Christopher Smith joined The Peacemakers. He thought he would make a difference by fighting the bad guys. But what if he becomes the bad guy himself? The villain Braniac has turned him into something truly terrifying as Absolute Superman #22 pits Metallo against Kal-El!
Creative Team: Jason Aaron, Juan Ferreyra, Becca Carey, Rafa Sandoval, and Ulises Arreola.
The Story:
This issue is hard to stomach because it is sad and brutal. Jason Aaron takes us to the streets of Argentina and hammers home how soldiers, no matter what they are told, at the end of the day are just a number. Chris Smith is no exception, and going between scenes of being killed and then brought back and tortured was hard at times. Aaron brought out so much emotion with it, and while this issue is one giant fight, Superman spends it using his words as a weapon as well. This issue also paints how truly terrifying this universe’s Braniac is. He is a background villain being built up in such a horrifying way. Superman is fighting until his final breath and on the brink of death, making this issue a haunting one.
The Art:
Juan’s art perfectly captures the horror this issue brings to the table. Braniac is designed so well, which is what I will say until I die. The smile with his lips torn off is creepy as can be, and his aura is enough to send chills down my spine. There were moments in the fight with Metallo as well where the helpless emotion came out on both sides. These are two men locked in a brutal fight neither wants to be in. What stood out to me was how, in different panels, we saw different looks at Superman, who even looked Ghoulish himself in a splash page. These artistic decisions aided in telling so much of the story. Becca’s lettering work carries the words heavily through the pages. The design of the voice box that shows Superman speaking to himself almost resembles a brick with each one.
Final Thoughts:
Absolute Superman #22 brings an interlude into our next big arc for this run. It’s a tragic and horror-wrought issue where nobody wins. I love how each issue evolves Superman just a bit more as the team is able to shift genres to match the period.
Overall Grade: 10/10
How do you feel about Absolute Superman #22? Let us know below and make sure to check out more by Matt!
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