With a string of new releases coming out at once, I put Absolute Superman's sixth issue aside for a few days to read some other things as well as get outside a little more. I almost forgot about it given I had read almost everything else that had recently been released. Only to discover I still hadn't read it today. This story is one that I've seen many people talk about and consider to be one of their least favourite stories so far within the Absolute stories. Though I've actually rather enjoyed it so far with how it has been unfolding, with some really beautiful art as well as a story that has hardly even focused on the Superman character himself. Rather some of the backstory of the Krypton world and how it had been mined to death, the panic and desperation in its few surviving civilians to escape the planet and move elsewhere. This sent Kal to Earth, and that's where the story had ended previously. But we had also seen some parts of his adult life already, elements of his character that showed sheer anger, a really brutal pursuit of his enemies that left destruction in his path, though people only ever had good things to say about him in the end. A man that had been brutal to those who deserved it, and kind and protective of the innocent. I liked this setup so far, showing mostly scenes of the past and very little of the present.
I really liked the introduction of issue six, with Kal roaming through space alone, aware of how much time had passed and how over time his optimism for finding a new home was growing thin. With the loneliness and grief kicking in, Kal is on the brink of giving up, assuming there's nothing else to live for but the AI that's taking care of him, feeding him, refuses to accept his request that would allow him to effectively kill himself by being exposed to the harshness of deep space. IT was a different concept to the original story that has Kal already on the road to Earth. The progression of time was also met with the drastic aging of Kal, going from a young boy into a teenager with longer hair and more noticeable facial features. It gave a more emotional perspective into the story, showing the personal trauma he experienced having watching his planet not only die, but the few people that had also attempted to escape alongside him, with him being the only one to actually survive in the end. With a plant suddenly found, the AI ship immediately takes course to Earth, slowly breaking down in the process. This is where some of the original setup returns, now to display some of the Smallville story.
With the story starting to unfold within Earth, we see the struggles of the two farmers Martha and Jonathan, discussing how the farm was drying up more and more, with the yield less than likely to produce this season. Martha blames the Lazarus Corp and claims people have been seeing drones flying over the land, doing something that stops the crops from being able to grow. All of this a broader conspiracy because the two refuse to sell their land. We've already seen that the Lazarus Corp is evil and definitely does pursue such evil tactics, though Jonathan doesn't quite believe any of it. Believing instead that their tactics are more to distribute fear that makes the two assume there's no point in trying to fight against them and simply hand over the land. Around this time, Kal's AI is breaking down, and his body lands flat in front of the two farmers. An unexpected turn of events for them that they have no idea how to react to. We know that the suit AI isn't entirely done for though, as we've seen it operational in other aspects in the present; here we're still looking into the past events after all. Though Martha and Jonathan debate the odd event, stating they had asked for a miracle but didn't think an angel would suddenly fall from the sky to save them. Them considering him an angel was an interesting take, one that makes a bit of sense given their circumstances.
I really liked the slow story of Kal coming to terms with his place on the farm over several weeks, finding some connection to his former home. Having no understanding of the language on the planet but finding ways to help out Martha and Jonathan, his ability to carry much of the farm's difficulties on his own, allowing for them to get some work done without it being too difficult on their aged bodies. But the real thing that showed the reality on the farm as Kal's suit Sol finally coming back online, being able to make some sense of his powers on the planet due to the sun's power. As well as allowing him to speak English and finally communicate with the two. Sol being online also engaged its self-defence mechanisms which destroys detected drones over the farm, to no coincidence the following day bringing great rains that the farm desperately needed; this was the proof that the Lazarus Corp was sabotaging the farm in efforts to get the land, and of course immediately brings over soldiers from the corporation. I think a little more time on the farm would've been good for the story, it felt like much of it was handled over the span of a few weeks rather than with some actual development.
I do have to say that for once it felt like the art style wasn't that good. It felt a bit messy and uncanny in parts. I didn't like how some of the angles displayed characters, how some of the style didn't seem like it worked with the backgrounds and environments. It was an odd issue due to that and I noticed it quite early on, from the moment we get to Earth. It didn't seem like a stylistic choice that tried to say something about the differences between Krypton and Earth for Kal. It just seemed like a general art direction that didn't really seem visually appealing. Though previous issues have been pretty good regarding their visuals, especially with character design.