WARNING: Contains potential spoilers for ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #1!
To forget “The Man of Steel”–Superman now has a dark and disturbing new nickname that not only takes away his masculinity status but also adds a mysterious touch to his character. The real question is whether this unique moniker is just a fleeting moment or whether it will become a lasting label for the Last Son of Krypton.
This feat undoubtedly makes Superman’s survival even more impressive, suggesting that the title “The Boy Who Lived” it could apply to him more than Harry Potter.
From Man of Steel to “The boy who spoke in whispers” Superman’s latest moniker marks a stark departure from his usual titles. To clarify, this nickname applies specifically to the Absolute Universe’s Superman, not the Earth-Prime version.
However, it’s still significant given that this alternate version of the Man of Steel is poised to play a major role in upcoming DC narratives alongside the original for years to come. This new nickname appears for the first time in Absolute Superman #1 by Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval, Ulises Arreola and Becca Carey, raising the question of whether this will last beyond this issue.
“The boy who spoke in whispers”: Absolute Superman debuts new nickname
What does Superman’s new nickname tell us about his character?
“The boy who spoke in whispers” is a nickname given to Superman by a miner he encountered earlier in the issue. During your first interaction, Kal-El communicated only in whispers, making a peculiar impression on the miner. When the two meet again – this time with Kal-El saving the miner and other townspeople – the miner, in awe of his savior, recalls their first conversation and exclaims: “My God… The boy who spoke in whispers,” officially giving Superman this disturbing new nickname.
However “The boy who spoke in whispers” does not carry the iconic weight of “The Man of Steel” or “The Last Son of Krypton” immediately stands out, injecting Kal-El’s character with an air of mystery. This soft-spoken demeanor hints at potential core traits for this version of Supermansuch as the tendency to communicate in whispers. Additionally, the miner’s reference to Kal-El as a “boy” suggests that this Superman could be much younger than usual – perhaps in his late teens or early adulthood. If this is true, it would add a new and compelling complexity to the character.
“The boy who spoke in whispers” It’s similar to another iconic pop culture nickname
Sorry, Harry Potter, but Superman is the REAL Boy Who Lived
Fans of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series are no doubt familiar with the iconic nickname “The Boy Who Lived”, a reference to Harry’s survival of Lord Voldemort’s Killing Curse – Avada Kedavra. With this in mind, readers “The boy who spoke in whispers” can have instantly I thought of Harry’s nickname when encountering Superman’s new title, as they both start the same and reference a notable trait. This connection also highlights how the “The Boy Who Lived” nickname could be applied to Superman, perhaps even more appropriately.
While Harry Potter survived the Killing Curse, Absolute Superman survived the destruction of his entire planet, an event that no other Kryptonian has survived (at least, not that we know of). This feat undoubtedly makes Kal-El’s survival all the more impressive, suggesting that the title “The Boy Who Lived” it could apply more to him than to Harry. However, in a way, Superman already carries a similar moniker with the Krypton-centric title “The Last Son of Krypton.” Ultimately, both titles suggest the same thing – notable survivor status. Of course, this is just a fun connection and shouldn’t be taken as an indication that Harry Potter lore will influence Superman’s story.
AND “The boy who spoke in whispers” Is the nickname here to stay?
Jason Aaron Teases He May Have Future Plans for Superman’s Newest Nickname
So far, only one miner has referred to Superman as “The boy who spoke in whispers” leaving its longevity uncertain. However, this nickname is likely to remain, at least in this small mining town. Kal-El never revealed his real name, claiming he no longer had one. With no name to go by, it makes sense that the townspeople would come up with their own nickname. Furthermore, the sentence structure “The boy who spoke in whispers” mirrors “The Man of Steel” and the boldness of “whispers” suggests that Jason Aaron may have plans to make this nickname a lasting fixture of the Absolute Superman character.
Absolute Superman #1 is now available from DC Comics!
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ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #1 (2024) |
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