REVIEW: Absolute Superman #25

Brainiac can torture Superman, haunt his thoughts, and push him to his limits. Making him abandon his compassion is another battle entirely. After two years of storytelling, Absolute Superman #25 delivers a moving milestone with “Get Brainiac Finale: A Walk in the Mind of a Madman”, bringing Kal-El’s resilience and the love that shaped him into focus.

Writer Jason Aaron is joined by artists Juan Ferreyra, Carmine Di Giandomenico and Rafa Sandoval, with colors by Ferreyra and Ulises Arreola and lettering by Becca Carey. Together, they celebrate how far this Superman has come in a universe shaped by Darkseid’s evil presence. The result is an emotional conclusion to an unsettling story arc.

Before diving further into the story, let’s appreciate the covers. Sandoval and Arreola’s standard trifold cover brings Kal-El’s journey together in one sweeping image. From the red sands of Krypton to Smallville, Kansas, and from battles with Peacemakers to encounters with a Hulk-sized Ra’s al Ghul, Hawkman and King Shazam, Superman has already faced an extraordinary range of challenges. Surrounding him with friends, foes and reminders of his past makes this cover feel like a celebration of his life across these 25 issues.

Terry and Rachel Dodson’s variant gives us a Superman who looks like he has unlocked god-mode. His pupil-less white eyes and heat vision streaming sideways suggest barely contained energy, while his powerful presence makes him look ready to take on anything. This is the Superman you can count on to save the day, and the cover captures that confidence.

Frank Quitely’s glow-in-the-dark virgin variant finds its strength in a simple image: Superman in flight, his cape forming a large S behind him. That silhouette gives the cover its appeal, with the glowing finish adding another reason to admire it. It is an elegant celebration of the character.

There are also covers available by Bjorn Barends, Juan Ferreyra and Bryan Hitch.

Inside, the creative team balances Superman’s confrontation with Brainiac against flashbacks involving Kal-El’s Kryptonian parents. Dreams, values, love and the responsibility to be there for others connect these threads. The artwork supports both the disturbing nature of Brainiac’s cruelty and the warmth of Kal’s family memories, giving the issue an emotional range that makes its quieter moments matter as much as its conflict.

Aaron’s exploration of Superman’s compassion remains one of this series’ greatest strengths. Brainiac has tried to break him physically, mentally and spiritually, yet Kal continues trying to understand others and offer them another chance. He wants to know who his enemies are, what shaped them and whether he can help them see the harm they cause. Maintaining that outlook after everything he has endured makes his hope feel hard-earned. I love seeing this Superman struggle with emotions, fears, doubts, and insecurities. Those struggles give weight to the choices he makes when others need him. His determination to keep helping people becomes more powerful because we understand how much he must overcome within himself.

The flashbacks with Kal-El’s parents really make this issue. They raised him to believe that everyone matters, regardless of who they are, and, most importantly, they made him feel that he mattered, too. Their love helps explain the compassion he continues to show others, even after everything he has endured. Pages 29 and 30 nearly brought me to tears. For people who lived galaxies away, Kal’s parents feel so human throughout this issue, and their connection with their son gives those pages their emotional weight. That one panel between Kal and his parents on page 29 still gets to me just thinking about it.

(10/10) Absolute Superman #25 is a wonderful celebration of everything this series has been since it began, and I have been honored to review this journey. The creative team has done a fantastic job of bringing this new Superman to life, alongside familiar characters with new backstories, personalities and destinies in this Darkseid-influenced universe.