REVIEW: Absolute Superman #17
Absolute Superman #17 is one of the most terrifying Superman issues I think I’ve ever read. Writer Jason Aaron, along with artist and colorist Juan Ferreyra, kicked things up several horrifying notches that I never saw coming. But even in the midst of the frightening things within the pages of issue #17, the hope that is Superman still shines through.
But before we dive more into this great issue, let’s talk about this month’s covers. The standard cover by series regulars Rafa Sandoval and Ulises Arreola gives an overwhelming feeling of dread as Superman and Hawkman attempt to fight off being overtaken by this Absolute version of Parasite. There appears to be no way out as Superman and Hawkman struggle against the creature, which is reminiscent of The Blob, yet has multiple mouths scattered throughout its being. It’s a horrifying image, yet that symbol of hope on Superman’s chest continues to shine bright through it all.
Gerald Parel’s variant also showcases hope as the visages of Jor-El and Lara, Superman’s parents, are displayed in the programmable cape of Superman, who appears to be descending from space. Standing in front of those visages is a young Kal-El—a reminder that Superman was sent to Earth by parents hoping to give their son a chance at life on another planet and believing that he would make it better than the world he left behind. It was their hope that he would do good and carry what they taught him to his new home.
The variant cover by Riley Rossmo is beautifully on the nose about hope, peace, and the S insignia being a symbol of both. Superman stands on a snow-capped mountain surrounded by peaceful, joyous doves. His cape flaps in the wind and forms a giant “S” above him. It’s a serene and hopeful portrait as the sun shines brightly over the entire scene.
The interior artwork by Juan Ferreyra is great as usual and truly captures the horror of the all-consuming, never-satiated Absolute Universe’s Parasite. I’ve said it before and I’ll continue to say it: each of his panels looks like a photograph or a still from a major motion picture, and this issue felt like a horror movie come to life. I could see the pain in Parasite’s victims, and at times I even felt it. It reminded me of watching someone trying to escape an impossible trap in the Saw franchise or witnessing one of the haunting, grotesque moments from Event Horizon. That artwork raises the stakes within the story and made me root even harder for Superman. This issue reminded me that our yellow sun isn’t the only thing that makes Superman super. His compassion, resilience, and unwavering hope are just as powerful as his strength. There are also some things Superman simply can’t punch his way through, and Ferreyra—working alongside Aaron’s script—showcases this dilemma brilliantly.
Speaking of Aaron, I’m constantly in awe of how he keeps this series fresh and how he continues to create new versions of Superman characters we thought we already knew. In the Absolute Universe, everything has changed because of Darkseid’s influence. But it doesn’t detract from the legend of Superman—it enriches and breathes new life into the mythos. We still get classic Superman vibes from this version of the character. Lois Lane is as fierce and determined as ever, and Parasite continues to demonstrate what unchecked power can do. There were so many great moments in this issue: Lois warning Jimmy about the Parasite, Superman confronting Hawkman, Lois encouraging Superman to be the city’s symbol of hope, Vandal Savage’s moment in jail, and those final panels featuring Brainiac and Lex Luthor.
(10/10) Absolute Superman #17 genuinely unsettled me. What I loved most is that even in the midst of this horrific situation—the unstoppable threat of Parasite—the hope represented by Superman continues to shine through. This issue reminded me that even in the darkest moments, whether in people, situations, or entire universes, light can and should prevail.
