WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for Absolute Superman #2!
Lois Lane has made an incredibly valid point about DC’s newest iteration of Superman, suggesting there might be a more fitting moniker for him. Her observation also underscores the most significant difference between the Absolute Universe’s Man of Steel and his standard counterpart, making her remarks even more noteworthy.
This contrast [in experience] will also create an intriguing dynamic when the two Supermen eventually cross paths in DC’s Duoverse.
Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval, Ulises Arreola, and Becca Carey’s Absolute Superman #2 picks up right where the first issue left off, with Lazarus Agent Lois Lane handcuffing herself to the Man of Steel in a bold attempt to detain him.
Unsurprisingly, Superman is far from cooperative, launching a wild chase to evade the Lazarus Corps while dragging Lois along as he struggles to free himself from the cuffs. During their forced proximity, Lois witnesses Superman’s unwavering heroism as he saves civilians, leading her to make key observations that suggest “Superboy” might be a more fitting moniker for this younger iteration of Kal-El than “Superman.”
“In Some Ways, Superman Is Very Much Still a Boy…” – Lois Lane in Absolute Superman #2 (2024)
Superman and Lois’s time handcuffed together in this issue is accompanied by Lois’s internal narration, later revealed to be part of a report documenting her observations of the Man of Steel during their shared ordeal. While the report touches on various aspects of Superman, Lois repeatedly comments on his youth—not in age, but in terms of life experience. For instance, she notes her inability to gauge the full extent of his abilities and adds that even Superman himself seems uncertain about the limits of his powers. Her observations continue as she reflects, “In some ways, Superman is very much still a boy, one who hasn’t yet fully deciphered… who he is.”
While Lois acknowledges that Superman is “every bit a man” in other ways—highlighting his unshakable moral compass—she consistently returns to his youthful demeanor. She remarks that despite his fluency in multiple languages and his extensive travels, “he still has the air of a lost child.” Lois speculates that his life was interrupted in some profound way, leaving him as a “son without a home.” This paints a picture of a Superman with a distinctly boyish and youthful aura—one steeped in tragedy. Yet, rather than breaking him or leaving him jaded, this tragedy has placed him in an in-between state, straddling boyhood and manhood.
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“Superboy” May Be a More Fitting Name for the Absolute Universe’s Kal-El
“…He Still Has the Air of a Lost Child.” – Lois Lane In Absolute Superman #2 (2024)
Given the emphasis Lois places on Kal-El’s apparent inexperience and boyishness, some fans may come away from this scene feeling that “Superboy” might be a more fitting name for the Man of Steel at this point in his journey. This isn’t meant as a criticism of Kal-El or a suggestion that he should actually be called Superboy in the narrative, but rather an acknowledgment of where he is in his development. As Lois highlights, Kal doesn’t seem to fully understand the extent of his powers and hasn’t yet figured out who he is as a person. While he operates under the name Superman, this phase of his heroics feels distinctly more aligned with the essence of a Superboy moniker.
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There Is a MAJOR Experience Discrepancy Between Absolute Superman & the Original
The Absolute Universe Is Basically a Year One Story
Lazarus Agent Lois Lane’s observations about Kal-El highlight a key distinction between the Absolute Superman and the DCU’s standard version: experience. While there have been plenty of Superman Year One-style stories in recent years in movies, it’s been quite some time since fans have seen the inexperienced side of the Man of Steel in mainstream Earth-Prime comic continuity. For years now, the standard Superman has been portrayed as a seasoned veteran, which makes sense given his 84-plus years in comics. However, this makes Absolute Superman’s inexperience even more striking when compared to the well-established Earth-Prime version of the character.
Although the difference in experience between the two iterations was clear from the beginning of the Absolute Superman series, Lois’s narration in issue #2 drives the point home. When Lois describes Kal-El as a boy still trying to decipher who he is, it feels worlds apart from Earth-Prime’s Clark Kent, who exudes unwavering confidence in his identity. These differences not only set the two characters apart but also allow Absolute Superman to undergo his own character growth arc. Additionally, this contrast will create an intriguing dynamic when the two Supermen eventually cross paths in DC’s Duoverse.
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Absolute Superman #2 is available now from DC Comics!
Superman
The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.
