Weird Science DC Comics: Absolute Superman #5 Review

Last time in Absolute Superman #4, Agent Lois Lane of Lazarus Corp searched the assorted towns and cities where Absolute Superman was spotted, finding reluctance from anyone to cooperate with Lazarus Corp. Her search was interrupted by a group of rebels, including Jimmy Olsen, who tried to convince Lois that Lazarus Corp executives were the bad guys. When Lois refused to switch sides, a fight broke out. Absolute Superman swooped in briefly to stop the fight before he flew away again. The issue ended with Agent Smith, one of Lazarus Corp’s Peacemakers, becoming blackout violent after getting embarrassed by Absolute Superman for the second time.

Plot Synopsis

In Absolute Superman #5, Krypton comes to an end. After news gets out that Krypton is dying and the Science League knows about it without informing the public, the planet spirals into chaos. Riots break out, cities burn, and the planet roils beneath everyone’s feet. 

Lara and Jor-El make last-minute modifications to their escape ship to take everyone they can. The ship launches successfully, but it’s struck by spewing boulders from the erupting planet below. The adaptable ship forms mini-fliers around every passenger as they spill from the collapsing super-structure. When Krypton finally explodes, Kal-El hurtles into space alone, unaware if his parents are alive or dead.

In the present, Absolute Superman attacks a Lazarus Ship in search of Agent Smith, the Peacemaker responsible for killing twenty-three civilians in a fit of rage. His search for Smith comes up empty, but Kal-El’s AI, Sol, hacks into the Lazarus Corp computers long enough to identify a presence named Brainiac operating behind the scenes to coordinate the Peacemakers and Lazarus Corp.

Well, the story of Absolute Superman’s version of Krypton is over, but I’m not sure anyone cared. On the positive side, you can tell Jason Aaron put a lot of thought into the workings of Kryptonian society. On the other hand, none of that work matters in the present because you still wind up in the same place as you would with Earth Prime’s Superman. In effect, this first arc is almost entirely redundant.

How’s the Art?

Rafa Sandoval’s art looks amazing. More so here than in the previous issues because Sandoval has to deliver big spectacle and planet-wide destruction while getting you to believe the heartbreaking impact the destruction is causing for the escaping Kryptonians. This issue is a case of the art selling the story as much as if not more than the script.

What’s great about Absolute Superman #5?

Again, the highlight of this issue, and the first arc as a whole, is the well-constructed, detailed effort Jason Aaron put into developing Krypton’s culture, systems, and people. If you’re a fan of Krytpon-based stories, you should be relatively pleased with this first arc.

What’s not great about Absolute Superman #5?

If you’re not a fan of Krypton-based stories, you could skip almost the entire arc and miss nothing because Superman is barely a presence in his self-titled comic. Aaron spends a lot of time building up a world that goes away, leaving readers in the same place they already know if they have even a passing knowledge of Superman lore.

Further, the oppressive class structure Aaron develops neglects a key point – if only the Science League escapes Krypton, how will they rebuild without a working class to do the dirty work? In his zeal to use this title as a platform to rail against classism, Jason Aaron inadvertently spotlights the flaw in his superficial thinking.