DC Comics. Written by Jason Aaron, art and colors by Juan Ferreyra, and letters by Becca Carey. 

Superman and Hawkman must work together to save Metropolis from Parasite.

This is a reluctant team-up, one with two very different ideas of how to proceed. A gigantic beast has begun absorbing the people of Metropolis. It’s an ominous continuation of the previous issue, revealing the full extent of the devastation. Absolute Superman Issue 17 becomes a haunting horror story, instilling panic into those fighting it and the readers. The sense of danger increases when we see what Parasite can do, and what could happen if it died. It really is a parasite, connecting to others and gaining strength in the process.

Jason Aaron makes this chapter so much more precarious than just a giant monster battle because the fate of those within Parasite is at stake, too. The tone is mending, and the pace is energetic. What makes it even more engaging is the idea that whichever hero takes charge can completely alter the ending. Both want to save the day, but Hawkman’s option is far more destructive.

The relationship between Hawkman and Superman really is the heart of Absolute Superman Issue 17. Hawkman only had one solution: killing. It’s what he’s done for years, eliminating threats with a ferocious finality. He’s like an old, embittered soldier. It’s also his bosses in the Lazarus Corps that unleashed Parasite in the first place. He’s part of the same status quo that has controlled this Earth for so long.

In contrast, Superman doesn’t answer to anyone and is desperate to find a solution that causes no harm.  He is genuinely a good person to the extreme. Just how strong the Kryptonian is becomes clear when Parasite starts trying to claim him, as Hawkman tries to keep his power away from getting included in the giant creature’s new collective.

A segment of Absolute Superman Issue 17 highlights how each superpowered being sees themselves in their own mind. The dialogue between Hawkman and Superman can be both dramatic and classic, as Hawkman gets aggravated by the relentless optimism of Kal-El.

The art is insidious yet gorgeous. Ferreyra is a fantastic artist, displaying a unique painted style. There is a true terror unleashed on the city of Metropolis. Parasite, a giant tentacled creature with a massive, toothy maw, is a frightening redesign. But it’s what it does to its victims that’s most horrifying. The tiny tendrils digging into the eyes and mouth, pulling them wide, are excruciating and harrowing. Superman appears emotional and frantic, whilst Hawkman is always calculated and prepared.

There’s an excellent depiction of how they both fly. Hawkman is pretty graceful with his wings, whilst Superman is a rocket. When the comic takes a trip into the characters’ minds, Ferreyra uses an incredibly inventive method. The outline of Hawkman’s head becomes the outline for the panels, so the story is literally taking place inside his mind.

The colors are sensational. The way Ferreyra implements the fluidity of Superman’s cape is stunning. It’s added thickly on the page, an immense red splash that frays around the edges. It fills Kal-El wherever he goes, malleable and solid at once. Absolute Superman Issue 17 features a purple that bleeds off of Parasite. It’s not just its flesh that is purple; those that are assimilated turn purple too. The lettering is very clear and easy to read.

Absolute Superman Issue 17 shows a real change in attitudes within the Absolute Universe. Hawkman had been the enforcer and the authority for the last eight decades, brutally delivering justice. But now there’s something new. Superman is explosive, powerful, and intense. But at his heart, he is kind, forgiving, and just. It’s a large beacon of light within a dark world, highlighted by the fact that Brainiac has been doing horrific things to create this universe’s own Lex Luthor. 

Absolute Superman Issue 17 is available where comics are sold.