How Absolute Superman's Origin Story Forever Changes Krypton and the Kent Family
Warning: Spoilers for Absolute Superman #3Superman has always broken the traditional superhero mold by having a living pair of (adopted) parents, but DC is now making a major change to his origin that puts a new spin on his relationship with the Kents. In the Absolute Universe, the newest version of the Man of Steel grew up on Krypton before it was destroyed - meaning he was raised by the Els and not the Kents.
The Absolute Universe has been changing nearly everything that fans know about DC's most iconic characters, but one of the biggest changes was just seen in Absolute Superman#3 by Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval. In this interpretation, Krypton is massively different from what readers have seen before; instead of an amazing society using technology for the betterment of everyone, it's deeply divided by class.
The other major change comes to Kal-El's parents, Jor-El and Lara. In the main universe, Superman never really got to know his parents, as he was sent away from them as just a baby. In this world, the Els raise him until young adulthood at the very least.
Absolute Superman Is Fully Aware of the Family He Lost
Absolute Superman #3 by Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval, Ulises Arreola, and Becca Carey
This change in origin might seem minor, but it completely reinvents Superman's relationship with Martha and Jonathan Kent. In the Prime Universe, Martha and Jonathan adopt Superman when he was just a baby. He had no memories of Krypton, and they raised him on Earth and acclimated him to society and how the world works with ease. Aside from his superpowers, which didn't manifest until nearly a decade after he landed on Earth, Clark was able to grow up just the same as any other child on Earth.
In the Absolute Universe, Kal-El has much more experience with Krypton and Kryptonian culture.
One of the core elements of Superman's character has always been that sense of longing that he has for Krypton. Superman lost his entire culture, and there are dozens of friends and loved ones that he never even got to meet, including his birth parents. Losing one's home and family is an incredibly crushing thing to go through - and that's without having memories of Krypton. In the Absolute Universe, Kal-El has much more experience with Krypton and Kryptonian culture. He went to school, he had friends, and he knew his parents. Losing all of that is a significantly different experience.
Absolute Superman's New Origin Completely Redefines the Kent Family's Dynamic
What Is Superman's Relationship with Martha and Jonathan in the Absolute Universe?
Krypton has always loomed over Superman's character. Superman is an outsider and can't ever truly be part of humanity, which has always made him long for a place where he belonged, such as Krypton. Over the decades, Superman has managed to find some parts of his culture, such as his cousin Supergirl or the lost city of Kandor. But none of these elements are the same as Superman actually getting to live on Krypton with his parents. Never experiencing something - and wanting to do so - is significantly different from losing access to something that one loves deeply.
Absolute Superman is a totally different character from Prime Universe Superman. His powers seem to work differently. He has an AI companion who has been with him since Krypton, and he doesn't seem to have the comfort of Martha and Jonathan Kent anymore. If they were part of his life on Earth, readers have yet to learn how or why. Even with all of those changes in mind, there's no doubt that the biggest change is the fact this version of Superman truly knew Krypton, and knows exactly just how much he lost.
Absolute Superman #3 is available now from DC Comics!
- Created By
- Joe Shuster, Jerry Siegel
- First Appearance
- Action Comics
- Alias
- Kal-El, Clark Kent, Jonathan Kent
- Alliance
- Justice League, Superman Family
- Race
- Kryptonian
- Franchise
- D.C.
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.
