ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #19: The American Dream.

King Shazam has been freed from his prison and is set to bring about a new era upon the Absolute Universe! As he rains destruction down upon Superman, another familiar face has entered the battle, and his allegiance remains to be seen.

Creative Team: Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval, Ulises Arreola, and Becca Carey.

SPOILERS AHEAD

The Story:

This issue packs a freaking punch! There is so much anger, rage, and emotion that Jason has poured into this issue from every angle. The addition of John Henry Irons is a pleasant surprise, as fans may remember his character from the show Superman & Lois! Aaron also hits us with a shocking death that isn’t just simply a death but something far more powerful and shocking, immediately setting the tone of King Shazam. He ruled for all of eight days, and there is a lot of mystery behind how he became imprisoned, leaving us hungry for answers. We are gearing up to have a four-way battle as Hawkman has entered as well, and the four are set to tear one another apart.

The Art and Letters:

I first want to say what a fantastic job Becca Carey does with the lettering in this issue. There are panels full of rage and anger, and the lettering hammers these feelings home in such an impressive way. In terms of the art, there were some awesome things Sandoval and Arreola did, such as the way both Superman’s and Shazam’s capes were more than just that. They became a part of the setting, and they flowed across the panels, taking on a life of their own as the battle raged on. The universe expands a little bit more as the trio flies across the Earth, beating one another down, and they cruise across the skies of a certain city belonging to a Dark Knight. That page alone perked me right up and made the world feel so much bigger, and I cannot wait.

Final Thoughts:

Absolute Superman #19 is a powerful issue that packs brutal blows and brings about an electric issue that expands this universe just a bit more. Teth Adam is not to be messed with, and this is a battle that may consume the world if he is not stopped. I truly am blown away by this issue and it’s an instant must pull!

Overall Grade: 10/10

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