Related
Warning : Spoilers for Superman # 15 and Absolute Power : Ground Zero # 1 ahead !
Summary
DC’sAbsolute Powerevent begin with mortal symmetry , with theBrainiac Queenpoised to become the ultimate weapon againstSuperman . The parallels between the two are set out in explicit detail , with the consideration in which Brainiac Queen arrives at Amanda Waller ’s threshold eerily imitate Superman ’s own escape from Krypton , especially as depicted in the iconic 1978Supermanmovie .
The game is all - too familiar : with Brainiac ’s mothership set to detonate inSuperman#15 by Joshua Williamson and Rafa Sandoval , a dying Brainiac does all he can to placehis " offspring , " Brainiac Queen , into an escape pod . As the Queen ’s home explodes in the distance , the rocket carries her to a clash - landing place on earth .
When Amanda Waller recovers Brainiac Queen in the " Stage Three " tale by Williamson and Gleb Melnikov fromAbsolute Power : Ground Zero#1,Waller " raise " the blank version of Brainiac Queen in a pretense set in the American heartland , blatantly thumbing her nose at Superman ’s own sexual climax of years with the Kents .
While Kryptonite has been known as Superman ’s defining weakness , even DC is ready to admit that the Man of Steel ’s narrative are over - reliant on it .
Brainiac Queen Shares Superman’s Tragic Origins
Page fromAbsolute Power: Ground Zero#1
The devastation of Krypton is one of the most integral and dramaticelements of the Superman mythos . The icon of the come through ship and its lone inhabitant fly through the nullity is both chilling and iconic ; while instantly placeable from multiple comics and films , it was1978’sSupermanthat seared the look-alike of an exploding Krypton into the minds of audiencesacross the orb and hammered home the right-down destructive tragedy of the hero ’s origin . The panel of Brainiac Queen ’s escape pod being prepped immediately conjures those image back to mind .
Brainiac Queen comes close to drive a knife into the heart of the Superman story by echoing his origins so closely .
Equally inbuilt to the Superman mythos is Clark ’s adoption and rearing at the loving hands of the Kent family . This , too , is perverted : while Amanda Waller represent a nurturing facade as she " raises " Brainiac Queen , Waller is advisedly cast the impressionable mechanically skillful intelligence into a arm of war against the Justice Leagueand other super - powered figures who are presented as " outsiders " attempting to occupy her home . By direct contrast , Clark ’s loving adoption is a deliberate and denotative appealto the American immigrant story , restate the substance that all are welcome and that the best of humanity can descend from any origin .
Brainiac Queen Is the Closest DC Has Come to a True “Anti-Superman”
DC has tried to deliver foil to Superman before , with form like Bizarro ( Superman ’s equal in strength , but polar in every other direction imaginable ) and Lobo ( another super - powered last Word , but with none of Superman ’s responsibility or compassion ) . However , Brainiac Queen comes near to drive a tongue into the centre of the Superman narration by echoing his origins so tight . Loved and cherished by her parent , send off to escape a dying home , Brainiac Queen’sorigin mirrorsSuperman’sin every way of life - but , in a dingy twist , she is being " raised " by the bad America has to offer .
Superman#15andAbsolute Power : Ground Zero#1are usable now from DC Comics .
SUPERMAN # 15 ( 2024 )
ABSOLUTE great power : GROUND ZERO # 1 ( 2024 )
The icon who launched the entire earth of superheroes , the last Word of Krypton escaped his dying world to gate-crash land on Earth and be call down as Clark Kent . The humans knows him better as Superman , the Man of Steel , the loss leader of the Justice League , and the most well - bonk hero in the DC Comics Universe . Blessed with the big businessman of a Ubermensch , Kal - El of Krypton fight back enemies both small and cosmic in his endless chase of trueness , justice , and a good tomorrow .
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.
