Each Friday, we'll be letting a different DC.com writer share what they'll be reading over the weekend and why you might want to check it out. Here's this week's suggestion for a perfect Weekend Escape!
Ever since his debut, Superman has served as a source of justice and inspiration to the people of Metropolis and the world, all while staying centered and nourished by the love of his parents. But in the newest iteration of the hero—reimagined in the Darkseid-molded Absolute Universe—we meet a Superman who never felt that love, whose entire world fed on nothing but hate.
If that sounds like an intriguing big swing, well…you're not wrong. Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval bring something entirely fresh to Superman, while challenging what we know about Krypton. Absolute Superman Vol. 1: Last Dust of Krypton is DC's big budget sci-fi thriller that became one of the best-selling comics of 2024 and 2025. So, it's the perfect weekend escape for those of us who love a little drama, conspiracy and Superman!
The Premise:
Aaron and Sandoval quickly lay out the world that we as readers are following them into. Here in this universe created by none other than Darkseid himself, the Science League are evil and greedy, Krypton is being mined for all its worth, and thanks to the planet’s strict class system, the Man of Steel’s S symbol doesn't stand for hope, or what a great graphic designer Ma Kent is, it stands for Labor. Why did our heroic blue-eyed boy take it on, you may ask? Well, in this story, Superman's parents weren't in the science league. They were both banned for being too critical of their own authoritarian government. Instead, they're proud laborers, cosmic farmers digging for colorful gems, with all their profit and proceeds going directly to Krypton's 1%. This Clark Kent is a creature of pure fury who is at all times trying his best to be a good influence in a horrific world.
Let’s Talk Talent:
As mentioned above, Absolute Superman has an all-star creative team as Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval team up with colorist Ulises Arreola and letterer Becca Carey to bring their drastically different take on the Last Son of Krypton to life. Aaron is returning to the company where he made his name years ago with the Vertigo series Scalped for another smash hit with an equally buzzworthy line of books. Sandoval, meanwhile, brings his deft touch to this grim new world, always focusing on Kal-El's innate humanity and inner struggle with his own fury, even when the story is at its most epic or action-packed. This is the kind of team that comic book lovers geek out about, especially when it's utilized to reimagine an iconic character.
A Few Reasons to Read:
- It's a new start for Superman. If you've been struggling to find a perfect place to begin your Kal-El reading or are looking for an accessible comic series after seeing Superman in theaters this summer, this is a perfect jumping on point. Though as we've covered, it is a completely different version of the hero that you know and love.
- Despite the grim and gritty origins of the Absolute universe, Aaron and Sandoval give us a hero that you can root for even in his most violent moments. There is a humanity here that is vital to a good Superman story, even in a universe built on despair.
- This is a Superman who never made it to Earth as a baby and instead ended up with the Kents as an adolescent. And a little good news is that for the most part, even in the Absolute universe, the Kents manage to stay their loving and generous selves.
Why It’s Worth Your Time:
Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval rebooting Superman is honestly the kind of comic book mad libs that rarely becomes real, but here it is. Absolute Superman Vol. 1: Last Dust of Krypton is a great introduction to the new Absolute universe, whether your interest starts and stops at Superman, or you’re curious about other DC stalwarts like Batman and Wonder Woman (both of whom also have recent Absolute vol. 1s—we even covered Absolute Wonder Woman here in Weekend Escape!). And with so much to say about economic class, greed and oppression, it’s pretty timely to boot. Krypton may be gone, but if you follow my suggestion and check out Absolute Superman this weekend, the lessons it can teach us will never be forgotten.
Absolute Superman Vol. 1: Last Dust of Krypton by Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval and Ulises Arreola is now available in bookstores, comic shops, libraries and digital retailers. You can also read Absolute Superman in full on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE.
Rosie Knight is an award-winning journalist and author who loves Swamp Thing, the DC Cosmic and writing the monthly gossip column here at DC.com. You can also listen to her waxing lyrical about comics, movies and more each week as she co-hosts Crooked Media's pop-culture podcast, X-Ray Vision.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Rosie Knight and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.
