Absolute Power: Super Son (2024) #1

by Sina Grace, John Timms (cover_art), Travis Mercer (inker)

Jonathan Kent has suffered more than most at the hand of the Trinity of Evil—but the son of Superman will summon the will to FIGHT BACK. In this special, over-sized edition of Absolute Power, we’ll travel to the depths of despair as one of the most powerful beings on planet Earth must reckon with his own past to save his future…and the road to recovery will pave the way for a critical new chapter in the journey of the Super Son. It’s a clash of power, a tale of self-discovery, and the start of a new dream in Absolute Super Son!

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Superman, LGBT

Kindle Edition

Published September 18, 2024

About the author

Sina Grace’s parents had big plans for their son: Ivy League schooling, professional credentials, a 6-figure income as a doctor– the works! Fortunately for us, he found the wonderful world of comics instead. It was in this world of contradictions that he “matured,” one foot teetering on the edge of academia, the other drawn to the inescapable grasp of an ink-bound fantasy underworld.

At 14, Grace seemingly appeased his parents by interning at Top Cow Productions, under the guidance of Editor-in-Chief Renae Geerlings (his single mother figured at least he was collecting college credit). However the only thing he was collecting (other than comics), was the compulsive habit of drawing unrealistically proportioned, scantily clad women.

At 16, he got a perpetual summer-time job at the Santa Monica landmark: Hi De Ho Comics, where he would be inspired to create Books with Pictures. By 17 he wrote, drew, and self-published his first comic, The Roller-Derby Robo-Dykes versus the Cannibals. His knowledge of disproportionate harlots with weapons came in handy when depicting a story about Robo-Dykes bent on taking over the world. His mother was happy that he was taking interest in girls. The book went into a second printing, and received the praise of Lying in the Gutters critic, Rich Johnston.

Weeks after graduating high school, he was asked by Rilo Kiley front-woman Jenny Lewis to illustrate a limited edition comic book adaptation of their 2004 record, More Adventurous. In the spring of 2006 he was asked to apprentice under comics genius, Howard Chaykin (even though it may not be apparent in Books with Pictures, Grace did learn the function of a ruler and the meaning of a vanishing point).

Between the summers of 2005 and 06, Grace’s partially-biographical indie dramedy, Books with Pictures, went from hand-xeroxed zines to full-fledged, full-sized comic books. Shortly after its debut at San Diego Comic-Con, Diamond Distributors accepted the series into their ordering catalogue, Previews. Grace’s work on the series was met with admiration from bloggers and reviewers alike, and has since taken on several projects for multiple anthologies due in late 2008.

To his parents’ delight, he graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, receiving an undergraduate degree in Literature, with an emphasis on Creative Writing.

Sina Grace recently self-published an illustrated novel about a sorcerer sleuth in Orange County, aptly named Cedric Hollows in Dial M for Magic, his next project will be providing illustrations for Amber Benson’s novel, Among the Ghosts, through Aladdin Books.

Reviews

[Molly™☺ · Rating 2 out of 5]

One that requires investment in Jon Kent and his journey of recovery after the events of Absolute Power. There's not enough introspection to provide real depth, and Dreamer plays far too big a part, drawing attention away from the titular character. More meh than the main story, skip it unless Dreamer or Jon and Jay's relationship are of particular importance to you.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Jon. I should really read more of him.

[Paxton Holley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is Jon Kent’s rehabilitation after Brainiac Queen infested his every molecule. Meh. I normally love Jon stories like this but I just didn’t love this one.

[zara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am I biased? Perhaps. Jon, Jay and Nia are all quite literally some of my favourite characters to come out of recent DC. AND Sina Grace is one of my favourite writers! I can credit him as one of the reasons I properly got into comics (Iceman).

Right…back to this single issue that DESTROYED my life and any chance of being normal about my favs…

“Dreamer’s dead.” “Good” I GASPEDSDD. JAY😭😭!! I can’t lie, he looks like he wants out on this relationship. Free him, bro 😭. I think he NEEDS out, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT FELT LIKE JON AND NIA WERE (emotionally) CHEATING!! Jay, run…

Art style is great, it did Nia (& her friend from Bad Dream, forgot the name…) especially well! There was a panel where Nia was holding Jon, trying to calm him down, and oh my gosh it was so beautiful.

I’m a sucker for texting in comics [OH MY GOSH while writing this I realised it was Sina Grace who MADE me a sucker for them. Iceman Vol1 had some really funny texts]. Not much to say there, but if you have texts that feel so in chaeacter, it is probably going to improve my opinion. Drastically.

A great and incredibly angsty comic, centering my favourite queer trio that probably all want to date each other or kill each other at this point. No notes!

[Scratch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jon Kent is a character I am perpetually playing catchup with. Yes, I am aware of who he is. I know that Clark and Lois finally had a son. I was vaguely aware of the "Super Sons" as a concept when it was first happening, so I knew that he was getting paired with Damion a lot, but I was still getting used to the idea that Damion wasn't a villain anymore.

I stopped reading DC once Flashpoint happened. I was offended by the idea of the New 52, so just gave up for a few years. When I stopped, Damion was just BARELY being treated as a hero, when pretty recently he was drawn as a villain with an oddly large head, talking about how he was going to wipe out all the other Robins because he was Batman's true son.

I didn't read the original issues where it was revealed that Clark and Lois had a new son. I was a little extra baffled, because I HAD read comics where their adopted son was Chris Kent. ... He now appears to have been largely retconned out of existence, because nobody even mentions him.

Then I was aware that Jon Kent got aged up, and then that he came out as bisexual. But I learned these things after the fact, not as they happened in the comics, in real time.

I'm not invested in his relationship with Jay. I don't understand why they're together, or what makes Jay so special. This issue also confuses me by strongly implying that Jon and Nia (transgender character largely based off the live-action Supergirl TV show version) had some sort of budding romance. This seems to undermine the importance of his relationship with Jay, or at least suggests he isn't as super-faithful as his father is. It also makes me uncomfortable, because I believe that the relationship between any consenting adults is valid, but I can't relate to being bi, or what that means for how he perceived Dreamer. I'm exclusively gay. By transitioning, from my point of via, Nia opted out of being a potential love interest to me, but could still be a friend. Jon apparently doesn't have that problem. ... And he also doesn't think it's a problem that he's supposed to be madly in love with his boyfriend?

Anyway. Setting aside the relationship drama, this issue is mostly just a fever dream. It's ostensibly about Jon recovering from his trauma. But, let's face it. It's practically a drug trip.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 3 out of 5]

La infección tecno orgánica a Jon Kent para convertirlo en uno de los activos más peligrosos del reinado de Poder Absoluto de Amanda Waller, sin duda ha sido uno de los puntos álgidos del evento. Aunque la perspectiva personal de Jon, controlado por la Reina Brainiac no pudo explorarse en la saga troncal. Este one shot por Sina Grace trata de indagar algo en este aspecto en el momento previo a poder salir del control y llegar a la resolución del conflicto. Esto ofrece una lucha interna con un remanente de la Reina Brainiac en la mente de Jon en el que Soñadora y sus poderes oníricos se convierten en pieza clave para lograr un enfrentamiento parejo fuera de las habilidades físicas del plano terrenal. Pero quizás hubiese sido mejor que esta premisa fuese post Absolute Power y no algo encajado en pleno climax del evento. Lo cual hace que todo tenga una sensación bastante atropellada que hace perder los grandes punchs emocionales que sorprende que apelen incluso sin haber leído la etapa comiquera actual de Jon como Superman.

[Anthony Crabtree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm behind on my comic book reading, so finally getting around to Absolute Power: Super Son. This was a solid one, but not my favorite from the Absolute Power run. The last few pages won me over, hitting the emotional beats that DC has done really well with recently, but the structure? It was all over the place and hard to follow, even though I've kept up with all of the Absolute Power comic books.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

after Jon's battles on Themyscira, he's in full recovery mode...

If you're a fan of Jon Kent or his cast of background characters, you'll enjoy this. It's yet another attempt by the 'powers that be' to make him contemporary and approachable. They choose their writers well, I'll give them that.
----
Bonus: So Dreamer is dead? The dreamscape is a messy, confusing thing...

[Raymond Paquette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good dive into Jon’s mind. He’s not just facing The Brainiac Queen, he’s up against all the trauma he’s ever experienced. And that’s quite the heaping lump of it at that. It also set up Wallers end. Dreamer.

[Raul Reyes · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5
I'm so confused, I didn't understand half the issue. The final speech Jon makes on his dream was sweet tho, and made me tear up; although the fact that that speech was juxtaposed with him reuniting with jay and their interactions being so dry made me laugh. Break up please

[James B · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's been a while since I last read an Absolute Power comic, and this reminds me of why I took a break from it. The art is amazing but the story is mediocre

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cannot remember how Mia appeared in DC? It seems she suddenly was there and we were supposed to know her? Was she properly introduced?

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this Superman!

[ComicBookCult Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic issue showing Jon battling for control over the Brainiac Queen. Reuniting with Jay. Great stuff!

[Fazun · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5

[isa ⊱ĭ⊰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3,5

[Rorscharch71 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story 3
Art 3