The Battle of Kansas has begun as the tanks of Lazarus Corp come rolling down the streets of Smallville. Haunted and weakened from the horrors he suffered at the hands of Brainiac and Ra’s al Ghul, Superman wages a last desperate fight for everything and everyone he has come to hold dear!
With emotional depth, visual grandeur, and mythic stakes, Absolute Superman #13 reminds us why Superman remains the heart of the DC Universeeven in worlds twisted by darkness. I saw more of the classic Superman characters Ive loved for decades reflected in their Absolute counterparts in this issue, and it made the Superman fan in me smile, cheer, and crave more. Read Full Review
Absolute Superman's Smallville War arc has been a stellar next step in the direction of this title. It's positioning Superman to be the hero this Absolute world truly needs against a seemingly unstoppable evil. Read Full Review
Absolute Superman Issue 13 is a desperate struggle for survival. It's not a story solely about Superman. It's about a whole town, a microcosm of people rallying to rebel against authoritarianism. Read Full Review
This series started a little slower than its fellow Absolute books in the first wave, but since then it's been no-holds-barred all the way. Read Full Review
Absolute Superman #13 is an absolute treat and an essential read. A mix of real-world parallels and Supermans fight for freedom is the refreshing take we needed. The narrative is strong, emotional, and filled with timely, relevant themes. If youre not reading Absolute Superman, you are missing out. Read Full Review
Things are really starting to heat up in this series, and this issue delivers some brilliant character moments. We see Lois Lane struggling to understand Superman and trying to get him to open up to the people he's sworn to protect. There's a fun flashback to a week before the battle, where Jimmy Olsen asks Lois when she knew that siding with Superman was the right choicea small but meaningful moment that adds depth to the story. Overall, this is a strong issue that builds tension and sets the stage for what is likely to be the final, climactic showdown between Superman and Ra's al Ghul. Read Full Review
Absolute Superman #13 is another stellar entry. Sandoval's art is godly, grand, and hits all the right notes. Aaron delivers an emotionally resonant story of survival, forgiveness, and the struggle to do the right thing when everything hurts. Read Full Review
Absolute Superman #13 is a game changing issue for this series. Read Full Review
Absolute Superman #13 is a powerful issue showcasing tyranny at its most powerful and the will of citizens from even Smallville who will go to extraordinary lengths to protect what they love. Read Full Review
Aaron delivers a thrilling, suspenseful action-packed adventure in this issue. The evolution of this story continues to entertain and engage as the character continues to evolve as well. There is great action throughout the issue and Aaron builds on the suspense to a devastating and intense cliffhanger ending that makes me excited to see what happens next. Read Full Review
Absolute Superman #13 brings the series to a fever pitch, balancing bombastic action with long-awaited character clarity. Aaron and Sandoval craft a battle that feels both epic and intimate, finally giving Superman and his supporting cast something deeper to fight for, beyond survival and toward meaning. Read Full Review
This has been a wonderful smolder of a title. If Absolute Batman is Quentin Tarantino, Absolute Superman is Stanley Kubrick. Will Superman accept his role, reveal himself, and be the hope this world needs? Will he survive? I am stunned how much I am liking this dark take on the Superman legend. Read Full Review
An epic battle comic features an even more epic understanding of Absolute Superman, and that's what really sold me this issue. Read Full Review
Absolute Superman #13 does not waste your day. Every panel is loaded with tension and grit, and the creative team wrings the Kansas siege premise for all it's worth. While ambition sometimes outpaces nuance, the issue is a resounding win for fans seeking action, character drama, and a landscape where every choice feels costly. Whether you're following the series week-to-week or eyeing a sharp return, this chapter earns a spot in a limited pull list. Read Full Review
One of the best comics on the shelves continues its near perfect run.
My favorite book.
The best conclusion to this arc will be with the death of the Al Guls. It's incredible how the relationship between Brainiac and Kal is a thousand times more interesting than Kal and Ras.
The issue was good, although inferior to the previous one, but it's still improving.
The parts with Kal and Sol were good; I found the parts with Lois and Jimmy a bit forced, I haven't quite gotten used to those versions of them yet. I still enjoy Kal's writing overall.
Anyway, hopefully the last chapter will be very good and we'll be able to say goodbye to the Al Guls in this book.
Another superb chapter sees Sol make a grand sacrifice; Lois and Jimmy begin to truly take shape into the personas we’ve come to know and love in the regular DCU; Ra’s calls for backup in the form of Braniac, and Clark, while self-doubting, is pushed to his limits protecting the citizens of Smallville. Hands down one of DC’S very best books thanks to this incredible creative team!
Honestly, I always get pleasantly surprised with Jason Aaron every time a new issue picks up. I like the fights, Rafal Sandaval's art, the coloring, and just the writing for Superman, Lois Lane, and Jimy Olsen. I think re-reading this from the beginning will have me appreciate it even more