If I read a superhero comic it's usually a finished series that people
generally recommend, rather than an ongoing series. However I've seen a lot of
positive talk about some of the current Absolute comics from DC and decided to take a look and be caught up with the Current Culture.
Simply put,
it's an alternate universe in which world is ruled by evil (tech and defense
industry and governance ) and the characters have different backstories/roles
than their usual portrayal, with the heroes being primarily underdogs in an
unjust system.
I have already read a good chunk of (Absolute) Martian Manhunter,
Wonder Woman and Batman, and wanted to catch up with them and then read
Absolute Superman. But instead I did all that + caught up with all of the other
Absolute comics. Because I have no self-control and now I want to write down my
general impressions of each comic series (that have more than 2 issues available
now):
Absolute Flash
Generally agreed to be the weakest entry, and I have to agree. The biggest issue
is that there's very little plot progression in the first 12 issues, due to the
bloated parallels of flashbacks and the current story. That is something most of
the Absolute comics relied on (and I'm frankly getting sick of it) but Flash had
the worst use of it, with an unsatisfying climax to sour the experience. There
is a decent supporting cast to keep things interesting, and the issues after the
first arc have been fairly solid. So hopefully there will be more intriguing
(and well paced) development down the line, with all of the unanswered questions
still laying around.
Absolute Green Lantern
Similar issues like Flash, but the story gets properly started at issue 6
instead of 12. I'm not sure if the power structure introduced is meant to be
logically defined or just "vibes" or even a strange mix of the two. But beyond
that it has some really good character drama and enjoyable villains. Anytime
Hector Hammond is in a conversation it's bound to be a fun one.
Absolute Superman
I saw some comments calling this "overly angsty"/Linkin Park in terms of its
character writing. I'm not sure if it's an attitude difference, or if reading
the whole story in go that affects my perception, but I found the tone to be
mostly sensible. At the very least, not out of the ordinary considering the
darker setting of Absolute. And currently the story does have a bit more of an
optimistic tone than the start. This one might also be the least subtle comic in
terms of condemning corporations causing the problems of the world (a privatized
military, lots of dunking on using AI for writing, and other things) and I'm
frankly all here for it. Superman's cape is also special in this, in that it's a
collection of crystal dust that he can manipulate and solidify.
Absolute Batman
Oh boy. Possibly the most ridiculous spectacle of the Absolute stories, and I
love it. Batman is HUGE and his bat-symbol is HUGE and ITS AN AXE and the
villains are FREAKY and the batmobile is a BIG DUMP TRUCK and and and. It goes
for the absurd at times, but at very least it's some memorable stuff, with the
"Abomination" arc being the most talked about story across the Absolute series
for a very good reason.
Also somewhat related: Daniel Warren Johnsson (an artist
for an annual issue) drew Absolute Batman chocking an ICE agent and that was sick
and also watching people on X lose their minds over it was hilarious.
Absolute Wonder Woman
Oh baby. I really love Dianna here, she's the most fleshed-out and likable hero
across the Absolute series and her interactions with the characters and the
world(s) around her is some good stuff. I also really like that she has a undead
pegasus, much more interesting way of flight than the weird invisible jet plane
thing. It's a very fun comic with solid stories and fantastical adventures.
Surprisingly uplifting despite taking place in the Absolute universe and that
Dianna was raised in hell. Great stuff.
Absolute Martian Manhunter
Oh ???. Easily the strangest of the bunch. And my favorite. I didn't talk about
the art of the other comics (they are all very good, with WW and BM being the
better ones imo) but this one stands out from the rest in a lot of ways. The
simple and bold flat coloring makes it very recognizeable, and eases the reading
of the very funky and layered page paneling that occur about twice per issue.
Maritan Manhunter also gets the most radical change as a character, from being a
shape-shifting green superman to..... a one-eyed brainwave? It's very abstract,
but despite his rather strange design and existence, he's a very fun character
and works great as the empath therapist to the FBI agent protagonist John Jones.
If I have to get any of these comics in physical form, it's this one. And you
know it's good when it was announced to be 6 issues but got expanded to 12 due
to positive feedback.
I had a very good time reading all of these, warts and all (mostly), but now
that I've caught up to them I'll read some manga I've meant to catch up or read
for a while. First will be part 2 of Chainsaw man.
No comments:
Post a Comment