Absolute Superman # 22 Cover C Juan Ferreyra Variant 2026 BN

Absolute Superman #22 is a comic book released by DC Comics on August 5, 2026, that kicks off the highly anticipated "Get Brainiac Begins" story arc. Written by Jason Aaron with art by Juan Ferreyra, this issue marks a pivotal turning point in the Absolute Universe by introducing a dark, reimagined version of the classic villain Metallo.

The Plot: Enter Absolute Metallo

Following his battle against King Shazam, Kal-El travels to a Lazarus Corporation lab in Argentina searching for Brainiac. Instead, he is ambushed by Metallo, a cybernetic weapon featuring a striking all-white character design. Superman discovers a tragic twist: the man trapped inside the Metallo suit is Christopher Smith, the former Peacemaker who previously died in the series.

Brainiac resurrected Christopher's corpse, realizing the kryptonite bullet that killed him had bonded with his physiology. Brainiac capitalized on this by fully infusing Christopher's blood and cybernetic body with kryptonite, creating a weapon specifically engineered to destroy Superman.

Key Highlights & Impact

• A Weakened Superman: Every punch from Metallo hits Kal-El like a kryptonite bullet, and Metallo can even spit weaponized kryptonite, making it an incredibly brutal fight for the Man of Steel.
• Compassion Over Combat: Rather than destroying Metallo, Superman spends the fight trying to break through Brainiac's intense brainwashing. By appealing to Christopher's memories of his mother, Kal-El manages to briefly reach his humanity. 
• The Escape: To save Christopher's life, Superman ultimately allows the villain to escape rather than pursuing a decisive victory, setting up a deeper redemption arc.
• Road to #25: This issue serves as the definitive opening chapter of a four-issue storyline building toward a game-changing blockbuster event in Absolute Superman #25.