ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #23 — Jason Aaron and Juan Ferreyra Turn the Hunt for Brainiac Into a Nightmare

Jason Aaron’s Absolute Superman keeps raising the stakes. In issue #23, the Man of Steel’s pursuit of Brainiac collides with a villain who turns childhood fears into lethal reality. It’s a masterclass in tension from Aaron and Juan Ferreyra that leaves Superman utterly unmoored.

The pursuit of Brainiac leads Superman into the domain of the Toyman, a villain who might seem like a footnote in traditional lore but here becomes something visceral. Aaron reimagines the threat not just as a puzzle to solve, but as a psychological and physical trap that preys on vulnerability. When Superman collides with this new iteration of the villain, the confrontation strips away his invulnerability in ways that feel deeply personal. It’s a battle where the toys aren’t just dangerous—they’re terrifying.

Juan Ferreyra’s artwork is the perfect companion to this descent. His lines are thick, textured, and heavy with shadow, turning every frame into a tableau of tension. The way he renders Superman shaken—physically and emotionally—gives the character a weight we rarely see. The art doesn’t just show us the fight; it makes you feel the impact, the confusion, and the sheer exhaustion of a hero who thought he had the upper hand. This is visual storytelling at its most immersive.

For those who haven’t jumped into the Absolute Universe yet, this issue is a perfect gateway. You don’t need to know the entire history to feel the weight of this moment. Aaron has built a world where every victory feels earned and every loss feels devastating. If you’ve been curious about where DC is taking its biggest icon, this is the place to start. It’s bold, it’s scary, and it’s unlike anything else on the shelves right now.

I’m keeping an eye on the Rafa Sandoval cover for this one. It captures the mood of the issue perfectly—quiet but charged with impending doom. These variant covers tend to move quickly, so if you’re the type who likes to frame your reads, you might want to snag one while they’re still here. It’s a great companion piece to the intense story inside.