Comic Book Review: All-Star Superman

Hello Enthusiasts,

For today's review I get to look at a nice, mostly self-contained story by one of the most prolific writers in comics. Not only that, but it's a story about the most famous superhero of all time, Superman! Today's review is of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's All-Star Superman. Of course, you can expect some big Spoilers Below.

It's a story that starts pretty standard for the Man of Steel. Some scientists got themselves stuck in the sun, and Superman is rescuing them. It shouldn't be a big deal, as Superman's powers are actually powered by the solar radiation that he absorbs from our yellow sun anyway, but that doesn't end up being the case. Superman has absorbed too much solar radiation, and the overwhelming power is going to be too much for his body.

Superman is going to die before too long.

What follows is a series of stories where Superman tries to make the best of the situation. While he is fast-approaching death, the energy that's killing his is also making him exponentially stronger. He is able to easily pull off feats that even he would have struggled to complete before his overexposure.
It's a story of Superman trying to leave the world in a position where it can survive without him around, while he also works to wrap up the loose ends of his personal life. It's the age-old dilemma of "what would you do if you knew you only had one week to live" with the added twist of "you can basically do anything".

I'll just come right out and say it, this series is, to me, the greatest Superman story ever told. I loved every page and every beat of the graphic novel. It is more light-hearted and optimistic than a lot of DC stories, but it fits Superman perfectly. This is a story about why we care about the mythology of Superman, about why he's an idealized version of what we can be. It's a heart-warming tale, and one that could have easily been a whole lot worse if not in the capable hands of Grant Morrison. It's simultaneously thought-provoking and a feel-good story in perfect balance. Plus, it is a visual treat thanks to the work of Frank Quitely, who's art matches the tone of the story flawlessly. Everything about this series is something else to rave about. It's an important addition to the Superman mythos on several levels, from furthering his relationship with Lois Lane to having him overcome a Herculean gauntlet of feats. It even makes Jimmy Olson okay, though I can't say that he's not annoying, but that's just his character.

I have nothing bad to say about this series. If you haven't read it, you are doing yourself a disservice. I don't care if you don't regularly read Superman stories, or if you normally prefer the darker tales. Go into this and read it for what it is, and even if it doesn't become your favorite comic book, I'm nearly certain that you'll still enjoy the time you spent with it.

I give All-Star Superman a 10 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast