In this review of Absolute Superman #15, Kal-El’s suit gets a brightened light while he goes around helping people and a new Absolute character makes a brief appearance.
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #15
Written by JASON AARON
Art by JUAN FERREYRA
Main Cover: RAFA SANDOVAL
Variant Covers: GERALD PAREL, CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO, JUAN FERREYRA
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 1/7/26
This review contains spoilers
After the Battle of Kansas concluded and Martha Kent passed away in Absolute Superman #14, Kal-El has to start fresh, both literally and figuratively. He debuts a new suit that is similar in style to his previous one, but ditches the dark blue / black look in favor of a bright blue color. The new color tone parallels his brighter outlook on life, as we see Clark doing a wide range of tasks to help people – holding back a breaking dam, putting some heat vision to Toyman for his child labor practices, even reading poems to Ra’s Al Ghul while he quickly ages in a prison cell.
Whether it’s swallowing a massive wildfire in the Amazon or spending the last moments of life with a dying child in Thailand, Absolute Superman is actively trying to make a difference by spreading hope around the world. All of these efforts take a toll on him, though. He misses Sol and feels alone at times. He continues to have doubts about whether he can play this role of Earth’s protector and savior. He flies into the stratosphere to scream, only to be met by Absolute Hawkman, who questions what he’s doing.
Absolute Superman #15 wraps up with Brainiac walking down a road in Missouri while talking to Talia Al Ghul. She needs him to return and help her rescue Ra’s, but he declines, informing her that he has other objectives in mind. The last panel reveals his goal, as he walks up to Lex Luthor’s house.
Analysis
Jason Aaron is developing this version of Clark at a steady pace. He started out as angry, withdrawn, and unsure of his place in the world, but we’re beginning to see him figuring things out. Aaron isn’t making the magical jump from one extreme to the other, but he’s growing the character slowly. There’s still some inner turmoil, but it’s nothing like earlier in the run.
I really like how we get to see Superman doing all these different things to save people in Absolute Superman #15, accepting that this is home now and he can help make the lives of many people around him better. Same general Superman as our regular universe one, but Aaron is just going about it with a little variation. It’s a great balance of familiar and new.
The decision to brighten up the suit takes an already cool design up a notch. The glowing energy on his arms and legs is still there and the cape still looks amazing, but the switch to the bright blue really brings it home that this Superman has changed. That visual element ties in well with what Aaron is writing.
While we only get to see Absolute Hawkman on the second to last page (a beautifully drawn and colored splash page from Juan Ferreyra), his design is excellent and I look forward to seeing him in action in the next issue. His helmet, wings, and mace allow you to recognize who he is, but like with the rest of the Absolute universe, it’s a unique look.
Final Thoughts
Absolute Superman #15 starts a new story arc, introducing Hawkman and a new Superman suit, heralding a new challenge and new hope for the Man of Steel. Have fun, comic lovers!
