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/1.webp "Absolute Superman #1")
This is definitely some of Sandoval's best work but I think it's absolute best was Hal Jordan & The Green Lantern Corps. He and Tomeu Morey were absolutely incredible together.
Absolute Superman #1
| Writer | Jason Aaron |
| Artist | Rafa Sandoval |
| Cover Price | $4.99 |
SUPERSTARS JASON AARON AND RAFA SANDOVAL UNLEASH A SHOCKING NEW TAKE ON THE LAST SON OF KRYPTON! Without the fortress...without the family...without a home...what's left is the Absolute Man of Steel!
CRITIC REVIEWS
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10
Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield
Nov 06, 2024The Absolute line so far has been a brilliant example of what happens when you combine original storytelling with top talent, and just let them cut loose. You get the most exciting comics on the stands. Read Full Review
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10
Comic Watch - Christian Laspada
Nov 06, 2024Absolute Superman #1 delivers a polished, epic reimagining of Supermans origin, set against the backdrop of a vibrant, modern Earth. Aarons narrative is strong, emotional, and filled with timeless themes of identity and heroism. Sandovals artwork complements this storytelling perfectly, with a kinetic, cinematic style that makes the action and emotion feel larger than life. Read Full Review
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10
ComicsOnline - Matt Sernaker
Nov 06, 2024The creative team lays out an innovative new take on the world of Superman in this launch issue, and just like the other Absolute books, there is no doubt that I am adding this to my pull list. I've always loved the concept of DC's Elseworlds titles, and I love that we are getting to see these alternate reality stories play out in a long-form narrative. Absolute Superman is an absolute must-read title from DC. Read Full Review
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10
Super Hero Hype - Matt Morrison
Nov 06, 2024Absolute Superman #1 continues to exemplify the high standards set for the Absolute Universe. It is easily the most mysterious book on the line to date. Despite that, this take on the Man of Steel is a true blue encapsulation of the character's morality and ethos. It will be interesting to see how Aaron, Sandoval, and Arreola develop the series in the coming months. Read Full Review
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9.6
SciFiPulse - Ian Cullen
Nov 10, 2024Overall, Jason Aaron's alternative take on Superman shows real promise and might feel more relatable to fans like myself who've often found Superman a bit overpowered compared to other heroes. Personally, I've always enjoyed the more grounded heroes, like Batman, who rely on technology, training, and cleverness to overcome villains and challenges. Read Full Review
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9.5
Nerd Initiative - Ken M.
Nov 06, 2024The latest entree into the Absolute Universe makes its own path while maintaining the Superman mystique. Aaron presents an emerging heros journey with strong writing. Sandoval, Arreola and Carey craft the visuals of two worlds composing what will ultimately become the greatest symbol of hope in a dark universe. Read Full Review
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9.5
Graphic Policy - Brett
Nov 06, 2024With Aaron's attention to detail and focus on class on Krypton and Superman's initial battle to protect exploited workers, Absolute Superman #1 is a hell of a start with a focus and statement to make. It's the standout of DC's "Absolute Universe" and a standout for all comics currently on the shelf. Read Full Review
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9.5
AIPT - David Brooke
Nov 06, 2024Absolute Superman #1 is another home run for DC Comics' Absolute line. This first issue opens up Krypton in a brand new way and sets up Superman as the ultimate immigrant underdog. Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval's Absolute Superman #1 offers a bold and gritty reimagining of the iconic hero, blending a raw sense of isolation with a modern exploration of Superman's immigrant heritage, all while honoring his legacy. Read Full Review
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9.5
Lyles Movie Files - Jeffrey Lyles
Nov 07, 2024Absolute Superman #1 makes it 3 for 3 with exceptionally strong debuts for the Absolute Universe books. DC has something cooking with these books and this different take on Superman definitely warrants checking out every month. Read Full Review
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9.0
Comic Book Revolution - Kevin Lainez
Nov 06, 2024Absolute Superman #1 is a phenomenal start. Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval provide a lot of depth to Superman's mythos in the Absolute Universe. The way that we deep dive into Krypton's class system and how that alters the House of El's origin created a greater connection between Kal-El and his parents. That connection leaves us with a lot of questions for the present-day status quo of Superman and what is happening on Earth. This all works together for a must-read comic book experience Read Full Review
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9.0
The Aspiring Kryptonian - David Beasley
Nov 06, 2024There's a couple of changes I have reservations about in Absolute Superman #1, but as a follower of Jason Aaron's body of work, I'm hopeful they won't negatively impact the story. Overall it's an impressive reimagining of Superman that should appeal to all levels of fan. Read Full Review
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9.0
But Why Tho? - William Tucker
Nov 06, 2024Absolute Superman #1 is a hardcore rebirth. Aaron is a superb choice of writer for the new version of Superman, as he brings the heavy metal action and storytelling that the Absolute Universe has contained so far. Read Full Review
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9.0
Henchman-4-Hire - Sean Ian Mills
Nov 09, 2024This is a cool story that expands the core of Superman, with some truly awesome artwork and colors. DC clearly went all out (pun intended) on making these Absolute comics something special, and it definitely shows for the third issue in a row. Read Full Review
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8.8
The Comicbook Dispatch - Dispatchdcu
Nov 06, 2024Absolute Superman #1 is a bold and innovative take on the character. It's a story that explores the heart of what it means to be Superman, stripping away the mythos to reveal the man beneath the cape in a totality different dynamic and reality. While the issue might not be for everyone, it offers a raw, fresh perspective on one of the most iconic superheroes of all time. Read Full Review
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8.4
Supergirl Comic Box Commentary - Anj
Nov 13, 2024I have read all three Absolute #1's. Going in, I was most concerned about this one. Turns out this was the one I enjoyed the most. So I will stick around. This did what a #1 should do. Give us some history. Give us some action. Give us some direction and tone. And leave me wanting to know more. Sandoval is a marvel! Read Full Review
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8.0
Gonkbonk - Javier Reyes
Nov 06, 2024Absolute Superman #1 soars into DC's new continuity with a gripping origin story that redefines the Last Son of Krypton for a new era, blending social commentary with superhero action. Read Full Review
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7.8
Weird Science - Gabe Hernandez
Nov 06, 2024Absolute Superman #1imagines a slightly different Superman who comes to Earth as an adult and sets out on his mission to save the oppressed and disadvantaged workers of the world, inspired by a Kryptonian legacy of class discrimination. Jason Aaron's glum take on Superman feels like a cross between Jon Kent's activist personality mixed with Zack Snyder's dour Man of Steel, sprinkled with a dash of inspiration from Straczynski's Superman: Year One. In a world where it's tough to find shining beacons of hope, Absolute Superman chooses not to be that beacon, but at least Rafa Sandoval's art looks fantastic.7.8/10 Read Full Review
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7.0
DC Comics News - Matthew Lloyd
Nov 06, 2024Absolute Superman #1 is the best of the first three Absolute titles. From the original assignment, it gets it most right. The changes to Superman's lore fit with the idea of a universe influenced by Darkseid energy. The changes feel organic as to how they come about due to other factors. It's a more cohesive effort overall all. I don't know that it's enough to bring me back for a second issue, but this is the most well conceived effort of the Absolute Universe so far. So while the score is 3.5/5 (7/10), it's more like a 7.5/10. Read Full Review
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4.7
Major Spoilers - Stephen Schleicher
Nov 11, 2024The universe is in chaos, but Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval understood the assignment and bring us a message of hope. Read Full Review
USER REVIEWS
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10
Outstanding on every single level. The art alone is beyond words. This is the story i dreamed about reading as a lost little boy when I got a crumpled up coverless copy of Superman. The year as I recall was 1967 and that started my love affair with space , comics , stories and art. Today I fell in love with Superman all over again and that I'm glad to say is why I suppose he exists at all. So little boys like me can grow old but never grow up. For me this was perfection.......Jonn
+ Like • Comment• Likes (2) -
10
For the moment, the Absolute line is 3 out of 3.
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10
This first issue was amazing in every aspect, a must read for any fan of Superman!
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10
All three of the Absolute #1s were 10s. This told a gritty story of class oppression and Superman's origin takes a much more depressing route this time. The art was fantastic and the writing was great. I don't think I could pick which of the three #1s I liked the most, they were all fantastic in their own ways, which is impressive to me because as characters and for duration of their histories I've always been much more a Batman fan than the other two. I actively dislike Superman as a character, and am mostly ambivalent about Wonder Woman, but their Absolute incarnations have me intrigued. Great stuff.
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10
The best of the first batch of absolute comics. The new take on krypton is fresh and intriguing. The art is superb. I can't wait to learn more about the sol armor and the lazarous corps.
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9.5
First off, Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval did not dissapoint. This is a great new take on the mythos of Superman. I think this is a perfect time to release something like this. I felt that this is the Superman that I have wanted to get behind for a long time now. There was enough of the Man of Steel that we have grown accustom too, but there are so many more layers as well. Don't even get me started on the Art! The art was so fantastic. and the Lois Lane reveal was wonderful as well. I can't wait to keep reading this!
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9.5
Fantastic start to this new Superman, as a Superman purist I was sceptical but if you can have an open mind and let yourself go along for the ride this has everything. The art is spectacular, and Sandoval feels like the perfect fit for the book. Jason Aaron has written an issue that has me itching to get issue #2 and see where this goes. This Superman looks different but his intentions for helping those who need it the most are there and we see enough of it to alleviate any fears I had going into the series. Along with Absolute Batman I feel this was a fantastic start to the Absolute line. I wasn't as sold on Wonder Woman but that was mainly due to the art whereas I think the other two have it all.
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9.0
This was a solid debut with great art from Rafael Sandoval. This is best work from Rafa Sandoval, and the coloring really elevates it. Alot of stuff is very intriguing. Jason aaron writing can be a hit or miss recently but for now this is a stronger than his avengers or punisher run. I hope he can make it consistent
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9.0
It's not as good as Absolute Batman but that doesn't mean it's not great. Rafa Sandoval rocked this issue. The art here is phenomenal. Everything pops, colors are vibrant, Krypton feels alive despite it's decent into death. The story here is nothing wholly new. But it shakes things up enough that we see a Kal-El fighting for the people of Earth, at least those that are downtrodden, lower caste, workers of the population because that's what his family on Krypton were. It delivers a strong message that isn't new either but with time could be fleshed out to be something impactful.
+ Like • Comments (2)• Likes (1) -
9.0
Jason Aaron seems to be doing much better at DC than he did in his last years at Marvel. This was a great take on Supes in a Darkseid fueled universe and I hope he can keep it up. Sandoval is a master!
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9.0
Honestly, the most impressive thing about this is how well Aaron manages to make Krypton relevant and to frame it and Superman into the story, honestly, I think it builds on the original formula while it answers a very contemporary plea. We can talk for days about all the times that supes was modernized. Like birthright and how it adds to the symbolism and the mythos and tackles the questions of Clark's identity, but it's always about this iconography, it's always about Clark/superman and to just make him better, to put the retro model in better more complex clothes.This comic modernizes the whole origin, the whole world, not only superman's worlds, the whole point of it and it feels actually inspired by the real world, not by Superman itse more
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9.0
I'm shockingly a fan of these absolute books
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9.0
I really like this concept a lot. My only nitpick is the that the organizations are despicted very unnecesary cartoonishly.
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8.5
With the third installment in the absolute line DC is now 3 for 3. This may be my least favorite of the issues released so far but this is still a very solid and fun Superman book. A good mix of origin story and current events with my only real slight to it being the pacing of the origin story phase causes the book to end on a less exciting note than it transitioned from. All in all the world building was nice. I do feel that the origin in this was more inline with the typical Superman origin which makes it feel like a wasted opportunity to have some real fun with how cal el comes to earth but the other changes to the character such as the suit protecting Superman and the house of El being more of a social class than just his family. I defi more
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8.5
Another strong debut issue for the Absolute line. I don't currently know whether or not I would place this above Batman overall, although I would consider this premise to be a stronger and/or more unique one thus far. Like Batman, I think this has the potential to be great, as I did enjoy the world being built throughout this. Hopefully I'm right about that.
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8.5
In Superman's very first appearance, he's introduced as a champion of the oppressed. In Action Comics #3, his third appearance, Superman intentionally traps a mine owner in his own mine, with rusted safety devices from his own neglect and carelessness for his workers failing to activate. This is directly in response to bad conditions in the mine leading to one of its workers being injured. If you think this comic is hamfisted or somehow out of left field, you've got to try reading some early Superman. I was not very excited for this one as the pitch didn't really feel like something I'd want to read. Thankfully, the pitch sort of buried the lead in what this book would be about. It's taking Superman back to some of his earliest roots, and t more
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8.0
Excellent art, no complaints there. Story was ok. It is clear he is going to be more of a social warrior for equality rights (if things continue but based on his back story he hates systems of inequality most of all?). Will need to see where this goes. Could be an interesting story to tell if the tones don't get too hamfisted.
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7.5
Art: 4/5 Story: 3.5/5 Total: 7.5/10
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7.5
decent yet ambiguous introduction to a new superman.
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6.0
Absolute Superman was a bit of a miss for me - I think it was the weakest of the Absolute books. All of the writer's not so subtle "sub-text" was too on the nose, to the point of being annoying. I mean gosh I wonder what he feels about mining and the people who run those operations? The hamfisted storytelling aside, I felt way too much time was spent on Krypton and not enough with the actual main character. Not that I have a problem with all the world building, in fact I would have liked the issue better if it was all set on Krypton, I felt the character of Superman was short changed in his own book. I don't feel the writer gave the reader a sense of who he is. I was left feeling that there was zero reason to read issue two except for more
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6.0
Some interesting ideas but the execution is flat and quickly forgotten.
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1.0
Dog S^%t soft attempt at a reboot
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