REVIEW: ‘Absolute Superman’ Issue 25

Absolute Superman Issue 25 is published by DC Comics and written by Jason Aaron, art by Juan Ferreyra, Carmine Di Giandomenico and Rafa Sandoval, colors by Ferreyra and Ulises Arreola and letters by Becca Carey.

Superman has one last battle with Brainiac, and has no choice but to step onto his ship.

This marks the end of a lengthy and brutal story arc centered on finding Brainiac. And, in the opening pages of Absolute Superman Issue 25, they find him. The beginning is a fantastic example of how depraved and dangerous Brainiac is, with a complete lack of compassion and a genius mind that can unleash devastation. But the first flashes of violence are merely bait for Superman, a show of force that Superman can’t let happen again.

Brainiac brings Superman in, placing him in a simulated experience of what he went through, and what turned this Brainiac into such a broken mind. This chapter moves at a very different pace from the previous onslaught. It’s a slower slog, matching Superman’s torture as Brainiac tries to drive the hero mad.

It’s relentless even in its tedium, offering an intriguing horror story for the Kryptonian. It’s a battle in a very different plane of existence and a story that connects right back to the very beginning of this run too, from when Brainiac emerged to even the birth of Kal-El itself, making the end satisfying and rewarding.

The cast of Absolute Superman Issue 25 shrinks down with all the focus on Superman and Brainiac. Their enmity within this series has been phenomenal because of the extremes. Superman is just so inherently good within this comic, resilient and mentally tough. He’s selfless, hard-working, and protective. Some of that comes from his parents; some comes from being a Kansan farmer. But a lot of it is just him. 

The narration is pivotal within this issue because it shows how that toughness is being tested. Brainiac is the result of what the treatment he’s putting Superman through did to him, and it’s terrifying. He has a depraved, surgical intrigue in how a body works, and knows how to cause it pain. What he did to Lex Luthor, slaughtering his family in front of him, is proof of his complete lack of empathy, whilst Superman is a being made of it.

The art is interesting because it brings back everyone who has played a part in the 25 issues of the run so far. The artists and writers have all been crucial to what makes the series so exceptional, and they all get a chance to show it again.

Sandoval covers the flashback, exploring Superman’s parents’ first meeting. It helps show the likeness between Lara, Jor-El, their child together, and keeps us familiar with the Krypton that Sandoval designed.

Ferreyra has largely taken over as the primary artist, and the art style is superb. The viciousness of the battles and violence is brilliant, and Ferreyra is very specific about showing when someone’s mind has completely broken. Ferreyra also does some amazing work at cross-sections and time-lapses, with some ingenious panel borders that effectively create atmosphere and show the passage of time.

Then there’s Di Giandomenico, who’s a master at the gross stuff. When things get really grim and disturbing, Di Giandomenico is the best artist to bring in. There are gruesome transformations, degenerations, and just bodily injuries. Much of what we see in Absolute Superman Issue 25 is throwbacks, homages, and continuations of what has come before, and the combination of artists helps to relive these moments.

The colors are fantastic. There is a significant difference between how Arreola uses tone and Ferreyra’s painted style. This is largely because Ferreyra’s scenes are more open, exposing the pages to more light. It makes the more vibrant shades more surprising, such as the green and purple of Brainiac that is suddenly raining down on cities and innocents, without the protection of Superman around them. The lettering is very clear and easy to read.

Absolute Superman Issue 25 feels like the end of a season. Jason Aaron and the artists strike at the heart of a villain who has manipulated Superman and the whole world for decades. Every foe Superman has tackled has been created or aided by Brainiac, so this issue is a definitive shift in the very fabric of the world. It’s a battle of brains, wits, and resolve, all based around this final confrontation. In the final pages, there is a beautiful demonstration of growth, care, and putting things to rest, but it’s definitely not the end.

Absolute Superman Issue 25 is available where comics are sold.