REVIEW: Absolute Superman #23

Superman continues his pursuit of the elusive Brainiac in Absolute Superman #23, “Get Brainiac: Part Two: Toyman.” Writer Jason Aaron, artist and colorist Juan Ferreyra and letterer Becca Carey take us back on the hunt for Brainiac 419,732 as Superman pushes closer to his breaking point.

Superman has had a great track record of helping many of the villains he has faced over the last 22 issues choose another path. That was especially true last issue with Metallo, Christopher Smith, the former Peacemaker. Brainiac transformed Smith into a Kryptonite-powered weapon, but Superman refused to give up on the man underneath the pain and ultimately reached him.

Before we rejoin Superman in his hot pursuit of Brainiac, let’s check out this issue’s great covers. On Rafa Sandoval and Ulises Arreola’s main cover, Superman has become an exclusive, one-of-a-kind live-action figure, courtesy of this issue’s featured Brainiac lieutenant. The words “Now with sound chip!: ‘WE ARE THE PEOPLE OF STEEL!’” are emphasized across the packaging as Superman furiously tries to break out of the plastic window box. Superman has been reduced to an object—something to be packaged, controlled and played with.

Superman hovers in space as a silent sentinel on Ferreyra’s variant, watching over the planet he now calls home. His red cape expands behind him into almost talon-like shapes, ready to strike at anyone who threatens Earth. But there’s something lonely about the image. Superman is surrounded by the cold quiet of space with an entire world beneath him, yet he appears completely alone.

In Fabrizio De Tommaso’s variant, Superman stands atop a building as sunlight pours down around him. He scans the sky with glowing red eyes and a clenched fist. He’s searching, and he’s not going to stop until he finds who—or what—he is looking for.

There is also a variant available by Clay Mann showing Superman take on a Peacemaker.

Ferreyra’s artwork does a great job distinguishing the past from the present by making the flashbacks resemble paintings or memories caught in a dream-like state. They appear light and incomplete, as though Kal-El’s memories could blow away at any moment. The present is the opposite, with Ferreyra’s colors making every emotion striking. There is power, anguish, anger and disappointment in Superman’s every movement as he desperately searches for Brainiac.

Aaron’s words, combined with Ferreyra’s artwork and Carey’s lettering, place us directly inside Superman’s head. He’s trying to be the hero everyone believes he is, but he’s exhausted emotionally and spiritually. He has seemingly been Superman 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He’s barely allowing himself to be Kal-El, and Clark hasn’t really been seen living among humans or spending time with Jimmy or Lois, although they continue to encourage him. He didn’t grow up on Earth, didn’t spend much time with the Kents and still hasn’t planted real roots on his adopted home. Yet he feels responsible for a planet that has also brought him pain and loneliness. He has seen people ignored, exploited and treated as though they are at the bottom of society while those with power fight to remain on top.

The creative team does a great job of putting us inside Superman’s head during his dogged pursuit of Brainiac. His memories of Krypton and experiences on Earth have pushed this young superhero to his absolute limits. This isn’t only a battle against Brainiac; it’s becoming a test of what Superman believes about people themselves. Christopher Smith was a tortured man Superman could still reach. Brainiac transformed the former Peacemaker into Metallo and used him as a weapon, but Superman refused to give up on the humanity still inside him.

That makes Superman’s encounter with Brainiac’s latest lieutenant, Toyman, even more disturbing. Unlike Smith, Toyman appears much closer to his master. He represents the ugly and horrible side of humanity—the kind that infuriates Superman because some people don’t have to be tortured or manipulated into becoming monsters. Superman wants to believe people can be better. Toyman forces him to confront what happens when someone simply chooses not to be.

(10/10) There’s so much more to explore within Superman’s psyche in Absolute Superman #23, I hope we discover what and who Superman really wants to be. He’s already proven he can protect Earth and that he cares deeply about others. Now he needs to slow down, discover what this world has to offer him and make a true connection to the home he has chosen to defend.