Absolute Superman #25: Luckiest Man Alive

Absolute Superman has fought an ancient evil, a blob of goo, and even a pedophile billionaire, but now he must face off against his greatest foe: Brainiac. In the wake of the “King Shazam” story, Absolute Superman sets off on a mission to find Brainiac. Absolute Superman #25 is the epic finale of the “Get Brainiac” arc written by Jason Aaron. This story celebrates a milestone issue for Absolute Superman, and brings returning artists Rafa Sandoval, Carmine Di Giandomenico, and Juan Ferreyra. Absolute Superman and Steel have dodged all the obstacles Brainiac has thrown at them, and have finally located the evil at the source. It’s a battle of the brains as Superman steps into the mind of a psychopath. Will he survive the experience? Find out in this exciting celebratory issue.  

Absolute Superman is an incredible book, but I no longer think it is as strong as it was when it started. The last arc was a challenge to get through, with a battle that felt repetitive over multiple issues. Jason Aaron’s bold political stance and beautiful narrative is still felt throughout this book, but the story has felt lost since the defeat of Ra’s al Ghul. The “King Shazam” storyline felt out of place after the Lazarus Corporation story ended. (It is proof that Dwayne Johnson has left his mark on DC.) Despite this, I think this finale wrapped up the story spanning the last twenty-five issues perfectly. Aaron uses this issue to celebrate his milestone achievement and wraps up storylines in a smart way. By having three different artists, he is able to make the issue feel like three different stories at once. Aaron is writing poetry in these pages, and it demonstrates the introspective nature of this version of Superman and how he has evolved over these twenty-five issues. The themes that Aaron presents in this series are themes that stay true to the characters but really hit home in our modern-day political climate. This version of Superman that reflects an immigrant and working-class story makes sense and aligns with the values at the core of Superman’s character. This issue is a strong finale and sets up exciting new things for Absolute Superman.  

This milestone issue celebrates Absolute Superman by bringing back all-star artists Rafa Sandoval, Carmine Di Giandomenico, and Juan Ferreyra. Each artist brought their own unique style and perspective that felt natural in this issue. This story feels like three storylines in one while still feeling like one story, and I think that is because these three artists were selected. These three artists have been all over this story across its twenty-five issues, and having them return feels like a true celebration. This story feels like Absolute Superman, which is a testament to how well this universe has been designed.