ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #16: First Impressions.

Superman may be powerful, but he hasn’t been around very long, and his first impression is less than impressive to Hawkman. What begins as a lending hand from Carter Hall, AKA Hawkman, soon turns into a battle as Superman is bent on saving everyone and anyone that he can, to Carter’s dismay. Meanwhile, Braniac has found Lex Luthor and has been told his methods of convincing can be quite motivating.

Creative Team: Jason Aaron (WRITER), Juan Ferreyra (ART and COLORS), Becca Carey (LETTERS), and Rafa Sandoval and Ulises Arreola (COVER).

SPOILERS AHEAD

The Story:

Right from the jump, Jason portrays Carter Hall as someone with an arrogant and massive ego. It only gets worse as his personality clashes with Superman, showcasing how vastly different the two are. Superman will stop at nothing to save everyone, Hawkman has resigned himself to joining the enemy, so to speak. I enjoyed the brief scuffle the two had, and Aaron does a wonderful job showcasing that, despite being green, Superman still packs a heavy punch.

One major point that is covered in a simple page covering is the death of the Daily Planet. It is a quick page, but it speaks to real life, where print media is all but dead anymore. As this issue wraps up, I had forgotten about Lex Luthor and Braniac. What has been a rather lighthearted and tongue-in-cheek issue quickly turns terrifying with the quick reminder that Braniac remains on a deadly mission.

The Art and Letters:

Juan is on the art, and the beauty of these panels is astounding! The issue has such a vibrant and realistic quality to it in various panels that we cannot help but stare at it. The colors are bursting in flashes as Superman takes off in a burst of speed to save the world. Meanwhile, in contrast, Hawkman has a sandy and dry feeling to him, not only in panels where he is in the desert. Opting to go with a mummified look for him fits in the sense of the character’s history, and I enjoy this new look on his character.

Final Thoughts:

Absolute Superman #16 is a clash of egos and characters on two opposite ends of the spectrum. It puts Superman’s heart back into who he is and always has been, reminding us that, despite being in a new universe, this is still Superman.

OVerall Grade: 10/10

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