This leans a little too much on politics as an explanation for the success of DC's Absolute comics in my opinion, but the reinvention of Superman as an updated version of what Siegel and Shuster would do today is smart. Mostly, though, these are just good stories with good creative teams doing fun stuff unbound by the conventions of the main line, which is often stale in comparison.
How DC's Progressive 'Absolute' Line Has Reinvigorated Modern Comics
DC Comics' Absolute series puts Batman, Superman and more in a grim and political parallel universe. The creators and fans talk about why it's a hit.
rollingstone.com