Comic review: Absolute Evil #1 - A Masterpiece that keeps on giving!

 

It seemed that the Absolute Universe had already reached the peak of madness and narrative ambition. After the deconstruction of the Batman myth, the brutal psychological study of Bane, and the moral paradoxes of Martian Mindhunter, it was hard to imagine DC raising the bar again. And yet Absolute Evil #1 is not only the best one-shot in the entire series but also one of the boldest, darkest, and most intellectually charged comic events of the year.

It’s a story that redefines what it means to be an “antagonist” in the DC Universe while asking one chilling question: what if evil has its own logic and what if science can prove it?

A New World Order and the Birth of the League of Injustice

From the very first pages, it’s clear that Absolute Evil #1 is more than just another villain-centric comic. Jason Aaron and his team of writers present a world where morality is measurable, and evil follows the same laws of nature as gravity or thermodynamics.

This scientific-philosophical premise explodes into motion through the Absolute Joker a chilling reinvention of the Clown Prince of Crime. His monologue, one of the most haunting ever written for a DC comic, reframes the very essence of morality. This isn’t a jester with a maniacal laugh it’s a philosopher convinced that good and evil are merely states of cosmic balance.

It’s the moment readers realize that the Absolute world has become a battlefield of ideas.

The Justice League… of Evil?

The issue’s biggest twist comes midway through: the group of villains we’ve been following are revealed to be the new Justice League. Joker, Hawkman, Mirror Master, Brainiac, Deathstroke, Veronica Cale, and Lex Luthor all of them believe they represent true justice.

And in their world, they’re not wrong.

In a reality shaped by the mysterious Omega Particle said to influence morality itself evil is not corruption, it’s nature. Goodness, then, is the anomaly. The climactic reveal of the title Absolute Justice on a black screen is one of the most jaw-dropping moments in the entire Absolute canon.

Aaron plays brilliantly with reader expectations. What seemed like a standard villain crossover transforms into the philosophical cornerstone of a new kind of League one where the so-called monsters see themselves as the saviors of civilization.

The Death of Oliver Queen and the Birth of a Dark Legend

One of the most shocking moments of the comic is the death of Green Arrow. Hawkman’s savage murder of Oliver Queen is breathtaking not just for its brutality, but for its sheer dramatic weight.

The double-page spread of Hawkman hurling Oliver’s corpse onto the table is instantly iconic a scene that will haunt readers long after turning the page. It’s more than the death of a hero; it’s the symbolic end of hope in a world where heroes have become victims of their own ideals.

And yet, Oliver’s death doesn’t end his story. On the contrary, it opens a new chapter one likely centered on Roy Harper, who will take up the mantle of the Absolute Green Arrow. If vengeance, not justice, fuels him, we may be looking at one of the most fascinating reinterpretations of a legacy hero in DC history.

Hawkman - The Betrayal That Became a Monster

The version of Hawkman in Absolute Evil is unlike any before. He’s an instrument of the regime, a cold executioner of the new order. His bandaged, broken body with exposed cartilage and bone in his wings is almost metaphorical: a traitor consumed by his own betrayal.

According to a popular fan theory (subtly hinted at in the comic), members of the old JSA took revenge on him, mutilating him for selling them out. It’s poetic, brutal justice and another reminder that in this world, purity doesn’t exist.

Lex Luthor The Ultimate Player Everyone Fears

And then comes Absolute Lex Luthor. The most anticipated debut in the Absolute line finally arrives. Here, Luthor appears as a humble farmer with a family until he’s drawn into the orbit of Brainiac and Mirror Master, a partnership deadlier than half of DC’s villain roster combined.

The moment Lex steps onto the page with clouds forming an Omega symbol behind him is pure comic book cinema. Aaron and artist Matteo Scalera compose it like a shot from a Denis Villeneuve film majestic, ominous, and drenched in meaning.

Will Lex become a savior? Or an even greater monster than Darkseid? We don’t yet know. But his arrival changes everything.

The Joker Who Doesn’t Laugh The Philosopher of Evil

What Aaron has done with the Joker is nothing short of a masterpiece. This Joker doesn’t laugh. He despises jokes. He’s not chaos incarnate he’s cold, precise intellect, convinced he’s deciphered the moral code of the universe.

His monologues on the nature of good and evil feel like echoes of Nietzsche and Hegel, yet never slip into pretentiousness. They sound logical terrifyingly logical as if spoken by someone who truly knows too much.

Some fans have complained that his stoicism is overplayed, but in a world where laughter itself is weakness, it fits perfectly.

Veronica Cale The Mastermind Behind It All

One of the issue’s quiet triumphs is Veronica Cale’s role. She’s essentially the League’s de facto leader the one who calls the meeting, labels Diana the greatest threat, and steers the conversation toward the story’s philosophical heart.

In this world, Cale isn’t just DC’s answer to Lex Luthor or Amanda Waller she’s the embodiment of intellectual power. She understands that controlling the narrative is the ultimate form of dominance.

Art, Style, and Storytelling Absolute Perfection

Visually, Absolute Evil #1 is one of DC’s most stunningly illustrated comics in years. The use of shadow, the omnipresent Omega motif, the sharp contrasts, and the cinematic framing give this universe a sense of monumental gravity.

The violence is raw but never gratuitous. The dialogue is dense yet accessible. And the final cliffhanger a declaration of ideological war is pure, distilled brilliance.

Final Thoughts

Absolute Evil #1 is the definition of what modern superhero storytelling should be bold, intelligent, visually breathtaking, and emotionally devastating.

Jason Aaron has crafted a work that not only expands the Absolute mythology but also redefines how we perceive justice, evil, and morality in fiction.

This is total comics philosophy, politics, horror, and tragedy in one seamless creation.
If DC truly continues down this path, this issue will be remembered as the beginning of a new golden age of storytelling.

Pros

+Philosophical depth and cohesive world-building

+Jason Aaron’s brilliant narrative structure

+A cold, terrifying, and unforgettable Joker

+Shocking death of Green Arrow with lasting consequences

+The long-awaited debut of Absolute Lex Luthor

+Exceptional artwork and panel composition

+A fresh, subversive approach to the Justice League concept

+Symbolic and intellectually rich tone reminiscent of Watchmen

Cons

-Joker’s extreme seriousness may put off some fans

-Requires familiarity with previous Absolute titles to fully grasp the context

Final Score: 10/10

Absolute Evil #1 is pure, uncompromising brilliance.
The best one-shot of the year and a comic that redefines the very meaning of evil in the DC Universe.