“Get Brainiac” has been the only thought on Kal-El’s mind for months.
After their initial encounter, Krypton’s last son has made it his mission to track down the insane madman. No matter the obstacle, Superman has pushed through it, inching closer every day to his goal.
With some help from his friends, the goal has now become reality. All roads have lead to this moment. Thre is no turning back now!
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #25 by Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Juan Ferreyra, Ulises Arreola & Becca Carey (DC COMICS) goes forward with its’ “Get Brainiac” storyline!
Let’s take a closer look at this milestone issue!
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #25 by Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Juan Ferreyra, Ulises Arreola & Becca Carey (DC COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Aaron plays this epic match-up like a vision of the “Saw” franchise. The opening with Steel establishes the massive play Brainiac makes. Once the confrontation occurs, the writing shows the devious manner in which Brainiac is plotting. His tone is unhinged but balanced enough to challenge Kal-El’s judgement. Their banter is classic in presentation. It allows for the gravity of the moment to sink in before going completely off the rails.
Readers watch as Brainiac’s trap echoes much of his own troubled beginnings. The writing sees Kal decent into madness while struggling to stay afloat in his own mind. It is a terrifying scene of events. This allows the other side-plots to get some needed page time in. Aaron loops back to a long building thread with Lex Luthor and his connection to this mess. It offsets the hopeful flashbacks of Krypton as both play out as the angel and devil on Kal’s shoulders to a degree. It all results in a tremendous finishing act. The writing leans one way only to veer into a new landing spot before moving to the epilogue. The close works on so many levels. All three themes wrap up with strong endings. It is a perfect way to close this chapter while preparing for a future unknown for the Absolute Man of Tomorrow.
READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW HERE!
All three artists from the previous 24 issues contribute with this chapter. Sandoval & Arreola handles the Krypton Flashbacks. This begins the chapter with a much more calm state of affairs. Watching Jor-El and Lara meet for the first time is a vintage look, knowing where their story goes. Their expressions tease their future together while trying to play it off. This amplifies as readers watch the proposal commence. It takes their story to the closing portion where the hopeful panels cap off with a solid parting look at the pair closing this chapter.
Di Giandomenico returns for the Brainiac re-enactments during the last confrontation. Panels flood with the frantic desperation of the trap. A wild two page spread shows Kal sifting through the mental barrage. Emotions run high as the struggle commences. It shows the gravity of the battle start taking a toll. Readers watch the brutal visions unfold as Kal pushes forward. The final confrontation leads to a pair of dueling panels. Each show both main leads in a different mind state. This leads into a magnificent joint piece with Sandoval to throw everything off its axis. It hands the reigns off to one more artist to bring the house down.
Ferreya opens with a strong series of two page spreads of Brianiac’s initial attack. Superman’s face speaks volumes as the race to save lives is on. This leads into the final meeting. Their face-to-face is brooding with rage as Brainiac toys with Kal. It’s a much different look at Lois Lane investigating Lex Luthor. The panels mirror the horrific acts that occurred. Luthor’s black eyes speak volumes as a full page visual shows Lois’ search for clues. This leads into an excellent full page vision to begin the ending. Readers watch as the actions spill over to more intense responses as the fallout begins. Kal-El’s final vision is more fitting as he reflects on what happened. It is a far cry from the last page where all bets are off moving forward.
FINAL POINT: 9.5
Superman vs. Brainiac with only one walking away in this monumental encounter! Aaron dives deep into the soul of hope with an incredible script. The artists each elevated this encounter to new heights with stunning work. It is everything you want in a arc finale payoff.
Let me know your thoughts on ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #25 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
