In this review of Absolute Evil #1, the villains of the Absolute Universe unite to deal with their new hero problem. But someone is missing from the conversation.
ABSOLUTE EVIL #1
Writer: by AL EWING
Art and Main Cover: GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI
Variant Covers: FABRIZIO DE TOMMASO, GERALD PAREL, DUSTIN NGUYEN, RILEY ROSSMO
Page Count: 48 pages
Release Date: 10/1/25
This review contains spoilers
Absolute Evil #1 opens in 1951, as apparently like on Earth Prime, Alpha-World had a “golden age” of superheroes. Carter Hall aka Hawkman approaches the House of Un-American Activities Committee in private. Rather than the mainline story whereby he and the rest of the Justice Society of America quit rather than be unmasked by HUAC, Hawkman agrees to collaborate with the McCarthy-ites as well as name any “conspirators”.
In the present, Oliver Queen practices his archery skills while on the phone with his friend Roy Harper. It’s revealed in this telephone conversation that Ollie has been training and building a superhero arsenal for the sole purpose of hunting down Jubal Slade, a billionaire child trafficker and likely an analogue to the prime earth Slade Wilson.
Elsewhere, Absolute Green Lantern’s Hector Hammond is on his own call with Slade, the pair apparently aware of Ollie’s plans. Hector is asked to deposit his cell as he passes through a security checkpoint into a secret meeting. Hector is greeted by the Absolute variants of Wonder Woman villain Veronica Cale, Ra’s Al Ghul, Dr. Elanore Thawne (currently hunting the Absolute Flash), and an unnamed Joker. Veronica Cale explains that in the past, costumed heroes were dealt with through bribery, extortion and murder, but the new crop of characters having appeared since the launch of the Absolute Comics Line has become a thorn in the side of all their business interests. The Joker agrees with Veronica’s premise, that it is time for an alliance.
Hector initially wants no part in the group, bragging about how he alone was able to remove the Green Lantern construct from earth. Before he can leave, however, Veronica calls in Hawkman, garbed in a darker military/mummy outfit, who lays out the body of Oliver Queen on the table. Joker explains further that the universe is run on Omega Energy and the Anti-Life, and that together they can maintain what they believe to be the natural order of the universe. It’s revealed that Braniac, using Mirror Master’s abilities, has been spying on the meeting through Ra’s Al Ghul’s glasses. Joker makes one addition to his crew that he believes will give them the winning edge against the heroes: a seemingly happy and peaceful Lex Luthor, living with his family on a remote farm in the Midwest.
One of the first things taught in writing courses is that a good villain believes they are a hero. Plenty of writers seem to take this as a cop out, as just having the villain state that they believe in their actions, while completely omitting a logical goal, does not satisfy the spirit of the lesson. Some villains are simply evil for the sake of being evil, and that’s okay.
Absolute Evil #1, however, positions its characters in a synthesis of these two philosophies on antagonism, one which feels relevant to our current political situation. This “Absolute Justice League” (or Injustice League), battles for no other goal than to maintain the status quo. It’s something that, depending on your place along the socio-political and class spectrum, you can either sympathize with or truly loathe. And while one could argue we’ve seen enough variations on “Justice League but Evil”, I feel this incarnation has the opportunity to deliver something truly unique.
Absolute Evil #1 is a rather talk-heavy book, which I’m usually pretty fast to criticize when it comes to super-hero fiction. However, I do find the characterizations, discussion and dilemmas more engaging when it comes from a villainous perspective, a change up from the usual superhero board room chats of “We must be more proactive, make stronger bonds, etc. etc.”. Not to mention I was absolutely stunned by both the Hawkman/Green Arrow fake-out and the Lex Luthor reveal.
Guissepe Camuncoli is a journeyman pro by this point (I remember being impressed by his work all the way back on Dark Wolverine), and whatever embellishes Stefano Nesi is adding fits well enough. I really dig this evil Hawkman look, it seems to combine elements of the Blackhawks uniform with these creepy mummy bandages. The faceless assassin trope works basically 100% of the time, and it’s nice that the absolute universe is willing to try something new with a rather obtuse character.
Overall, Absolute Evil #1 was an unexpected but welcome surprise. When it comes to stopgaps or teaser one-shots, this issue is one of the better ones. I don’t know to what degree this will be relevant to the rest of the books rather than brief nods or Easter eggs, but I genuinely am curious about the intentions and plans of this Absolute Justice League.
