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A number of DC Comics heroes will be reinvented with this year’s Absolute line, putting a modern twist on iconic characters. Now, the writer of Absolute Superman teases that the new Man of Steel won’t be fighting Lex Luthor at all in the revamped line, but instead will face a completely different villain from the DC Universe.
Appearing at the “Jason Aaron: In the Spotlight” panel during Dragon Con 2024, the writer teased a little of what’s to come in Absolute Superman: “I haven’t said this before, but there’s no Lex Luthor in this arc. It’s not Superman vs Lex.”
While Aaron didn’t reveal who the villain Superman will be fighting is, he did tease it was a new take on an established DC character: “The main villain he fights is…a villain we don’t normally equate with Superman,” Aaron continued, explaining that the mysterious new villain will be completely revamped for the Absolute line.
“It’s Not Superman vs Lex”: Jason Aaron Teases New Villain in Absolute Superman
Fan speculation has been at a fever pitch over DC’s new Absolute publishing initiative, whether it’s the length of Superman’s hair or the size of the symbol on Batman’s chest. But the whole point of the line is to do something different with these iconic characters, reimagining them based on more modern sensibilities and concerns. Superman taking on a villain other than Lex Luthor will pose an interesting challenge for the new Man of Steel, and it also provides the opportunity to establish a brand new rivalry in the Absolute universe.
While Aaron didn’t give any hints as to who the villain could be, previous DC stories have gotten a lot of mileage in pairing Superman against villains he doesn’t encounter on a regular basis. One of the more notable examples is Kingdom Come, which posits an alternate future where Joker leaves Gotham for Metropolis and winds up killing Lois Lane in an attack on The Daily Planet. After the Joker is then killed by Magog, this causes Superman to exile himself to the Fortress of Solitude, thus kicking off the events of that classic series by Mark Waid and Alex Ross.
Who is the Established DC Villain Facing Off Against Absolute Superman?
The possibilities of who Superman’s new enemy could be are endless, so fans will have to stay tuned until November when Absolute Superman launches to find out who the Man of Steel will be fighting. Jason Aaron certainly sounds excited about the new series, stating at the panel that the new Absolute title is “everything I want to say about Superman.” Whether he’ll be fighting the Joker, Vandal Savage, Deathstroke or any other number of possible villians, Absolute Superman will be a must-read for DC fans.
Absolute Superman
#1
will be available November 6 from DC Comics.
Source: Jason Aaron, “Jason Aaron: In the Spotlight,” Dragon Con 2024
Absolute Superman #1 (2024)
Writer: Jason Aaron Artist: Rafa Sandoval Colorist: Ulises Arreola Cover Artist: Rafa Sandoval
Superman
The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.
“}]] Who is Absolute Superman’s arch-nemesis? Read More