A review by 1wingedbalrog
All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Many call this the best Superman story ever made and it's not hard to see why.
Just a note: this is not the *mainline* Superman but an alternate one created for this story. In DC, this is called an "Elseworlds."
Morrison and Quitely lay it out from the start: Superman now has more power than he even knew was possible, but has one year to live. The invincible Man of Steel is dying. But a true fan knows that Superman doesn't care about what happens to him - he has to prioritize saving people. How will he ensure a better tomorrow?
In a series of mostly episodic chapters, Superman goes on all kinds of whacky and wonderous adventures. From a trip to Bizarro World to Clark Kent's interview with Lex Luthor, this comic is a dose of Silver Age outrageousness. Yet it is cerebral at all times, as Morrison uses their trademark grandeur and wild concepts to peel back the layers of Superman as a mythological figure. They make us see what it means to be an ordinary man who wants to do good and has the power to do so.
Quitely's art is beautiful, conveying the massive scale of Superman's adventures with his thin lines to give everything the gentleness this story calls for. The book is loaded with panels you'd want to frame; and while Superman's double page spread against the sun on page 2 is iconic, Quitely also excels at panel by panel storytelling. Superman's interaction with the suicidal girl in chapter 10 is voted by fans across the Internet as one of the most tear-jerking and heartwarming scenes in superhero comics.
If you're a Superman fan, this is essential. If you're someone who always thought he wasn't relatable or seemed too corny, you may find the book that changes your mind here.
Just a note: this is not the *mainline* Superman but an alternate one created for this story. In DC, this is called an "Elseworlds."
Morrison and Quitely lay it out from the start: Superman now has more power than he even knew was possible, but has one year to live. The invincible Man of Steel is dying. But a true fan knows that Superman doesn't care about what happens to him - he has to prioritize saving people. How will he ensure a better tomorrow?
In a series of mostly episodic chapters, Superman goes on all kinds of whacky and wonderous adventures. From a trip to Bizarro World to Clark Kent's interview with Lex Luthor, this comic is a dose of Silver Age outrageousness. Yet it is cerebral at all times, as Morrison uses their trademark grandeur and wild concepts to peel back the layers of Superman as a mythological figure. They make us see what it means to be an ordinary man who wants to do good and has the power to do so.
Quitely's art is beautiful, conveying the massive scale of Superman's adventures with his thin lines to give everything the gentleness this story calls for. The book is loaded with panels you'd want to frame; and while Superman's double page spread against the sun on page 2 is iconic, Quitely also excels at panel by panel storytelling. Superman's interaction with the suicidal girl in chapter 10 is voted by fans across the Internet as one of the most tear-jerking and heartwarming scenes in superhero comics.
If you're a Superman fan, this is essential. If you're someone who always thought he wasn't relatable or seemed too corny, you may find the book that changes your mind here.