Absolute Superman #18 is written by Jason Aaron and published by DC Comics. Artwork by Rafa Sandoval, colours by Ulises Arreola, and letters by Becca Carey. Main cover art (left) is by Rafa Sandoval & Ulises Arreola.
Absolute Superman #18 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
The Battle of Kansas may have put the Lazarus Corporation into retreat, but it’s left behind some terrifying surprises in its hidden caches of weapons and world-ending secrets. The most dangerous of all? The sarcophagus of the legendary King Shazam! Don’t miss the start of a new epic that will change the hierarchy of power in the Absolute Universe!
Review
Absolute Superman #18 kicks off Part One of Reign of the Superman! There is A LOT to unpack here, folks. Lois Lane is out for blood, Talia and Ra’s al Ghul are on the run, and we get a surprising introduction! So, mild speculation spoilers ahead if you haven’t yet read the issue!
Kal takes on a more supporting role in this issue, and for good reason. This story centres on Talia al Ghul and Lois Lane, with a strong focus on father/daughter relationships. After Ra’s al Ghul’s prison break, Talia desperately tries to restore her father’s power in the Lazarus Pit. Meanwhile, Lois Lane is determined to avenge her father, General Lane.
This story asks a central question: what happens when a parent radicalises their child? The clash between Ra’s and Talia feels deeply tragic, especially as Talia begins to question whether the man before her is truly her father.
As Ra’s and Talia clash over ideology, Lois Lane storms in, revenged up to the eyeballs.
Given how determined she is to take out Talia, Lois revealing herself to her targets and spelling out her plan feels a bit corny. The delay clearly exists to stall the action so Kal can burst in and stop her.
My Hot Take?
As I said in the Parasite run, Lois Lane should’ve mercy-killed Jimmy Olsen. The story keeps pushing her to the edge but never lets her cross the line. Here, I think she should’ve killed Talia. The Absolute Universe thrives on darker takes on iconic characters and heroes. At the very least, the story could’ve let Lois pull the trigger—even if Superman stepped in to stop the bullet. The Absolute line takes risks, but it could still go further.
Enter: Mysterious New Player.
Lois Lane might be gunning for Talia, but someone else wants Ra’s al Ghul dead.
Who is this hazmat suit-wearing, magnetic hammer-wielding figure with a grudge? We seem to get our first glimpse of Absolute Steel in this issue! While no official announcement has confirmed it, this is a safe assumption. Kal will likely need help to take down King Shazam—and John Henry Irons could be the answer. But then again, this is the Absolute Universe, and maybe that isn’t John Henry!
The big setup for this issue, of course, is KING SHAZAM. It makes perfect sense for the Absolute Universe to introduce Teth-Adam, aka Black Adam, vs introducing Billy Batson. Few rivalries capture the tension between absolute power and moral restraint better than Superman vs Black Adam. As with all Absolute introductions, there is a twist. It’ll be interesting to see how Teth-Adam’s altered origin feeds into the wider Absolute Universe.
My Quibble?
Aside from my issue with Lois Lane, which I don’t hold against the issue, there are some clunky bits at the end. The final pages feel somewhat confusing. A lot happens at once: a three-way standoff, Superman immobilised, and an unknown man with a magnetised hammer arriving to kill Ra’s al Ghul. Don’t get me wrong, the artwork remains incredible throughout, so that’s not the issue. However, the King Shazam reveal feels slightly jarring in relation to the action and proves hard to place. I couldn’t tell you where Shazam’s sarcophagus is in relation to the action or really how the action exposed it. A quick panel showing Superman’s proximity to it would have cleared up the confusion.
All that said, the clash between Talia, Ra’s, and Lois remains compelling. The dynamic between Ra’s and Talia stands out in particular, and I’m excited to see how this father/daughter conflict develops. But also learn the identity of the hammer-wielding person.
Verdict
Absolute Superman #18 is a solid entry from Aaron. Though I do think more risks could be taken with some of the iconic characters, like Lois Lane, the script is strong with plenty of nail-biting moments. Rafa Sandoval’s art is visceral and pulls you into the frantic, chaotic action, beautifully coloured by Ulises Arreola.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
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