ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #14 (DC COMICS)
Ever since he was exposed to the public, Kal El has been the subject of observation.
His heroic deeds have drawn a reaction from the Lazarus Corporation. Their leader wants the services of this “Superman” by any means necessary. Whatever Ra’s Al Ghul wants, he usually gets.
Not in this case.
Kal (along with Lazarus defector Lois Lane and Omega Man Jimmy Olsen) said no to the Absolute Demon’s Head. Their defiance has put Smallville, Kansas in the crossfire. El’s adopted hometown is home to an escalating conflict.
Just as momentum was swinging toward the good guys, Ghul (along with his lackey Brainiac) take it back with a Kryptonite punch. Is it enough to finally break the Man of Tomorrow?
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #14 by Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval, Ulises Arreola & Becca Carey conclude the “Battle Of Kansas” storyline
Let’s not wait another second and dive into this finale.
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #14 by Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval, Ulises Arreola & Becca Carey (DC COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Aaron leaves it all on the table with this epic finale. The endless pressure of Al Ghul remains on full display. His dialogue cuts into the shields set up by El. It results in a methodical breakdown. Once Al Ghul raises the stakes. the writing pulls on an emotional heartstring. Readers watch as a sacrifice is made to extend the fight. It results a powerful release well over due. Once the smoke clears, the mood shifts gears into a new and uneven direction.
Seeing Al Ghul become obsessive over proving his point becomes chilling. This mood change carries over to an unlikely ground. Aaron writes a solid rally cry to fight back. Its’ fallout forces Kal El’s hand. Some may this this moment is the defining birth of Superman in this universe. The highly emotional swing connects. Readers leave this moment with no doubt Kal El is Superman. The latter act wraps up Al Ghul’s time shorter than expected. It is a drawback, albeit very quick. Once in the final pages, Aaron tosses in a bittersweet farewell to innocence with tis sequence. It will immediately strike a few chords with the Superman faithful. The result is a huge mic drop on where this series goes from there.
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Sandoval and Arreola opens with a happier dream-state before the real world crashes back into Kal El. A defiant full page displays Al Ghul’s ruthless aggression. The chilling, maniacal smile on Al Ghul’s face says it all. There is no doubt in any readers mind here. He is playing for keeps, consequences be damned. The image of Superman crying as a sacrifice is made to stop Al Ghul hits the mark. With every blow being struck, it is not one without drive or purpose. As the fight goes into deeper rounds, there is no let-up from this aura.
As Al Ghul cuts deeper, the reactions on display show how unhinged he is becoming. This is featured when someone else grabs Superman. Readers watch as El starts unveiling his true strengths leading into a monstrous full image. The art team follows this with a gorgeous two page splash. There is no doubt how impactful this sequence is. It results in a more grounded finish. The true show stopper is the final pages. One loose thread is tied up bittersweetly. It gives much needed closure to El’s character before taking the next step. Readers better brace for the final full page. If you have a pulse, it will strike a chord on how emotional this fight has been. A perfect way to end this saga on.
FINAL POINT: 9.7
Kal El’s fight against Ra’s Ah Ghul concludes in epic fashion. Arron pens an emotionally charged issue that locks readers in from the start. Sandoval and Arreola offer many amazing visuals to guide through the chaos. The forging of absolute Hope can be found within this incredible chapter.
Let me know your thoughts on ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #14 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
