DC Comics reviews 11-5-25 – Batman 3, Absolute Superman 13

Absolute Superman 13

Picking up right where the shocking 12th issue ended, Smallville is under siege from Lazarus. Ra’s al Ghul wants Superman to be his new weapon and will stop at nothing, including decimating his childhood home to ensure he has Superman’s power at his disposal.

Writer Jason Aaron has definitely shaken up the Superman status quo in this series, but he’s starting to introduce some more familiar aspects like Lois Lane using her redirected reporting prowess to share with the world the impact Superman has had in saving the Smallville citizens with no thought of reward or recognition. Jimmy Olsen takes pictures and videos of Lazarus’ destruction while they continue tearing through this community.

They’re also first-hand witnesses to Superman’s heroics as he battles against the odds even as Ra’s seeks to stack the deck even further against him. Aaron also spends some of the issue exploring this attack from Superman’s perspective as he battles for people who in some cases are terrified by his presence and aren’t sure what to make of him and his abilities even now.

Artist Rafa Sandoval does some amazing work this issue showing the full scale of the carnage Lazarus is bringing to Smallville. Sandoval also showcases Superman well in these action sequences as he conveys Superman’s strength and determination even as he’s exhausted from the lack of solar energy and the desperation to keep the Smallville citizens safe.

Colorist Ulises Arreola utilizes a strong mix of deep reds, bold greens and vibrant purples. The colors in this issue are a major component to the presentation and Arreola really makes them stand out. Becca Carey’s clean lettering is easy to follow with well executed sound effect fonts.

Absolute Superman’s Smallville War arc has been a stellar next step in the direction of this title. It’s positioning Superman to be the hero this Absolute world truly needs against a seemingly unstoppable evil.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Check out the first volume of Absolute Superman with Last Dust of Krypton now available on Amazon.

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