Things have been hard for DC's newest The Absolute Universe has been a trying place for the Man of Steel, but now he's about to come face-to-face with the most intelligent and most ruthless villain he's ever encountered.

DC Comics has given fans a peek at what's ahead this summer thanks to its new May solicitations. While the Prime DCU celebrates the Man of Steel with its anticipated "Summer of Superman" initiative, the Absolute Universe Kryptonian is doing anything but celebrating.

The solicitation for Absolute Superman #7 reveals that in just a few short months, the DC Universe's younger and unsure Man of Steel is about to meet his world's version of Brainiac. Not only does this Brainiac torture bottled cities like his Prime Universe counterpart, he's very interested in collecting Absolute Superman for something Brainiac has planned.

Absolute Brainiac is About to Make His Big Debut

What Can Fans Expect From This New Spin on Superman's Classic Foe?

The Absolute Universe was shaped by Darkseid's energy after he died and, as such, it's a darker world where hope is fleeting and evil has a tighter grip on this world. Superman is thankfully around, but rather than flying through the skies and inspiring the masses, the Absolute variant is living in Brazil, where he's fought against the injustices of the international conglomerate, Lazarus Corp. Integral to Lazarus' operation is the Brainiac Algorithm, an intelligence that facilitates its workers' operations. But unbeknownst to many, the algorithm is connected to an alien figure in Lazarus R&D department in the Nevada Desert.

The cover for Absolute Superman is the best look readers have had at Absolute Brainiac so far. He's got the familiar green skin, but with an exposed brain with dozens of electrodes connected to it and wires wrapped all around him. But the real question is what does he want with Kal-El? So far, Brainiac has been content to help Lazarus Corp achieve global financial success through it’s exploitative practices. Is Brainiac going after Kal-El to further Lazarus’ goals, or is his smartest foe pursuing Absolute Superman to satiate Brainiac’s usual possessive need for the universe’s greatest secrets?

Absolute Superman is Pushing Absolute Brainiac to His Next Stage

Lazarus Can't Give Brainiac What Superman Can.

Fans haven't seen too much of Absolute Brainiac just yet, so it's not exactly clear why he's a part of Lazarus or what stake he has in the corporation. But it's been clear since Brainiac first took notice of Superman that he sees something special in him. So far, Brainiac has been content to observe while Lazarus dominates the planet. But if Brainiac chooses to go after Absolute Superman personally, he might be growing beyond Lazarus and becoming more like his Prime Universe variant.

Though the Absolute Universe is quite different from the Prime DCU, readers have seen characters become more like their traditional selves (Absolute Lois discovered she had a knack for writing as early as Absolute Superman #2). Brainiac could be following a similar path, his desire to possess Superman becoming so powerful that the villain breaks away from Lazarus to become the infamous knowledge pirate his variant is. Whatever happens next, things are about to get a lot more complicated as Superman takes on his deadly intelligent foe.

Absolute Superman #7 is available on May 7th from DC Comics.