Warning: Spoilers for Absolute Superman #1Superman's origin story is a well-known component to his character, but his Absolute counterpart just rewrote it in a shocking way. The Absolute Universe has finally introduced its version of Superman, and one key difference sets him apart from the original: Absolute Superman grew up on Krypton rather than Earth, permanently redefining his relationship to his home planet.
Absolute Superman #1 by Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval, Ulises Arreola, and Becca Carey introduces the Absolute Universe's Superman at long last, but it also takes the time to explore Krypton and its fate. Flashbacks depict Lara Lor-Van and Jor-El as they grapple with an oppressive, classist Kryptonian society that's evolved in a far different direction than readers might recognize from DC's main continuity. After braving the deadly mines near the planet's core, Jor returns to Lara and speaks of Krypton's imminent doom, only to be joined by a familiar face: Kal-El.
In a surprising reveal, Superman is shown as a young boy on Krypton, drastically changing one of the staples of his character and giving this variant a stronger relationship with his home planet and birth parents than he's ever had in DC history.
Absolute Superman Grew Up on Krypton In a Major Departure From His Original Backstory
Superman Is Raised by His Kryptonian Parents, Not the Kents
Normally, Superman's upbringing is attributed to Smallville residents Jonathan and Martha Kent after they discover his space pod on Earth. He then becomes Clark Kent, the son of farmers. Now, it seems that Superman's childhood has taken place on Krypton with his biological parents instead.
This doesn't mean that he has lost his humble roots, however; in the Absolute Universe, as a result of Krypton's class system, Superman's Kryptonian parents are working-class citizens just like the Kents in a synthesis of DC lore. Superman's working-class roots remain intact here, but rather than being raised in Smallville, he spends his childhood on Krypton.
Absolute Superman officially arrives in the DC Universe and I’m pleased to say it perfectly captures everything I love about the Man of Tomorrow.
Superman's origin changes drastically with the revelation that he grew up on Krypton rather than Earth, granting him a closer bond with his birth parents. Because he's raised by the Kents in his traditional lore, Clark never gets to know his parents throughout his early life. As such, when he refers to his parents, he's typically speaking of Martha and Jonathan as opposed to the Kryptonian mother and father he never got to know. Kal-El, on the other hand, is raised by Lara and Jor and therefore knows them as his parents first and foremost - thereby making their inevitable loss even more tragic down the line.
Absolute Superman Redefines the Man of Steel's Relationship to Krypton
Superman's New Backstory Draws Inspiration From Supergirl
In Superman's original backstory, Krypton is destroyed in a horrific explosion, so his parents ship their infant son off-world in a pod to save his life. The tragedy of Superman's origin thus becomes the unknowns about his Kryptonian heritage, because he was too young to remember anything about his home world when he was sent away. While he's visited Krypton through time travel or visions, those brief encounters aren't enough to make Krypton his true home. In the Absolute Universe, Superman is old enough to consider Krypton his home during his time there, so losing that home - and his parents - will hit him harder than ever before.
The destruction of Krypton has been enshrined in Superman lore since his very first appearance in
Action Comics
#1 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
Superman may not have as powerful of an attachment to Krypton in mainline DC due to his inability to remember it, but there's another Kryptonian who does. Supergirl was older than Superman while their home planet was still around and could experience it for herself, so she has much more devastating trauma surrounding Krypton's destruction.
As such, the Absolute Universe has given Superman the backstory of Supergirl by deepening his connection to Krypton. Though the exact circumstances of Krypton's destruction in this new universe are yet to be revealed, its destruction has clearly had a heartbreaking effect on Superman, just as it did on Supergirl.
Superman's Tragic New Origin Makes Him an Outsider on Earth
Absolute Superman No Longer Has His Earth Family
When Absolute Superman appears in the present day, he's a far cry from usual depictions of the classic DC hero. He's much more closed-off and soft-spoken, distancing himself from the people of Earth as an outsider to their kind. When the Kents raise him, Superman forms an Earth family that integrates him into their culture. The Absolute Universe deprives him of this human connection by tying him more closely to Krypton, then stripping him of his Kryptonian family, leaving him on his own. As such, Superman lacks his standard drive to fight on behalf of humanity, as he doesn't identify as one of them.
Superman's trauma surrounding Krypton continues to haunt him, but there's hope that he will someday overcome it and find a new home on Earth.
Because this version of Superman doesn't feel like he belongs among humans, he makes the choice not to intervene in their conflicts. He possesses extraordinary superpowers that could make a difference, but he usually opts not to - until the events of this first issue, when he takes a stand against villainous Peacemakers. Although he ends up regretting his intervention in the end, stepping in at all is a step in the right direction. Superman's trauma surrounding Krypton continues to haunt him, but there's hope that he will someday overcome it and find a new home on Earth.
Absolute Superman #1 is available now from DC Comics.
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.
Created By Joe Shuster , Jerry Siegel
First Appearance Action Comics
Alias Kal-El, Clark Kent, Jonathan Kent
Alliance Justice League, Superman Family
Race Kryptonian
Summary
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.
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