#despair-0

The Absolute Universe continues to be an absolute blast to read. Absolute Wonder Woman is perfect, Absolute Batman is a banger, but the most interesting comic set in this universe is Absolute Martian Manhunter. Between its coloring, the Jack Kirby-ish designs, the Green Martian himself, and the focus on how corrosive bad ideas can be, this comic pretty much had everything except for a face of evil. We had the White Martian, but they're portrayed more as more negative presences rather than a living breathing being. They were extremely effective and terrifying, but they are lacking in the breed of villainy I thought this comic needed. Despair The Zero on the other hand blows them out of the park.

For context, Despair The Zero is a reinvention of the Justice League villain Despero, an alien tyrant with psychic abilities who has had a few scuffles with the Martian Manhunter.

Unfortunately he's a basic bitch of a villain, at least compared to some of the other villains within DC's roster. Is he powerful? Yes, he is... but he's doesn't have a lot going for him that truly defines him as a supervillain or as a space tyrant. His absolute counterpart on the other hand?

Despair-0 is a "Martian" who serves as a personification of despair, a talkative asshole who does nothing but see the worst in everything. He's also brutally honest, but he does it as a way to break people, to make them feel as if the entire world is against them while calling himself a "friend." He's a literal negative voice, one that is very reminiscent of right-wing talking points, and this is exemplified perfectly during Agent John Jones's therapy session.

Within the span of a few pages Despair-0 acts as the devil on John's shoulder, slowly making him crack under pressure by trying to narrow his mind. Once John does crack, he runs to check on his son, witnessing the influence that the White Martian has gained over him. Though before he could do anything, John is dragged out and Despair-0 officially gets his claws all over his sense of reality.