Absolute Superman #22 Review: Metallo Debuts as the New Arc Begins

I just read Absolute Superman #22. After the big “Reign of the Superman” arc wrapped up with the Moonfall finale in #21, this issue kicks off a new storyline (“Get Brainiac”) and immediately throws Superman into a major fight with a new foe: Absolute Metallo.

The Setup

Superman is tracking Brainiac with help from Jimmy Olsen and the Omega Man. He ends up in the right place, but instead of finding Brainiac right away he gets attacked by Christopher Smith — Absolute Metallo. Smith was shot with a synthetic Kryptonite bullet that fractured and is now circulating through his entire bloodstream. Combined with a cool robotic Android suit, it makes him a serious physical and elemental threat to Superman.

Highlights

The issue is basically one extended fight, and it’s a good one. Superman is clearly feeling real pain and getting slowed down by the Kryptonite in Metallo’s system. There are some interesting dynamics as Superman leverages his powers in unique ways he doesn’t usually have to, while still finding ways to keep fighting through the disadvantage.

The visuals work well. You get the familiar red and blue of Superman contrasted against the black and green of Metallo. There are also a couple of unique spreads and some strong panel work throughout the fight sequences. There is one particular two-page spread panel work that is pretty striking and interesting. (I am not including it here to minimize oversharing)

Flashbacks fill in how Smith ended up in this position, including his time with the Peacemakers and some of the doubts he carried. On Superman’s side, we get more of those human/Boy Scout moments — he went to Smith’s funeral, talked to his mother, and knows details about the family. Even while getting beaten down, that idealistic core keeps showing through.

Brainiac makes an appearance as well. In this Absolute version he continues to feel like a genuinely unsettling presence — probably the closest thing this series has to Absolute Batman’s Joker in terms of the cold, calculating, and looming threat he represents.

Final Verdict

Absolute Superman #22 is a solid, action-heavy issue that leans into the big fight while still weaving in character backstory. Metallo feels like a real threat, the fight is engaging, and the visual contrast works. It’s more of a self-contained beat than some previous issues, even though it’s clearly part one of the larger Brainiac arc.

I’ve mentioned before that I sometimes wish the Absolute books took a little longer to bring these characters back toward their more familiar selves. Superman’s idealism and Boy Scout nature are already shining through pretty clearly here. That said, if he strayed too far from that core he wouldn’t really feel like Superman anymore. The series continues to deliver strong action while still making room for those quieter character beats.

A good start to the new arc. Curious to see how the Metallo conflict and the larger Brainiac chase develop from here.

What did you think of Absolute Metallo and how the fight wrapped up? Tag me on X @NostalgicNestEg!

Originally posted as a thread on X — check out the original conversation here:

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