DC’s New Superman Just Got A Brutal New Mentor

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Absolute Superman #16

DC’s new Superman is getting a brutal new mentor in the Absolute Universe. A “hero” with some pretty dark secrets, Absolute Hawkman has just made a new appearance in Absolute Superman (though he might not be the Man of Steel’s ally for long).

Following Superman’s defeat of Director Ra’s al Ghul of the Lazarus Corporation during the Battle of Smallville, Kal-El’s status quo sees him struggling to meaningfully change the world. Currently, he’s just answering every cry for help as he hears them with his super-hearing (meaning he never stops rushing from crisis to crisis).

However, Superman’s unsustainable strategy was just interrupted by Absolute Hawkman in the pages of the new Absolute Superman #16.

Absolute Superman Just Met Absolute Hawkman, A Legacy “Hero”

In this new issue of Absolute Superman, Carter Hall presents himself as a legacy hero who fought Nazis during World War II, positioning his experience as wisdom The Man of Steel could learn from. On the surface, Absolute Hawkman looks like a mentor the younger Superman could benefit from in this darker version of the DC Universe.

While Absolute Hawkman insists he wants to help Superman and show him how to survive (unlike past heroes whom he’s killed), it’s clear that Kal-El is not fully buying what he’s selling.

What Superman doesn’t know is that Hawkman actually serves the House of Un-American Activities Committee and the Absolute Universe’s “Justice League”, a shadowy cabal of villains who shape global events: Director of GATES Veronica Cale, Jack Grimm V’s Joker, Ra’s al Ghul of the Lazarus Corporation, Hector Hammond, and Doctor Elenore Thawne.

Hawkman’s superiors were confirmed in last year’s Absolute Evil #1, where it was also revealed that Hawkman has killed similarly idealistic heroes over the years on their orders, heroes like Oliver Queen’s Green Arrow.

Will Hawkman Corrupt Superman, Or Will Superman Redeem Hawkman?

Hawkman claims he wants to train Superman, insisting he wants to prevent him from repeating the mistakes of past heroes (whom he was ordered to kill). However, Hawkman’s first piece of advice to work with an organization as corrupt and evil as Lazarus Corporation doesn’t fly for Superman.

As such, their tense conversation inevitably turns into a brawl, only to be interrupted by the debut of Absolute Parasite. Superman’s stance is clear: helping people whenever they need it is the “only fight that matters.” As a result, it’s going to be fascinating to see if Superman manages to redeem Hawkman and turn him into a legitimate hero in the issues to come.

Absolute Superman #16 is available now from DC Comics.

Created By

Joe Shuster, Jerry Siegel

First Appearance

Action Comics

Alias

Kal-El, Clark Kent, Jonathan Kent

Alliance

Justice League, Superman Family

Race

Kryptonian

Franchise

D.C.