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Credit: Warner Bros. / DCWith James Gunn’s SUPERMAN (2025) flying into theaters next July, a new era for DC is about to begin. Starring David Corenswet as the titular Kryptonian, the film marks the beginning of the new DC Universe (DCU), which replaces the now-defunct film series known as the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).
But another new DC Universe is already underway. Dubbed the Absolute Universe, DC Comics’ new stories so far include “Absolute Batman,” “Absolute Wonder Woman,” and “Absolute Superman,” all of them stark reimaginings of their respective superheroes.
“Absolute Superman” features a version of Kal-El that didn’t arrive on Earth as a baby, but as a young adult. As such, his Smallville alias, Clark Kent, is yet to exist (perhaps he never will), but one of the more intriguing aspects of this new Man of Steel is his suit.
Firstly, the “S” on the chest emblem has a different meaning. In traditional lore, it simply stands for “Superman,” whereas in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel (2013), it means “hope” on Krypton.
In “Absolute Superman,” all Kryptonian citizens wear the symbol, which, in the Labor Guild’s case, represents the “Crest of the Laborer”. However, it also means “People of Steel,” referring to the low-status workers, who wear it as a badge of pride.
Putting the iconic chest emblem aside, it’s really the powers and the suit that stand out.
In “Absolute Superman”#2, titled “Last Dust of Krypton, Part Two: Sun of Nothing,” it’s revealed through flashbacks set on Krypton that Kal-El’s suit was made by his parents, Jor-El and Lara, a miner and a mechanic, who describe it as an “exploratory spacesuit and rocket-ship all in one” made from “Sunstone,” a powerful Kryptonian mineral.
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In the present-day part of the story, during which Kal-El attempts to rescue ill-treated migrant workers in a diamond mine owned by the multinational Lazarus Corp, the suit is revealed to be sentient AI. Not only can it speak directly to Kal-El, but “Sol” is able to detect and assess threats to Kal-El and even act as something of a guide to him.
Superman’s powers remain mostly similar to traditional depictions: He still has super speed, super strength, and heat vision, however, his high-tech Kryptonian suit requires charging up with solar energy to fuel those powers. Sol can also turn the powers off and on.
But one of the most fascinating aspects of Kal-El’s new suit and powers is the red cape. Unlike most iterations, the cape isn’t part of the suit — at least not until Superman needs to fly, in which case it appears out of thin air, because it isn’t a fabric — it’s a sentient red dust.
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The cape, or cloud released from the suit is made from Krypton’s Sunstone dust: the literal ashes of Superman’s dead planet. How’s that for a bold reimagining of the Man of Steel?
With all that said, “Absolute Superman” is no exception in this new DC Universe. “Absolute Batman” and “Absolute Wonder Woman” are also unique reimaginings of the superheroes.
Bruce Wayne is no longer a billionaire bachelor with a mansion and a live-in butler–he’s a city engineer who hails from Gotham City’s notorious Crime Alley. When dressed as Batman, his chest emblem doubles as an ax blade, and his Batmobile has more in common with a bulldozer than a car. He’s also friends with several members of the iconic Rogues Gallery.
As for Wonder Woman, she was no longer raised in Themyscira with her fellow Amazonians–instead, she was forged in the literal fires of Hell.
More From DC Comics’ Absolute Universe
“Absolute Batman,” “Absolute Wonder Woman,” and “Absolute Superman” and are now onto their second issues, with third issues set to release on December 18, December 25, and January 1, respectively.
Each series will collect five issues, but that won’t mark the end of the Absolute Universe as other new iterations of other DC heroes are incoming, with “Absolute Flash,” “Absolute Green Lantern,” and “Absolute Martian Manhunter” set to arrive in March, 2025.
James Gunn’s SUPERMAN releases on July 11, 2025.
Have you read any Absolute Universe stories yet? Let us know in the comments!