Home, Sweet Home. Krypton was destroyed. Its’ last known survivor crashed to Earth. Smallville, Kansas is where Kal-El landed. Unlike the stories of yesteryear, this isn’t the usual Superman origin. This is the Absolute Universe. Expect the unexpected.
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #6 by Jason Aaron, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Ulises Arreola and Becca Carey kicks off it’s brand new phase.
Let’s take a closer look at what unfolds now.
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #6 by Jason Aaron, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Ulises Arreola and Becca Carey (DC COMICS) Cover: Rafa Sandoval
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Aaron delves into another aspect of Superman’s past with this chapter. The path to earth is filled with grief and anguish. Kal-El’s trip exposes his insecurities with new challenges. Without Krypton and his parents, the boy must become a man. He lucks into a caring family in Kansas. Readers watch as the familiar narratives end there.
The Kent’s struggles against Lazarus reflect the Absolute vision. Their lives are pushed into uncomfortable territory. Readers see Martha Kent’s vision of Kal-El as a sign from Heaven. Hell soon follows him after. The conflict comes right to the front door of the Kent farm. Aaron twists in the painful moment by forcing the young Superman to make a choice. Its’ fallout can be felt in present time. The closing pages do much more than set-up. A huge reveal sends readers off until next issue with MUCH to speculate on.
Di Giandomenico steps in for art duties with this installment. The opening sequence hones in on Kal-El coming to terms on his future. There are a wide range of reactions commencing. It leaves some suspense as events shift to Earth. His future family hits the pages via a half panel. Their struggles come to the forefront. Jonathan Kent’s demeanor can’t be overlooked. He comes off as hopeless. It is in contrast to Martha’s optimism. This all gets pushed aside when Kal hits the scene.
With Arreola’s coloring, Superman’s crash into the farm explodes on the pages. This rolls into a strong two page splash. Readers can sense the overwhelming feeling that El feels seeing the Kansas skyline. Happiness is short lived as Lazarus comes knocking. The panels fill with a frantic rage as the Kents come under fire. Using three long panels, the art shows a bitter resolution to this area. It leads readers back into present time. Key points are hit but overshadowed by a shocking debut. A new player gets a full page image. The moment encompasses the growing danger of the Absolute landscape. Bank on fans having much t say on this book.
OVERALL GRADE: 9.4
“Where I lay my head is home” proves easier said than done for Kal-El. Aaron puts the Kent family through a firestorm of emotions via the writing. Di Giandomenico and Arreola transition the journey form space to Earth with strong art. Will Superman be ready for the newest threat in the Absolute Universe? Read and find out!
Let me know in the comments below your thoughts on Absolute Superman #6. Thanks for reading!