Absolute Superman #10
Scheduled to arrive in stores: August 6, 2025
Cover date: October 2025
“Superman, Son of the Demon” – Part Three: “The Beast in the Mine”
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artists: Carmine Di Giandomenico and Ulises Arreola
Cover: Rafa Sandoval and Ulises Arreola
Variant Covers: Gerald Parel, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Tirso Cons
Reviewed by: Craig Boehmer
The story opens with a flashback of Krypton, where Jor-El’s mining team is being attacked by Magmoles. The Magmoles have been driven from their territory, deeper underground, and are killing Redland miners. The threat of these Magmoles prompts Jor to order his drones to attack the Magmoles, killing them.
In the present day Kal and the Omega men have tracked Ra’s and Brainiac to a research lab in Greenland. In a storm cloud Kal dispatches many Peacekeepers, prompting Ra’s to send Agent Smith after him. Smith is obsessed with killing Kal with his kryptonite bullet, but within minutes of his attack on Kal’s cloud, Smith is completely overwhelmed and defeated.
As Kal contemplates his fallen foe, he remembers a conversation he had with Jor after his dad had killed the Magmoles. They discussed the rights and wrongs of killing things and whether it could be justified. Jor seems to come out on the side of sometimes killing is necessary, but as Kal looks at the battlefield he comes to the conclusion that he is not like the Kryptonian miners, he is the Magmoles. As Alpha goes in for the kill, Kal melts her weapon. Then Ra’s comes out.
Ra’s is still calling Kal, “the son of the demon.” He shoots a kryptonite bullet at Smith, which Kal intercepts with his hand.
The issue concludes with Alpha stabbing him in the back, and revealing that she is Ra’s daughter, Talia.
Story – 5: This issue is all about the action. The assault on the Greenland base showcases how powerful Kal can be, we haven’t really seen him this amped up before. I loved how easily he dispatched Smith. I also really liked the added complexity to the Superman killing conversation by adding Jor-El’s voice saying sometimes killing is necessary.
The final twist of having Alpha be Talia was cool, I would still prefer these villains to be Superman villains, but Jason Aaron is cooking something really cool here.Art – 5: Carmine does a fantastic job filling in on this issue. The art continues to be a high point for this series.Cover Art – 5: I love this cover showing Kal reflecting in the partially melted mask. It is such a dramatic image.
Variant Cover Art – 2: The positioning of this cover is fine, I just find the body proportions to be really distracting.
Variant Cover Art – 4: This cover has a real DBZ vibe in it, and I am digging that.
Variant Cover Art – 3: Very cool composition on this cover, but the proportions seem too off for me.
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