Absolute Superman #8
Scheduled to arrive in stores: June 4, 2025
Cover date: August 2025
“Superman, Son of the Demon” – Part One: “Lazarus, Come Forth”
Writer: Joshua Williams
Artists: Rafa Sandoval and Ulises Arreola
Cover: Rafa Sandoval and Ulises Arreola
Variant Covers: David Talaski, Clayton Crain, Jeff Spokes
Reviewed by: Craig Boehmer
The story opens with Ra’s fighting off assassins while speaking to Lazarus’ Board Group. Profits are up all around and he kills his would be killers. He then takes one of the attackers and puts him in the Lazarus Pit and de-ages him to a baby before throwing him out the window. Kind of unnecessary creepiness in my opinion.
Next we see Kal at Martha’s bedside, telling her about his trips, and all the incredible things he has seen. She awakens in a panic, calling for Johnathan, calling Kal a stranger. Her reaction sends him speedily away to downtown Smallville, where he runs into Lois Lane and Jimmy. Lois and Jimmy argue over their differences, while Kal hides on a rooftop. Gradually the argument draws him down, where he is almost immediately shot in the chest with a kryptonite bullet. Lois beseeches Jimmy to help her get Kal to safety, as Peacemakers pour into the street.
Captain Smith comes forward, the one who murdered the innocents who laughed at him in India. He shot Kal and proceeds to beat him. The fight seesaws back and forth between the two, until Smith, who is now a Brainiac Enhanced Peacemaker, riddles Kal with more Kryptonite bullets. Kal then reaches out to Jimmy to help him escape. Jimmy calls a boom tube and they vanish, leaving Lois at the mercy of the Peacemakers.
Story – 5: This is a return to the story after the Brainiac Interlude. Seeing Ra’s Al Ghul as the big bad guy balancing his profit call with destroying the assassination attempt was a great way to start the book, and introduce the villain. I do wonder why Aaron uses Ra’s in this story when it seems like it would have been very easy to use Savage instead, but maybe Ra’s is just the name that Savage is currently using… It was heartbreaking to see Kal’s interaction with an unconscious Martha. This look into how much Kal longs for connections in this world that have been denied to him continues to impress.
I really enjoy these versions of Jimmy and Lois. They are opposite sides of the world’s status quo, and yet they are both motivated by similar desires. This issue is better because of Aaron’s penned interactions between them. Kal’s fight with Peacemaker is ramped up in this issue as well. It’s a great battle between the Brainiac enhanced Peacemaker, and the Kryptonite weakened Kal.Art – 5: Peak art in this issue. The story telling, the expressive faces, the vibrant colors, all of it is fantastic. Plus, that drag it out brawl is incredibly choreographed and penciled by Rafa. Rafa also nails the designs for Brainiac Enhanced Peacemaker, and full mask Superman. Incredible.Cover Art – 5: The cover shows the big trio facing down the battle in Smallville, it’s a great tease, and I hope we get more of these three working together really soon.
Variant Cover Art – 4: Great image of Kal soaking up the sun.Variant Cover Art – 4: Cool cover of Kal floating in space with his forearms glowing with power.
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