Absolute Superman #6
Scheduled to arrive in stores: April 2, 2025
Cover date: June 2025
“Last Dust of Krypton” – Epilogue: “Son of Smallville”
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artists: Carmine Di Giandomenico and Ulisse Areola
Cover: Rafa Sandoval and Ulises Arreola
Variant Covers: Derrick Chew, Puppeteer Lee, Rod Reis
Reviewed by: Craig Boehmer
Kal-El is floating through the endless void of space, alone, and scared. We see him begin a descent into madness that accompanies extreme isolation. While he is descending into madness, Sol is giving him updates about the availability of life sustaining planets. With the prospects of finding life dwindling, he begins to plan out his suicide strategy. To his surprise the yellow sun he has chosen to end his life in, begins to burn him up while he is still in the ship. As he crashes down to earth, we shift to Martha and Johnathan expressing their concern about drought conditions on their farm and their distrust of Lazarus Corp. Kal starts a fire in the field, and as it burns out, the Kents take him in so he can recover from his hectic journey. As he recovers, Sol is in a stasis mode, recovering from the journey as well.
On the farm Kal’s powers cause problems and fears for the Kents, but Martha insists that they need to help the boy. Kal begins to help fix a tractor, Jonathan and Martha both admit, in private, that Kal being on the farm has saved the other. Eventually Sol is back online, and he teaches Kal English, so that he can now communicate with the Kents. Sol then disables all of the Lazarus Corp drones in the sky over the Kents’ farm. As they rain down in flames, the skies begin to unleash a deluge of rain upon the farm, ending the drought.
As a result of the destruction of the drones, Peacemakers attack the farm en masse to kidnap Kal. As he erupts in fear and panic, worried that if he leaves the Kents he will have nothing, the Peacemakers begin targeting the Kents. The Kents then ask Kal to fly off.
In the present, Lois investigates Smallville, looking for Martha Kent.
In the epilogue it is revealed that Brainiac has been keeping tabs on Lois’ investigation, and he is pleased with her work. His partner then rises and they confirm that the pieces are all in place.
Story – 5: The slow burn of “Absolute Superman” continues. If Jason Aaron continues to be given the freedom to tell the story he wants, this could become an all time great Superman story. The continued reveal of his escape from Krypton is gripping. Seeing the toll the journey takes on him adds so much complexity to his character. As well, seeing him find peace on the Kents farm with the Kents, only to have that torn away by the Peacemakers, adds to the motivation Kal has to protect people from Lazarus Corp.
Art – 4: Carmine Di Giandomenico does a great job filling in for Rafa. There are some images of Kal that I don’t quite jive with, but the vast majority of the issue is beautiful.Cover Art – 5: Fantastic cover. It immediately shows what kind of Smallville Kal is going to be entering in this issue.Variant Cover Art (Derrick Chew) – 4: Derrick Chew’s variant is mostly gorgeous. My only quibble is the face looks off. The rest of the image is incredible.Variant Cover Art (Puppeteer Lee) – 5: Puppeteer Lee created an awesome variant for this comic.Variant Cover Art (Rod Reis) – 5: I love the contrast of colour between the red of Kal’s energy and the blue of the moon and the night sky. Fantastic cover.
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