ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #17: Not For Sale.

The mysterious parasite is gobbling up every living being in Metropolis, leaving Superman to not only battle Hawkman but also figure out a way to free the citizens without harming them. Unbeknownst to Superman, this has all been a distraction, and Kal has only one message for Hall, Talia, and Lazarus…he is not for sale!

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

ABSOLUTE SPOILERS AHEAD

The Story:

Every hurdle, every battle, every challenge he faces, Superman continues to attack it head-on and overcome it as Jason Aaron is building Kal into something familiar but also something fresh. The conflict that he has crafted between Hawkman, who continues to be an annoying voice at all times in this issue, and Superman truly shows the differences between Kal and everyone else. At his core, Superman believes he can and will save everyone without losing a soul. Jason gives us a climax where Superman simply uses his voice and his brain, over-punching his way out of the conflict which works so much more effectively. Things end with Talia breaking her father out and Hall bringing a stark warning back to Lazarus, setting up an even bigger hurdle on the horizon.

The Art and Letters:

Juan takes our breath away almost instantly with a shocking panel of Jimmy Olsen in a horrifying state. The way he is suspended with this parasite pulling at his skin and how Juana draws, and colors with an immense amount of realism brought out an audible gasp when I first saw it. From there, the way the colors weave seamlessly from panel to panel stood out to me. Becca gives this stern voice to Kal as he delivers his warning to Hall and Lazarus that sticks the landing with what they were aiming to do.

Final Thoughts:

Absolute Superman #17 finally hits the crescendo as Superman has found his footing in this new universe and has become the hero Metropolis and Earth have needed. Kal does burn play around, and neither does the creative team, who have been working to build toward this moment, which has landed effectively.

Overall Grade: 9.5/10

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