From a storytelling standpoint, the early decision to make Superman a news writer in his secret identity was a brilliant one, The job offered a continual source of stories as Clark Kent learned of various evils in need of thwarting while at work. In later years, his efforts to fight for Truth and Justice as a journalist showed another way the Man of Steel defends those ideals in both his lives.
Absolute Superman #3 reveals the latest incarnation of Kal-El also knows the power of the written word. However, he enters into the profession in a drastically different way.
Previous issues of Absolute Superman were split between flashbacks to Krypton and Kal-El on Earth in the present. By contrast, Absolute Superman #3 by Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval is almost entirely set in the past. It is here that a young Kal-El gets into trouble for writing without artificial intelligence. When his parents question him about this, he says, “My words make me happy.” To his surprise, this pleases his parents, who were condemned to the Labor Guild of Krypton despite their genius due to their questioning the status quo.
Kal-El continues to write about what he sees and what he feels. He ultimately writes an article about the increasing signs that Krypton’s environment is imperiled for his school’s news-board. However, the article is quickly deleted and a meeting is set with his parents as he contradicted the Science Guild. This meeting never occurs, however, as Jor-El is arrested for trying to report those same signs to the Science Guild.
Absolute Superman #3 turns young Kal-El into crusading journalist
Thankfully, Kal-El’s mother, Lara, anticipated this and built weapons and armor capable of fighting the Law Guild. As she went to free Jor-El, the young Absolute Superman explored the central Law Offices. He quickly noticed the building was oddly empty, with none of the Judge Generals or Klerics who should have responded to a lone gunman. Searching the computers, Kal discovered why the elites of Krypton were missing; they were already preparing to flee Krypton.
By the time the El family returned home, the news of the elites’ treachery had spread around Krypton. Kal-El, it was revealed, had written an article quickly and uploaded it to Krypton’s internet news source, the Luminarium. This showcases how, even in the comparatively dark Absolute Universe, Superman is still a reporter at his core.
Absolute Superman #3 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
