Absolute Superman #10 Review: The Beast in the Mine – Moral Lines Get Blurry (Son of the Demon Part 3)

Sweeties, I’m not even going to pretend I’m okay right now.

Absolute Superman #10 just dropped and my emotions are all over the place. Jason Aaron and Carmine Di Giandomenico are not playing around with this “Son of the Demon” arc. This issue takes the moral conflict from #9 and turns it up to eleven. Honey, I had to sit with this one for a bit.

The Emotional Core of Absolute Superman #10

Absolute Superman #10 forces Kal-El to confront how far he’s willing to go in the fight against Lazarus Corp.

Still recovering from his injuries, Kal joins the Omega Men for a daring assault on a Lazarus Corp facility to rescue Jimmy Olsen. The deeper he goes with them, the more he sees how extreme their methods are. The moral gray area is getting darker, and you can feel Kal struggling with every decision.

Major Plot Developments

The assault on the Lazarus Corp base is intense and personal. We get more insight into Ra’s al Ghul’s twisted plans for Superman (he’s calling him “son” now, which is creepy as hell). There’s a major flashback to Krypton showing Jor-El’s own moral dilemmas, which beautifully parallels Kal’s current struggle.

The biggest shock comes with a huge twist involving the Omega Men that completely flips the script on everything we thought we knew.

I actually gasped out loud.

The way Aaron is weaving these threads together is chef’s kiss storytelling.

Art Direction & Visual Storytelling

Carmine Di Giandomenico handles the interior art on Absolute Superman #10, and honestly, it took me a while to differentiate his style from Rafa Sandoval’s.

If you’re like me, you might also find it tricky at first glance; both artists have bold, dynamic linework and strong storytelling instincts. But once I reached the credit page and went back to compare, the differences became clearer. Carmine brings a slightly more fluid, expressive, and emotionally nuanced touch, especially in facial expressions and quieter character moments. His work feels a bit more grounded and classical while still delivering intense action.

The Krypton flashback especially benefits from his detailed and intense style. Ulises Arreola’s coloring continues to be excellent, shifting beautifully between the cold tones of the present and the dramatic fiery hues of Krypton.

Standout Moment: The Mine Collapse & Moral Breaking Point

Okay sweeties, let me talk about the page that genuinely wrecked me in Absolute Superman #10.

There’s a powerful flashback to Krypton years ago, where Jor-El leads a rescue mission to save miners trapped in a massive cave-in. They’re attacked by dangerous subterranean creatures called Magmoles. In order to save his team, Jor-El is forced to kill some of the creatures. The scene is raw, desperate, and emotionally heavy.

In the present day, Kal-El reflects on this memory while facing his own moral dilemma, whether he should kill the monstrous, Brainiac-upgraded Agent Smith (Peacemaker). The parallel is beautifully done. You can feel Kal wrestling with the question: When does necessary force cross into something darker?

Carmine Di Giandomenico draws the Krypton flashback with such intensity and desperation that it feels visceral. The contrast between past and present Kal is chef’s kiss storytelling. This single sequence elevated the entire issue for me.

How #10 Connects to the Larger Absolute Superman Run

This issue deepens the central theme we’ve seen since Absolute Superman #1: Can a man forged in revolution and loss ever find a path that doesn’t destroy him?

The Omega Men represent one extreme, Ra’s another, and Kal is stuck in the middle trying to hold onto his values. It’s brilliant long-term storytelling.

Overall Verdict

Absolute Superman #10 is a tense, morally complex chapter that keeps raising the stakes while never losing sight of Kal’s humanity. This arc is shaping up to be something truly special.

Final Rating: 8.8/10

This one left me thinking long after I closed the book. How far would you go for what you believe in?

Stay strong, stay hopeful, comic crew.

Kat ✨