DC Comics’ Absolute Universe is among the best things happening in comic books. You know it’s true when it reaches people outside of the genre. For example, Grammy Award-winning rapper Method Man (who’s a big comic book fan) mentioned that, while he hasn’t had a lot of time to read comics, he’s kept up with Absolute Batman. During the interview, he praised the creative team for making something new and interesting.
Now, when people think of the Absolute Universe, they always mention Wonder Woman and Batman first. And with good reason. Both titles have a phenomenal creative team. However, Jason Aaron’s Absolute Superman is elite but sometimes gets lost when the conversation of great comic books in this universe is mentioned. That said, the recent storyline (“The Neverending Begins”) will bring more eyes to a series that’s been amazing since issue No. 1.
While Hawkman (Carter Hall) was attempting to discuss how Superman carried himself, Kal-El kept leaving mid-sentence to help people. This eventually frustrates Carter for a couple of reasons. First, he took it as disrespectful. Second, and this was the part that really got me, he thinks that Superman is being foolish and naive and that Kal-El should be working with the Lazarus Corporation instead of against it and that trying to save everyone is foolish.
Unfortunately, what Carter Hall says to Superman is something that can be related to the real world. We live in an age when things have been awful. Innocent people are being beaten, killed, and having their rights violated. And while people are fighting back with protests, the narrative can be that it doesn’t matter, and anything done will be pointless. So, why bother trying? That kind of negativity is a cancer that spreads too quickly and can become the death of society.
As I was reading the story, it seemed like Jason Aaron was using Kal-El and Hawkman to show two sides of a story. On one side, you have someone saying, “Work with the evil corporation and save the people you can. So what if they’re billionaire murderers and some people die in the process?” On the other side, there’s the person who was on the opposite side, saying, “No. I will protect everyone I can, because I can. No life is expendable.”
Yes, Absolute Superman is a fictional story with made-up characters and situations. Nevertheless, the lesson remains true. If you can help someone, you should. Sadly, there will always be vile people or those who tell you to give up, but that doesn’t mean we should quit. We can all help someone, meaning we can all be Superman for each other.
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