What do you think?
Rate this book
Absolute Superman (2024) (Single Issues)
Absolute Superman (2024-) #17
Superman must save Metropolis from being devoured by his most terrifying enemy yet, the all-consuming Parasite—while the happiest man in the Absolute Universe, a simple family man named Lex Luthor, receives a fateful visitor...
Kindle Edition
Published March 4, 2026
18 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Jason Aaron
2,382 books1,689 followersJason Aaron grew up in a small town in Alabama. His cousin, Gustav Hasford, who wrote the semi-autobiographical novel The Short-Timers, on which the feature film Full Metal Jacket was based, was a large influence on Aaron. Aaron decided he wanted to write comics as a child, and though his father was skeptical when Aaron informed him of this aspiration, his mother took Aaron to drug stores, where he would purchase books from spinner racks, some of which he still owns today.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 6, 2026
This issue leans hard into spectacle. Parasite hits Metropolis like a full-scale catastrophe, spreading through the city while Superman scrambles to contain something that feels way bigger than a typical villain fight. Fun seeing Hawkman an Superman’s different approaches to dealing with it.
Juan Ferrerya’s art really sells the scale and panic, making it feel like Metropolis is being swallowed piece by piece.
And the ending lands hard — Brainiac torchering Lex and leaving him in a brutal, bloody cliffhanger that immediately makes you want the next issue.
Juan Ferrerya’s art really sells the scale and panic, making it feel like Metropolis is being swallowed piece by piece.
And the ending lands hard — Brainiac torchering Lex and leaving him in a brutal, bloody cliffhanger that immediately makes you want the next issue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2026
ok, first the art. it ranged from amazing and detailed to "what the f*ck did they do to Superman's face?" (and not in a good way). But overall it's pretty fascinating and insanely bloody at times. now onto the story. . .wow. the Absolute universe does not fail when it comes to f*cked up scenarios. super dark ending and definitely looking forward to the next arch.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2026
yes
Still a fresh take with plenty of pop and vigour. Keep it coming and I'll stay interested. Nice artwork too. They're clearly doing something right.
Still a fresh take with plenty of pop and vigour. Keep it coming and I'll stay interested. Nice artwork too. They're clearly doing something right.
March 5, 2026
Once again that was absolute phenomenal, the art was breathtaking and we are finally at a point where I can say that’s my Superman! And this fight literally gave him a chance to be the shining, calming, beacon of hope that can touch the hearts and minds of everyone in metropolis at once! I love it!! This issue opens on quite a horrific note, the giant parasite is walking through the city, growing larger with each tendril that brings in a new person, all while Lois, who apparently has a strap on her, runs through desperately evading and trying to call Jimmy…until she finds him in a mound of flesh tied up with everyone else…begging for death. She can’t do it, instead she evades to the river where the parasites continues to reach out for her, claiming that “Us no hunger. Us no need. Us no more alone. Us all together now.” Superb is having a hard time focusing with all the screams, but Hawkman sees it as another run of the mill monster that needs to be squashed, immediately ignoring all warning from Superman and slamming through it. This of course has no effect, and with the entire parasite body made of humans screaming for help, Superman stops him before he accidentally kills anyone. This momentary pause allows parasite to knock them back into a building. Superman watches as Hawkman gears for round two, realizing that Hawkman knows what this thing is. Before Hawkman can attack it, Superman moves him out of the way, claiming they need to find another way, until he hears Lois calling for help. He flies over to find her being lifted into the rest of the pack, the parasite wrapped around her. He calls out to her and suddenly the parasite lets go, dropping her into his arms as they fly up to the safety of a nearby building. Lois explains that everyone inside is trapped in a nightmare, the parasite terrifies them and gets their bodies pumping full of adrenaline and endorphins so it can feed on their energy. But it wasn’t Superman’s strength that freed her, the parasite let her go as suddenly Lois wasn’t afraid. She knew Superman was there and that he was fighting for her, that’s all it took for Superman to save her…just being there to save the day. Superman realizes he has to make every one of metropolis feel the same way, hawks sees this as an impossible task…so in Superman that means he just needs 5 minutes. What curious is that Hawkman seems to know who Lane is…and she knows him as well and every terrible thing he’s done which she claims she will tell Superman all about once this is over, was that a perk of her job at Lazarus? But Hawkman isn’t waiting for Superman, he fears if Superman is taken by the parasite he will just feed it even more power. And I have to admit that is a real concern, as the moment parasite touches Superman the creature explodes with power, literally flooding the streets and even taking Hawkman in as well. But Kal stays strong and calm as Lois calls out to him to be himself and let people see him. We experience the effects of the parasite inside Carter Hall’s brain I a beautiful x-ray view of his head with the parasite effects on full display as it surrounds him in the skulls of the people he wronged…but suddenly Superman (just a mere boy inside parasite) breaks through and frees Carter. He can’t see what is making Carter afraid, but he is here to help the same way he is currently helping the over 2 million other people and animals trapped inside this system. For all of them he brings a message of hope, that they are not alone, but for Carter he has a different message. We don’t get to see what that message is, instead we see the tangible effects of Superman as the parasite suddenly explodes throughout the city and Superman spends a lot of time very quickly catching everyone and putting them down safely before they fall to the ground. Carter is astonished that he is able to pull that off, the mere power of his voice told everyone they would be okays that’s my Superman! Superman was able to take the alien organism and trap it in a piece of his cape, with the full union of bringing it back to his fortress at his barn where he can nurse it and get it back home. The memories are hazy but Carter finally remembers what Superman told him in there, as it turns out Superman has a message for Lazarus and everyone like them:
“You tell them I don’t sleep in nothing they have gonna hurt me. Tell them my sense is stretched for miles, and I’m as strong as the sun. And you tell them I’m coming.”
This entire section is amazing as Kal delivered a threat to Carter’s superiors in there but back in the real world he completely makes a fool of Carter. Earlier Carter told him the way if the world was written in stone, but this is said by a man who can move mountains!! Superman is not Carter, he is not for sale. And as Superman leaves, Hawkman goes crawling right back to Talia to report on the events. But remember why all this started in the first place, Talia needed a distraction and she used it to break her father free. He didn’t want to go at first, didn’t want to go back to the pits, but ultimately he gave his apologies to Superman and left the book behind as he went with his daughter. Please Ra’s…don’t go back to who you were. But speaking of busy, the issue ends by checking back in on brainiac…who is now soaked in blood and chained Lex up and help his eyes open to make him watch all of his loved ones ripped apart by Brainiac’s blades…brainiac left with the hope Lex will make something interesting of himself, and it seems brainiac just set off a ticking time bomb. WTF! Lex in this universe is born through blood soaked tears, this will not be pretty.
“You tell them I don’t sleep in nothing they have gonna hurt me. Tell them my sense is stretched for miles, and I’m as strong as the sun. And you tell them I’m coming.”
This entire section is amazing as Kal delivered a threat to Carter’s superiors in there but back in the real world he completely makes a fool of Carter. Earlier Carter told him the way if the world was written in stone, but this is said by a man who can move mountains!! Superman is not Carter, he is not for sale. And as Superman leaves, Hawkman goes crawling right back to Talia to report on the events. But remember why all this started in the first place, Talia needed a distraction and she used it to break her father free. He didn’t want to go at first, didn’t want to go back to the pits, but ultimately he gave his apologies to Superman and left the book behind as he went with his daughter. Please Ra’s…don’t go back to who you were. But speaking of busy, the issue ends by checking back in on brainiac…who is now soaked in blood and chained Lex up and help his eyes open to make him watch all of his loved ones ripped apart by Brainiac’s blades…brainiac left with the hope Lex will make something interesting of himself, and it seems brainiac just set off a ticking time bomb. WTF! Lex in this universe is born through blood soaked tears, this will not be pretty.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2026
This is my third issue of this title and the end of the guest artist arc and I still think this might be my favourite Absolute title.
The pacing is excellent and while this is a younger, brasher Superman he still is a shining example of decency and hope. Aaron succeeds in doing something different with Parasite that makes him more Kaiju/cloverfield.
Ferrerya has shone in this arc, his Parasite design and effect on his victims was proper body horror. The scene with Brainiac was chilling and gruesome partly because the violence was implied by the bloodstained Brainia and chainsaws but also via the reaction of his target. My heart broke for the victim and it's a testament to the art team and the writing to evoke such a strong reaction in me.
This is what appeals so much to me in this book - I care about the characters. The villains are easy to hate but they all have an element of humanity. Hawkman is a Dick but I can't help but feel sad about how he became so hopeless and essentially scared of the system. The same goes for Ra's and especially Lex.
Aaron also does a great job of showing that being "good" like Superman requires real strength, highlighted by Ra's inability to remain on the path to redemption and presumably Hawkman's submission to authority. Being good when everyone else takes the easier option is the usual reality. Not with Clark - he seeks the right solution and not only refuses to be corrupted but seeks out to stop the corruptors. A timely message for us all.
I'm fully on board with this book and love the mix of long and short term stories. It feels genuinely cinematic and could easily make for prestige TV if not for being impossible to film on a TV budget. This should be an animated series like "Invincible".
I don't know what Ferreyra's next project is but he's shown he's capable of carrying an A-list book. Aaron demonstrates yet again that he can make any character work, I think there's only Mark Waid who never seems to fail with Marvel and DC.
Overall = 5/5
Writing = 5/5
Art = 5/5
Will I read the next issue? Yes.
Wait for the trade collection? No, this is too good for the 6+ month trade waiting.
Did I need to read previous issues/series? At least issue 16 for who this Hawkman is.
Will I read previous issues? Yes I want to read the entire run in trade format probably in a sale.
The pacing is excellent and while this is a younger, brasher Superman he still is a shining example of decency and hope. Aaron succeeds in doing something different with Parasite that makes him more Kaiju/cloverfield.
Ferrerya has shone in this arc, his Parasite design and effect on his victims was proper body horror. The scene with Brainiac was chilling and gruesome partly because the violence was implied by the bloodstained Brainia and chainsaws but also via the reaction of his target. My heart broke for the victim and it's a testament to the art team and the writing to evoke such a strong reaction in me.
This is what appeals so much to me in this book - I care about the characters. The villains are easy to hate but they all have an element of humanity. Hawkman is a Dick but I can't help but feel sad about how he became so hopeless and essentially scared of the system. The same goes for Ra's and especially Lex.
Aaron also does a great job of showing that being "good" like Superman requires real strength, highlighted by Ra's inability to remain on the path to redemption and presumably Hawkman's submission to authority. Being good when everyone else takes the easier option is the usual reality. Not with Clark - he seeks the right solution and not only refuses to be corrupted but seeks out to stop the corruptors. A timely message for us all.
I'm fully on board with this book and love the mix of long and short term stories. It feels genuinely cinematic and could easily make for prestige TV if not for being impossible to film on a TV budget. This should be an animated series like "Invincible".
I don't know what Ferreyra's next project is but he's shown he's capable of carrying an A-list book. Aaron demonstrates yet again that he can make any character work, I think there's only Mark Waid who never seems to fail with Marvel and DC.
Overall = 5/5
Writing = 5/5
Art = 5/5
Will I read the next issue? Yes.
Wait for the trade collection? No, this is too good for the 6+ month trade waiting.
Did I need to read previous issues/series? At least issue 16 for who this Hawkman is.
Will I read previous issues? Yes I want to read the entire run in trade format probably in a sale.
March 5, 2026
The art in this is absolutely wild! I was not expecting Absolute Superman of all things to go in the direction of body horror. This is a totally crazy, sick, and twisted reinterpretation of Parasite. I loved it!
I also love seeing Kal do more of his thing. He is really becoming the hopeful, inspirational Superman we know and love. The whole "It's impossible. Give me five minutes." bit was great. That's my Superman!!! I also loved the "Superman is not for sale" line. Heck yeah!!!!!
I also love seeing Kal do more of his thing. He is really becoming the hopeful, inspirational Superman we know and love. The whole "It's impossible. Give me five minutes." bit was great. That's my Superman!!! I also loved the "Superman is not for sale" line. Heck yeah!!!!!
March 4, 2026
The ending was sick, but the price of admission. As for Superman, he is angry, but not willing to stoop the Hawkman’s level. I could see Hal’s possible redemption, if they can find Hawkwoman. Otherwise, prepare for a fight.
March 7, 2026
Me quedo ya sin adjetivos para esta serie. No haya nada más expresivo que la frase de I'm, coming. Y las dos últimas páginas confirman que vamos a tener más de Luthor. Me ha encantado como Lois le da la clave a clark para salir airoso y salvar a la gente
March 10, 2026
Absolute Superman’s villains are quite frightening - not quite to Absolute Batman’s level but damned close. I love how Aaron has slowly built up Karl’s confidence in himself as Superman. He’s a reluctant hero, moreso than most of the Absolute crew, but he’s finally feeling his power.
March 11, 2026
this issue came with a bit more bite to it then the previous issue. i am still feeling somewhat disillusioned with the arc. it feels like things are moving but without really anchoring it why and the motivations. I know it comes later but it feels a bit distal
March 4, 2026
what is it with all the absolute titles producing bangers this week
March 5, 2026
This is just the third comic in a row I read, all just released the same day, where the primary antagonist was a giant purple protoplasm monster.
March 5, 2026
What a beautiful, scary end!
March 6, 2026
i knew lex was cooked the moment i saw his head full of hair
March 6, 2026
I wonder what is going to become of this Lex?
March 7, 2026
So very good. I love Hawkman in this one and we learn more about him. The section with Raz was also great. Then we have the brutal final pages bringing this terrific issue to a close.
March 7, 2026
god DAMN!!!
March 8, 2026
That ending.... nah bro that is def Luthor's villain origin story because ain't no way
Overall, Superman is him
Looking forward to see the next issue with SHAZAM
Overall, Superman is him
Looking forward to see the next issue with SHAZAM
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2026
LOIS DIDN'T DENY IT OMG
March 12, 2026
destilación da esencia de superman e á vez unha historia de orixe de lex luthor fascinante, moita curiosidade por como evolucionan a súa personaxe
March 12, 2026
This has really found itself and rounded into an awesome series.
The DC trinity is truly firing on all cylinders in the Absolute universe. Flash, figure it tf out.
The DC trinity is truly firing on all cylinders in the Absolute universe. Flash, figure it tf out.
March 18, 2026
Jason's second half of superman is killing it. Great moments with Hawkman, a shocking ending, I'm loving his voice for Supes here.
March 19, 2026
Getting more of a creepy tone to this series. But I love how they are doing it!
March 27, 2026
It lacks the punch of the rest of the series. It’s a filler, uniquely there to help covering an escape.
March 27, 2026
Amazing!
I wish the artist would stick around for the long run but man this series has been so good. The villain designs are so good. Loving every minute of it.
I wish the artist would stick around for the long run but man this series has been so good. The villain designs are so good. Loving every minute of it.
March 28, 2026
dude poor lex wtf
March 30, 2026
The body horror here is crazy
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews