In this review of Absolute Superman #10, we land in Greenland where Superman arrives to help Jimmy Olsen.
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #10
Written by JASON AARON
Artist: CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO
Main Cover: RAFA SANDOVAL
Variant Covers: GERALD PAREL, GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI, TIRSO
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: August 6, 2025
This review contains spoilers
We open Absolute Superman #10, on Krypton years ago as Jor-El finds survivors of a cave-in. They are soon attacked by giant monsters known as magmoles, who Jor-El surmises don’t usually attack people. Over this fight, we get several narration boxes from Superman that lead us into the present in Greenland. The air patrol over the Lazarus Research Facility is suddenly and quickly attacked by an unseen foe.
Inside the facility, we see Jimmy Olsen and Ms. Lane. Lane is closely safeguarding Jimmy, a prisoner of the facility. Guards come in to move Olsen and Lane to a more secure area. We also meet the man in charge—Director Al Ghul, who is interrupted by Brainiac, eager to kill Superman. Al Ghul states that he doesn’t want to defeat Superman, he merely wants to make Superman “whole.”
Not satisfied that Superman is defeating—and not killing—his troops, Al Ghul orders the attack of the Omega Men who enter the facility via Boom Tube. Also on Team Al Ghul is Captain Peacemaker Smith, armed with a single kryptonite bullet and hi-tech armor. Smith is ready to kill Superman after a previous skirmish in Smallville where he failed. But despite his advanced armor, Smith is taken out in seconds.
As Smith lies bloodied and bruised ready to fire the fatal shot at Superman, we flashback to a time on Krypton where young Kal and his father reflect on the attack of the magmoles. Jor-El says he had no choice but to kill them in order to survive, but that life is very precious and not to be taken lightly. A lesson that leads Superman to spare the life of Smith—even saving him from attacks by the Omega Men and Al Ghul.
However, Al Ghul’s attack leaves Superman weak from intercepting the kryptonite bullet. He’s further weakened by a strange pinging, which is revealed to be a mother box held by Talia, daughter of Al Ghul.
ANALYSIS
Absolute Superman #10 does more to set up Ra’s Al Ghul and his motivations than anything. We spend some quality time with him as he talks to many of his henchmen and co-conspirators. Which is fine by me. It’s always nice to see some of the villain’s inner thinking rather than just have them be villains-for-villains-sake. Aaron does a nice job setting up Al Ghul and establishing his place in the rank of villains here.
Superman is almost a background character in most of this story. We hear his thoughts more than see him. But when he does show up, he shines (literally and figuratively.) As always, it’s his actions more than anything that define him. He goes out of the way to save lives, especially the lives of the pilots and even Smith. Even if it costs him in the end.
Di Giandomenico does a great job in Absolute Superman #10 with facial expressions—from the aloof smugness of Al Ghul to the intensity of Lane, from the fear of a trapped Jor-El to the wide-eyed innocence of young Kal—he nails them all. He has a strong style reminiscent of Jose-Luis Garcia Lopez with clear staging of action and some nice close-ups when needed.
I don’t usually comment on the covers, but the main cover–here by Rafa Sandoval–is great storytelling in one image. There’s action (or the remnants of it) and suspense. Questions are certainly raised about what has happened to create this shattered helmet with Superman’s reflection.
FINAL THOUGHTS
All in all, Absolute Superman #10 is a great book. Solid work by writer and artists. I do enjoy the combination of a classic Batman villain with the Omega Men and Boom Tube technology. And a great cliffhanger that has me ready for next month’s issue.
