Panel By Panel: Jan. 5, 2025 – Absolutes and Ultimates

Welcome to Panel By Panel, my ongoing exploration of comics and writing about them.

I was weighing out whether to do serious, ongoing reviews of comic titles, like in the manner I am tackling Creature Commandos. But, I realized that’s not really what interests me here. I have written many, many reviews in my life, and been paid for them too. What I want to do is just write about what I read. I want to explore my feelings about titles I follow or discover. And I want to do that without the weight of a specific format.

So, welcome to my reading log, I suppose. I aim to write once a week about the comics I have been reading. This is less about criticism and more about reacting to or drawing associations between what I read and larger ideas. In many ways, this may be me just testing the waters of finding topics to discuss in depth. It also should help me read more comics which I feel like I don’t do nearly enough.

Anyway, what did I read this week?

Reading Log Jan. 5, 2025

This week I focused on the big two and their ongoing alternate continuities. While my overall impressions are good, I feel that DC has something going with the Absolute titles.

Please note: There will be a casual discussion of spoilers. I warned ya.

Absolute Batman #2 and #3

This week I caught up on Absolute Batman, checking out issues 2 and 3. Of the three current titles in the Absolute line, I find it to be the weakest. But it is still a solid comic. I thought the title was going to be about a Batman operating without vast resources. But, it appears that has been thrown out the window. But, it is replaced with an Elseworlds-lite that changes Bruce Wayne’s circumstances enough that the world seems flipped on its head. It doesn’t feel as fundamental a revision to the character as Absolute Superman or Absolute Wonder Woman, but it is just different enough.

I am most interested in seeing the dynamics of Bruce’s friend network, featuring civilian identities of classic rogues such as Killer Croc, Penguin, Riddler, and Two-Face. I also enjoy the much more brutalist take on Batman’s war on crime, down to his massive frame, and the even more massive Batmobile made from construction equipment. Whether he will take the money from Black Mask remains to be seen, but at this point, he doesn’t seem to need it. I’d prefer he didn’t take it.

Another note here; I find Bruce Wayne adorable, as his baby face is perched upon the body of a human giant. I am unsure if this adorable-himbo coding is intended, but I think it works.

Absolute Superman #2 and #3

Absolute Superman is my favorite title of the current Absolute lineup, though Wonder Woman is a very, very close second. Currently, I am up to issue #3. I have a lot I could say about it, but there are two things I want to focus on.

First, I want to talk about the TechBro Hell that Krypton appears to be. Krypton, time after time, has been doomed. Yet this may be the most oppressive form of that story I have seen. Many earlier instances of Krypton’s destruction stem from arrogance and lake of foresight regarding the natural world and the nature of industrial and scientific progress. The Krypton here is seen as having undergone a form of strip mining, both for resources and culture. The caste system adds a lot to this take on their destruction and the reveal of the upper castes planning for their escape is a horrific reveal.

Second, I want to gush about how Kal-El and Lois Lane met and how we quickly established their dynamics. Despite Lois being in the quasi-military, she develops an interest in writing after her encounter with an inspiring alien figure. I adore it very much. If their journeys take them to the Daily Planet in this continuity, I can see some fascinating elements coming into play from this.

Adding to this element is the emphasis on Kal-El’s writing in the third issue. it emphasizes an element of Superman that I feel is sometimes overlooked in adaptations: Kal-El/Clark Kent does just as much heroic work as a writer as Superman.

As Kal-El says in issue three “My words make me happy.” Fantastic.

Absolute Wonder Woman #2 and #3

Absolute Wonder Woman may stand out as my favorite take on the character since the DCAU. Issues 2 and 3 of the series illustrate what a wonderful combination of physical prowess and magical knowledge the character can be. Everything about this run feels like an iconic Wonder Woman dialed to 11. Who knew a little time in Hell could change a girl so much?

One of the standout elements is the art. I want to praise the illustration work of Hayden Sherman and the coloring work of Jordie Bellaire. The approach to Diana’s design makes her feel incredibly Greek, which tends to be an element of the character that is lessened in many adaptations.

The current story involving eldritch monsters from the sea is a great way to introduce Diana to the wider world. It helps, too, that we’re being introduced to her through Steve Trevor in issue 3. The Steve and Diana relationship has been a delight so far.

Ultimate Spider-Man #12

Of Marvel’s current line of Ultimate titles, I feel the comic that works best with the “real-time” approach has been Ultimate Spider-Man. Issue 12 feels like a more laid-back and character-driven story but with an exciting twist. But most of the issue is just Parker clan drama and mirth. I adore the comic for it.

Yes, Ultimate Venom is exciting. How can it not be? But just as exciting to me is the return of Gayle Watson, MJ’s oft-seen younger sister in most continuity. I like having an extended Spider-Clan.

Also, I love having an older Peter Parker as a father figure in comics. Peter’s everyman status does not end when he leaves high school and college. His having his own family makes him an even more endearing character, grows the cast, and introduces further stakes, in both his family life and life as Spider-Man. This hook is an amazing thing many fans clamored for, and it is paying off, here. One can only hope the mainline titles and film adaptations will explore.

The Ultimates #8

As far as the real-time stories go, The Ultimates makes sense as a big event book with a ticking clock, showing the preparations until The Maker re-emerges. The one-shot stories that check in on those preparations work pretty well and expand the Ultimate Marvel universe.

For example, The Ultimates #8 introduces the Guardians of the Galaxy of the 61st Century. The spin plays them off as a kind of Legion of Superheros where the current roster includes heroes with legacy titles. You have Star-Lord, Cosmo, and Captain Marvel, but with new, unknown histories. It is a fun detail that makes me want to write about legacy heroes.

The scale of continuity here works in favor of the comic. It makes sense Tony is still in a coma and why he is sitting out of the action. This is a great use of the pacing of each issue taking place in real-time, month by month.

I could write more about all this, but this current write-up is already getting longer than I had intended. I’ll have more to say in issue #9.

Ultimate Black Panther #8

I wish I liked Ultimate Black Panther more. We’re eight issues in and it’s serviceable, but the pacing is a big issue for me. As it stands, as compelling as the conflict in Ultimate Marvel’s Africa would initially appear, the comic has been stuck in a repeated cycle as this war has gone on. Wakanda and the Khonshu-Ra alliance are rarely on a siege footing. Both sides take nebulous action against one another. Meanwhile, the Wakanda royal conflicts seem to be circular, where King T’challa wants to take action, is cautioned against it, and does so anyway, and then chastised for it.

The most compelling element of the series so far, for me at least, is the pairing of Killmonger and Storm, but even they are still locked into this kind of meandering war between forces. Issue #8 even spotlights the new Sorceress Supreme on the cover, but she does not appear within the issue itself. It’s very frustrating.

The geopolitical nature of the storyline could be so fascinating, but it feels like nothing is happening. Yes, things are happening, technically, but it doesn’t read like they are. At this point, I feel I am reading it more for the completionist’s sake than enjoying the unfolding story.

Ultimate X-Men #10

Here are some general impressions of everything up through Ultimate X-Men #10.

Issue after issue I adore the art of Peach Momoko. it is such a strange choice for a major title such as X-Men, but for the type of story Ultimate X-Men is telling, it is inspired. For months the comic has been dealing with the lasting repercussions of The Maker’s tampering with the world and the emergence of cult thinking revolving around the X-gene, all while major X-Men we are used to are either missing or re-imagined for this new setting.

As far as the Ultimate titles go, I find Ultimate X-Men the weakest narratively. Not because the story and setting aren’t fascinating, but because the real-time approach has been killing the story’s momentum for me. The situations unfolding in the comic feel like they should be unfolding at a faster rate than we’re seeing issue to issue. like I had bemoaned in the first episode of Creature Commandos, the pacing is a killer. Though I am one to admit the shocking moment with Natsu Tsukisima’s optic blasts caught me off guard and was the biggest surprise of the issue for me. Things are really escalating now.

With that said, this is still easily one of the best-looking books I have read this week. I’m curious how far this cult angle will go, as nobody does cults quite as well as Japan.

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And with that, the reading log for this week is down. Let me know what you think about this format and share your thoughts if you’re reading these books, too.

Also, I am still down to write traditional reviews, so if you have key issues you want me to tackle, or create your own comics and want feedback, please contact me about it.