Absolute Superman #22, on sale August 5, puts The Man of Steel on a collision course with Brainiac while delivering an emotional story that captures the essence of the hero as he continues to grow. Writer Jason Aaron, artist/colorist Juan Ferreyra, and letterer Becca Carey kick off the “Get Brainiac” arc with a bang, as the issue dives into the action almost immediately. Rather than opening with too much explanation of how Superman gets a lead on Brainiac’s whereabouts, Aaron provides a brief summary before almost literally dropping the reader right into a fight.
Spoiler Warning: The following review contains spoilers for Absolute Superman #22.
The Man of Steel comes crashing down as he’s knocked out of a building, and it’s quickly evident that he may be outmatched. Metallo arrives, outfitted with a reimagined version of his suit that looks like one of Tony Stark’s creations infused with Kryptonite. Ferreyra shows the devastating impact Metallo’s strikes have on Superman with thunderous blows and ground-shaking slams, and the green background layers these parts of the fight scene in Kryptonite. In contrast, Superman’s counters are just as impressive, with blazing oranges and radiant reds showing his immense power as he uses his strength and his heat vision.
Beyond the battle, the most striking visuals come when flashbacks detail how Brainiac tortures the man in the Metallo suit, Christopher Smith, someone that Superman has crossed paths with multiple times before. Brainiac’s Joker-like smile is off-putting throughout the issue, especially in a close-up that shows his disturbing eyes. Like other villains in the Absolute Universe, Brainiac is effectively a monster, with an exposed brain and a body that has been remade with several cybernetic parts. This horror movie vibe is especially apparent in the aforementioned flashback, which depicts Brainiac as a mad scientist. Superman’s battle with Metallo proves to be a failed experiment for Brainiac, but he teases his plans for the future by warning that he can easily find more test subjects.
While the issue-long fight scene packs a punch, the heart of the story lies in Superman’s battle to save Smith from Brainiac’s clutches. While he’s weakened by Kryptonite, Superman valiantly tries to make Smith remember who he is, as Brainiac has effectively brainwashed the former Peacemaker. Multiple flashbacks show Smith’s journey up to this point, including a therapy session with Brainiac in which he is coldly sent back into duty despite his cry for help in dealing with trauma.
The battle between Superman and Metallo evolves into a fight for Smith’s mind, and maybe his soul. Superman repeatedly tells Smith his name and reminds him about his life before Brainiac captured him, but Metallo remains defiant. The juxtaposition of Superman continuing his efforts to appeal to Smith’s humanity with Metallo nearly beating the hero to death leads to a stirring climax. Superman refuses to give up, and his unfailing desire to see the good in everyone is firmly on display. Even as Brainiac escapes, Superman displays how hope and kindness can save anyone, even someone as seemingly lost as Smith.
While Absolute Superman #22 is just the opening salvo of the looming clash between the hero and Brainiac, it provides a powerful story about humanity that shines as a brilliant example of who The Last Son of Krypton is at heart.
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