REVIEW: ‘Absolute Superman’ Issue 18

Absolute Superman Issue 18 is published by DC Comics, written by Jason Aaron, art by Rafa Sandoval, colors by Ulises Arreola, and letters by Becca Carey.

Lois Lane hunts down the al Ghuls, but Ra’s may be a changed man.

This issue brilliantly combines the old with the new. From the first page, Absolute Superman Issue 18 uses the past to move forward. It travels to ancient Africa, starting a new origin story for a classic villain. And almost immediately, the expressions are usurped, and the classic story is altered. Absolute Superman Issue 18 then starts placing many of the characters in familiar surroundings. Superman is at his farm, raising Parasite like a feisty puppy, and Jimmy Olsen is at the Daily Planet.

But the darkness of the Absolute Universe is still present, with Lois returning to her roots as a soldier to hunt down the al Ghuls. When she does, the confirmation is both intense and fascinating. Talia is still dangerous, as is Lois, but Superman’s attempted rehabilitation of Ra’s actually seems to have worked. The conflict just keeps adding more facets and parties, with the pressure amplifying with each new figure. There’s a mix of violence and attempted pacifism, with explosive and exciting results. The surprise at the start of Absolute Superman Issue 18 comes back with another twist, which is completely unexpected.

Absolute Superman Issue 18 uses existing knowledge of Superman and the DC Universe to deliver shocks. Superman, Jimmy, and even Lois are starting to resemble their other selves, becoming journalists and farmers, but with slight changes that make the world more chaotic. The new character, found several thousand years ago, looks familiar until a recurring name in this universe abducts them and turns them into something new. It transforms one famous name into another, combining the two. It makes the comic so unpredictable, never allowing for comfort to take over.

The dialogue emanating from Ra’s had turned him into a very different figure. For an example of how he used to speak, just look at his daughter. Talia talks about might, about violence, and supremacy. Her father talks about peace, about laying down weapons. His ferocity and bloodthirsty nature have been quashed by Superman’s calm, patient new approach. It’s the clearest example of this world’s evolution and of how it tries to resist those changes with more domination.

Sandoval’s return to Absolute Superman Issue 18 also brings a form of familiarity to the art, as this was the creative team that began the run. What’s intriguing about how the issue begins is that it hints at the extent to which violence is ingrained in this world. Even before technology, Lazarus or Peacemakers, blood is baked into the soil. The injuries are grotesque and upsetting, with innocent people being brutalized. But then come intruders, who look totally out of place within their surroundings. Sandoval superbly transitions from the new relative comfort of Superman and Jimmy into hostile surroundings and the severity of Lois’ situation.

Ra’s has decayed, isolated from the Lazarus Pit that maintains his immortality. He looks old and weaker, whilst still being a big, bulky figure. His hair and beard are frazzled and frayed. Talia looks amazing and imposing, wielding a gigantic sword, and she slowly grows disgusted with what her father has become. The new villain wields a signature weapon faithful to the original form, but a faceless concept makes it frightening.

The colors make the energy within Absolute Superman Issue 18 really crackle. Whether it’s the blue of Talia’s sword or the purple of the newcomer, lightning and light cut through the air. Superman’s cape is one of the best creative decisions within the Absolute Universe. It has become a malleable wave of red dust, moving like sand. The way it flows around him like a storm or cloud of solid red is always striking and makes him look bigger and more powerful. The lettering is fantastic, with large, effective SFX that make the action louder and the hits more painful.

Absolute Superman Issue 18 is an example of how to have fun with familiarity. Aaron uses recognizable features before shuffling the pack and adapting the elements into something different. The beginning and end of this issue are separated by millennia, yet they fuse into an unpredictable combination. The main characters are showing signs of replicating elements of their counterparts in the main universe, in their occupations and appearance. But they all still can grow and evolve into something new.

Absolute Superman Issue 18 is available now wherever comics are sold.