The Horrific Birth of Lex Luthor in ‘Absolute Superman’ #17

We talk a lot about Absolute Batman here on Dread Central, especially because it’s a horror-tinged nightmare of a series where co-creators Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta drag Batman literally through hell. And with each issue, it just keeps getting worse and worse for him. He’s gone up against twisted versions of villains like Mr. Freeze and Bane, and even got pulled into a full-on body horror nightmare with Absolute Ivy. Absolute Scarecrow is up next, which is only going to make things even more brutal. But even with everything Bruce Wayne has been through, it’s nothing compared to what Lex Luthor just experienced.

Absolute Superman #17 is honestly kind of a surprise. While Absolute Batman is nonstop horror, Absolute Superman has always had a little bit more hope baked into it, even if the world itself is pretty messed up. But there’s been one constant horror element running through the entire series, and that’s Brainiac. This version of Brainiac is straight up terrifying. He’s not just some calculating alien. He feels more like a cold, unstoppable force that treats people like experiments. Throughout the series, he’s wiped out entire populations, taken what he needs, and left nothing behind. Everything he does feels cruel and clinical at the same time, which somehow makes it even worse.

That all comes to a head in Absolute Superman #17. The issue, penned by Jason Aaron, is already pretty horrific right out of the gate, with that giant Thing-inspired Parasite tearing through everything. It’s gross, it’s intense, and it puts Jimmy Olsen through absolute hell. There’s a moment where Jimmy is literally begging to die because the pain is so bad, and the panels don’t hold back. It’s rough to look at.