All-Star Superman, Vol. 2

All-Star Superman #7-12

by Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely (Illustrator)

In this follow-up to the hit ALL STAR SUPERMAN VOL. 1, the Man of Steel goes toe-to-toe with Bizarro, his oddball twin, and the new character Zibarro, also from the Bizarro planet. And Superman faces the final revenge of Lex Luthor -- his own death!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Superman, Superheroes, Fiction, Comic Book

154 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Grant Morrison has been working with DC Comics for twenty five years, after beginning their American comics career with acclaimed runs on ANIMAL MAN and DOOM PATROL. Since then they have written such best-selling series as JLA, BATMAN and New X-Men, as well as such creator-owned works as THE INVISIBLES, SEAGUY, THE FILTH, WE3 and JOE THE BARBARIAN. In addition to expanding the DC Universe through titles ranging from the Eisner Award-winning SEVEN SOLDIERS and ALL-STAR SUPERMAN to the reality-shattering epic of FINAL CRISIS, they have also reinvented the worlds of the Dark Knight Detective in BATMAN AND ROBIN and BATMAN, INCORPORATED and the Man of Steel in The New 52 ACTION COMICS.

In their secret identity, Morrison is a "counterculture" spokesperson, a musician, an award-winning playwright and a chaos magician. They are also the author of the New York Times bestseller Supergods, a groundbreaking psycho-historic mapping of the superhero as a cultural organism. They divide their time between their homes in Los Angeles and Scotland.

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

What the...Huh??...Not sure what I missed along the way, but this story did exactly bupkis for me. One of the most critically acclaimed and popularly embraced graphic novels of the past decade; a landmark portrait of THE iconic superhero…and I couldn’t rustle up a damn to give about it.

Honestly, I’m a little crushed.

Granted, as I’ve mentioned before, Superman is not among my favorite spandexer. I tend to gravitate towards grittier heroes with more snarl to them, and often find the Man of Steel’s treacly, “Dudley Do-right” way of handling his business low on the entertainment scale. However, I really was looking forward to this, given the lofty esteem with which it is held, and I don’t think my general lack of enthusiasm for the character was much of a factor in my reaction to the story.

So…

After a nettlesome encounter with All-Star Superman, Vol. 1 that left me a rather disgruntled and disillusioned fanboy, I came to this hoping that the second half of the story would come together and create a more favorable opinion of the completed work.

Didn’t happen. Second verse, same as the first.

MY GRIEVANCES:

1. The writing. First and foremost, Grant Morrison did not impress. This is the same gentleman who knocked me assward with his elegant, piquant prose in Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us about Being Human. The man can flat out compose, and ranks high among the most original and talented writers working in the medium.

But here, his work felt stilted and lacked elegance or any emotional punch. It was completely missing the wow factor.

2. Worst.Luthor.Ever. This was my biggest gripe. I don’t know who this guy is or where he came from, but this is NOT Lex Luthor:

I’m not just referring to the atrocious art featuring the Fonzi collar and the Elvis, “thank you very much” lip-curl. No, bad art I can forgive…mostly. I’m talking about the character himself, what he says, what he does, and how he comports himself while doing so.

Morrison writes Luthor as a petulant dork. This is unacceptable. Lex Luthor is on the shortlist of “Most Likely to Be the Coolest Villain Ever,” and this series has him relegated to the role of some bratty science nerd with a schoolyard grudge.

In short, I detested this aspect of the story.

3. The Unsupporting Cast. In addition to the hackle reddening/raising portrayal Lex, I wasn’t enamored with the remaining supporting cast members either. I get that Lois is despondent over Superman’s pending death, but she just came across as so frail and clingy that it irked me. Weak and helpless is not a good look for her. Jimmy and Perry are utterly forgettable, and Steve Lombard deserves special mention because he was an irritant in every panel in which he showed up (which thankfully there are not many).

4. The Art. This is the most subjective of areas so take this as you will, but Frank Quitely’s art offends my personal aesthetic. My eyes and his work do not get along. Beginning with Volume 1, I was immediately put off by his rendering Superman to look like a retired NFL lineman gone to flab,


And even ignoring the pudgy fetish, so many of the other panels just seem…off. Look at this shot of Supes,

Those legs do not match that torso, the face is all jaw...and is that a saggy, oldman bulge in his grandpa trunks. I won’t even address Lex and his World War I cavalry pants with the puffy thighs and the knee-high boots.

Nothing about it appealed to me.

THE POSITIVES:

All the above bitching notwithstanding, the there were some things I thought were good, even excellent. For example, there is a terrific moment in which Superman talks a troubled girl out of committing suicide.

This was a nice symbolic instant in which Superman’s words are really being spoken to all of us and sum up his unique optimism about humanity.

In addition, the climax was very moving and Supes final gift to his adopted world was wonderfully done.


For me, it was just too little, too late.

2.0 stars.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Volume 2 nicely wraps up All-Star Superman: Volume 1. Morrison does an incredible job reminding us just why Superman is still what everyone automatically thinks of when imagining a superhero. He manages to suck all of the cheesiness out of a character who is primarily known for being a goody-goody, and point out that honesty, integrity, forgiveness, and self-sacrifice are actually pretty cool.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following the success of All Star Superman Volume 1 comes the next book from the brilliant creative duo of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. In this book Superman saves Earth from a Bizarro invasion only to be sucked into a parallel Bizarro world and have his powers taken away; two astronauts from Krypton wind up on Earth while Superman is in this parallel universe and try to start a new Krypton on Earth; meanwhile a poisoned and dying Superman records his last will and faces his final challenges, notably a supercharged Lex Luthor.

If you're a Batman fan like me you'll know that in some of the books Superman is portrayed as a well meaning doofus or a bit of a short sighted arrogant know-it-all. Morrison does the admirable job of making Superman noble and interesting once again, highlighting the fact that Superman is a scientist as well as a hero. The writing is top notch as Frank Quitely's art is breathtaking. In a single panel he can create real tension and horror as Superman is tackled in space by an army of Bizarros or real movement on the page by drawing a truck hitting Super Lex Luthor at speed or Superman taking out a robot by flying through it. He understands and draws scale so well that he truly compliments Morrison's imaginative scope perfectly. Imagine sewing the moon back together with bridges - Quitely draws it and you somehow believe it.

It's a shame to see such dull screen adaptations (Bryan Singer's Superman Returns) of such a great character when stories in books like these show that Superman can be as compelling as any character, maybe more! If only Morrison would agree to write a script for the next Superman movie... oh well, at least we have the book. If you want a great Superman book, this is the one for you. Wonderful story, wonderful art, super book.

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

The funny, weird, and epic All-Star Superman by the great Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely concludes with a Bizarro story, some Kryptonians for good measure, and the final showdown with Lex Luthor also including Solaris from DC One Million.

Everything a Superman enthusiast could want for this nearly perfect self-contained story. This is what comics are for!

[Urbon Adamsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

PT Gostei mais deste volume do que do primeiro.

No geral, acho que é uma boa série, embora saiba que serei queimado na fogueira por dizer isto—mas, apesar de ter gostado, não percebo bem todo o alarido. É uma aventura sólida do Super-Homem, mas parece-me um pouco sobrevalorizada e exageradamente elogiada.

Mas que sei eu? Não sou propriamente um especialista em Super-Homem. Estou apenas a avaliá-la pelo que me apresenta.

Suponho que o grande atrativo aqui seja o facto de o Super-Homem, desta vez, não ser invencível—ele está vulnerável. Talvez seja por isso que tanta gente se identifica com esta história.

De qualquer forma, é uma boa série.

--

EN I enjoyed this volume more than the first.

Overall, I think it's a good series, though I know I'll be burned at the stake for saying this—but despite enjoying it, I don’t quite see what all the fuss is about. It’s a solid Superman adventure, but I find it a bit overhyped and overvalued.

Then again, what do I know? It’s not like I’m an expert on Superman. I’m just taking it at face value.

I suppose the main appeal here is that Superman, for once, isn’t invincible—he’s vulnerable. Maybe that’s why people connect with this story so much.

Anyway, a good series overall.

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty interesting volume as we have Superman travel to the Underverse to meet Bizarro and Zibarro and well its a short story of how he escapes from there and meets the reverse people and frankly its an irritating read but then again the next few stories how he battles Solaris and is suffering cell breakdown and helps Kandor people and the final fight with Lex and all that is pretty fun too.

Its okayish volume and I kinda enjoy Superman in his last moments and the battle with Lex is awesome and Morrison does infuse it with the weird which leads to some awesome banter between him and Lex or Bizarro though the later stuff is confusing and Idk what the point of the 12 labors or the kandor one was but nonetheless good volume. The art is great again.

[Corey Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty good!

We start off wrapping up everything that happened in the last. Which in my opinion was really annoying. If you don't remember superman is trapped on Bizzarro World. And this causes a bunch of weird back words yoda talk the whole issue which was really hard to read.

Other than that, I really liked this volume. And I almost wish we could get more from this universe. Oh well. If you haven't already, I'd recommend checking this out.

[Drew Canole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty satisfying conclusion to this story. I liked the 12 tasks that Superman has to do before he dies, but I especially liked the Lux Luther story-line (which I guess is the main one).

I got a bit annoyed with the digital coloring. The color gradients date this comic pretty badly in my opinion.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story started in the first volume ends here, and it truly is a complete storyline. There's a lot of seemingly unrelated stuff in here, including a painfully extended bizarro storyline. God, I hate reading bizarros. There's a Silver Age-y feel to it all, which is not exactly to my taste. But it's competently done. The overarching storyline is actually pretty interesting, though it's a shame I can't feel the same about the subplots. The art is still Frank Quitely, and still way too round for my tastes. I know that's his style, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Probably more for Superman fans who know a decent chunk of his history. I am not a big Superman fan, and I don't know terribly much about his history. But after reading All-Star Batman and Robin, it was so, so good to read a book from somebody who understands the character he's writing. Miller has forgotten who Batman is, but Grant Morrison really does seem to understand Superman. (And, if I'm remembering his work on JLA correctly, the rest of the major superheroes as well.) Pleasant enough, even if I am still searching for the Superman story that will make me a convert.

[Peter Derk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although Superman has never been a favorite of mine, I think this book is one of my favorite depictions. The different situations he's in force him to be drawn out a little as a character, and he has to make some tough choices, admit where he's gone wrong, and stay steadfast about the things he's done right. There are also a couple very tender moments not to be forgotten.



After reading Batman, Superman, Animal Man, Authority, JLA...I think Grant Morrison does his best work with the big, blue Boy Scout. You'd think darker characters would be more suited to his skill set, but I wonder if buried under the layers of weird science stuff and bizarre fourth wall breaking there's an optimist of some kind in there.

Anyone read Morrison's Supergods book? Is it any good?

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the first volume seemed a bit kitschy, this one feels full of reverence for the big guy. Each story feels full of life and pathos, prolly not least because we're careening towards the death of Superman (again).

Funniest moment? Emergence of the Green Lantern (not to be missed).

Love letter to Superman indeed. Morrison writes amazing stuff when he really puts his heart into it, and Quitely paints some incredible pictures (with actual depth and variety) when he make the effort.

[Katherine (Kat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 Stars
Individual Issues Rated Below -

All-Star Superman #7: 3/5 Stars
All-Star Superman #8: 2/5 Stars
All-Star Superman #9: 3.5/5 Stars
All-Star Superman #10: 4/5 Stars
All-Star Superman #11: 4/5 Stars
All-Star Superman #12: 4/5 Stars

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grant Morrison's All-Star Superman is one of the few Superman comics I've really enjoyed. I think he gets right what most writers get wrong concerning Superman. Most of the time, in order to make a threat credible, due to Superman's great power, writers make Superman so dumb he can't see the obvious threat in front of him to allow it to almost overtake it him, only to get out of it in a rather unconvincing manner at the end by beating the crap out of it.

Morrison avoids that mistake. Rather than making Superman square, corny and ineffective, as he often is, Morrison gets to the core of Superman's greatness, which is that he's ultimately an optimistic character who leads by example, and has more faith in humanity that it has in itself (which I think is actually mentioned in the intro). Superman does get tricked by Lex Luthor in the opening, which has very specific and tragic consequences for the Man of Steel, forcing Superman to reevaluate his life and and take care of unfinished business. And while the outcome is inevitable, Superman manages to defeat the opposition over and over again, through his ingenuity and cleverness, rather than with his brawn, much in the same way he does in, say, Superman II and some of the better Superman stories.

Setting it outside of mainstream continuity helps makes it more readable for comics readers. Morrison and the artist give some of the cornier elements of Superman's Silver Age mythology a nice majestic quality that allows All-Star Superman to almost, but not quite, transcend the genre. I like his take on most of the supporting characters, especially Lex Luthor, who is written as a narcissistic psychopath, with a pathological obsession with Superman to the point where he blames Superman for his lack of accomplishment but uses all of his resources in an effort to defeat him. The only character I didn't like is Jimmy Olsen, who just comes across as a third-rate reporter of limited talent who does very well following idiotic trends and writing human interest puff pieces.

Still, a good read for comics fans in general, and Superman fans in particular.

[Tyler Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd read both volumes of All-Star Superman before, but had unfortunately read them roughly a year apart from each other, which undermined their power a little... so I used a lull in my reading to revisit both volumes back-to-back. And, now having done so, I can say with some confidence that these are my favorite Superman stories I've read.

As far as superhero comics go, I've always been a X-Fan, with most of the monthly titles I read being some branch of the X-men franchise. That said, when Superman is written correctly, I might argue that no "idea" in comics resonates more strongly. I'm not sure if it's his iconic nature, or the underlying message the basic strength and power of just being a good and decent person; but there is something about the character that inspires in a way that few other characters (comic or otherwise) can. Though I don't collect Superman comics regularly, I often find myself frustrated with people who claim the character is boring or deride his boy-scout nature. In the right writers hands, he's a character who provides opportunities like no other. And, in a world where most superheroes are obligated to be gritty and conflicted, his fundamental decency is almost a breath of fresh air.

Both of these points are on full display in these two wildly inventive volumes. Morrison, and writer with no shortage on big ideas is able to run wild here, creating a tale that is truly larger than life. The twelve issues that make up this series are filled with threats and ideas that literally change worlds and span galaxies. But, what might surprise people more is how positive and optimistic this tale is. Morrison is known for his darker tales, like "the Invisibles," but here he crafts a tale about a Superman faced with his own mortality and legacy... and ultimately creates a tale of hope. A tale about individuals and people. A tale perfectly encapsulated in Superman's own words in the tenth issue: "It's never as bad as it seems. You're much stronger than you think you are. Trust me."

It's a wonderful message and a wonderful series.

[Troy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn this good. Morrison's imagination is boundless and Quitely's art is gross, ugly, beautiful and perfect. This is a love letter to the optimistic insanity of Superman, and its joy is so infectious that I couldn't resist. This is closer to the 1940s science fiction fantasy than superhero comics, and reflects some of the boundless idealistic science fiction of the 50s, pulpy and hopeful. In the end, what is so surprising about this Superman book is that it's not only a great story about Superman (and has there been many great stories about the god-like Superman?) but it's also emotionally affecting and deeply hopeful in the boundless possibility of the future. It's a hopeful fable about a contemporary god.

[John Yelverton · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely fantastic read as Grant Morrison takes the character back to his roots and 50's nostalgia in this follow up book.

[Karl Kindt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This worn thin quickly, after the first volume. Morrison made a good decision to only do 12 issues, as his premise is worth about that many issues. Very quick fun. It seems deep, I suppose, in that Morrison is bringing in stuff from outside the comic book world and putting them into a Superman comic. None of it feels very new or fresh, and by the end, when Superman is "creating life" just so he can problem solve, it just became awkwardly apparent that these characters really mean nothing, but instead are just puppets in a seemingly complex puppet show. Fun, but very unfulfilling. Like a really good piece of Red Vines candy. Years ago John Byrne re-did Superman with at least as much intellectual depth, and definitely with twice as much human touch. As with everything I have read by Morrison, he just seems to be farting around, having fun, but ultimately not doing much of any real substance. (P.S. How long did it take Chip Kidd to design the logo? He gets a credit for that? It looks like something I could design with WordArt in Microsoft Word in about 2 minutes. If DC actually paid him for it, whatever they gave him was too much.)

[Nađa Pavlica]

Nekoliko godina i dosta stripova kasnije, ovo je i dalje čuva titulu omiljenog, a verovatno i objektivno najboljeg koji sam čitala.

Also, kudos za prevod i Hej Bizaroi! <3

[Jes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I managed to hold it together while I was reading Volume 1. But this one made me actual weep in public. I’m at my favorite cafe and I was silently crying from Chapter 10 to the end.

I’ve been in a pretty bad headspace recently and I don’t think I realized how bad until I read Superman rescuing the girl on the building. I opened back up to that panel to find the page number and I’m tearing up again.

Even without that specific scene, the entire mood of Chapters 10, 11, and 12 are just so bittersweet. Seeing Superman embrace his death with compassion and maturity just wrecks me. His relationship with Lois is also just so good.

Like I said for Volume 1, I totally see the influence that James Gunn took for his Superman movie. (I noticed “brain meets brawn” specifically, in this edition.) But again, this tops the movie any day. I gave Superman (2025) four stars on Letterboxd but I think these issues are perfect. Masterpiece.

[Griffin Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both volumes of this were cool! I’ve always felt pretty “meh” about Superman centered stories, but I’m excited to continue exploring some of these iconic runs.

I thought it was very interesting that this story downplayed all of the fights to a comedic degree, showing that the individual struggles aren’t the challenge for Supes, but rather the fact that he will eventually run out of time to help everyone that he wants to. Very effective portrayal of the hero as a Christ-like figure.

My biggest complaint is that they spend 3 issues of the 12 issue run on fairly pointless side stories (a Jimmy Olsen side quest, and two issues of nonsense “Bizzaro World” stuff) when the story felt like it rushed through some other more interesting and plot relevant moments that I would have enjoyed more time with.

[Xt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poser la question de l’héritage et de sa propre finitude. L’histoire d’une vie multiple qui m’aura fait comprendre et aimer Superman.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only flaws here are in your expectations. What more, exactly, could you have expected from a death-of-Superman story? It's a little disjointed, yes...but that's primarily because it has five decades worth of Superman mythos to encapsulate and wrap up in just a couple hundred pages. If you think Morrison didn't do a spectacular job with this, try to imagine yourself writing something like the final Star Trek story, including a modernist survey of ALL things Star Trek into a single one-hour show, and see how satisfied the fan boys out there will be with your efforts.

The art in this book does so much for your mind, and it just keeps giving you more and more.

Some dimwits out there want to complain that Superman looks lumpy. Well, did you ever see a body builder after they put on a shirt? All that definition is just smoothed out and they just look plumper than others around them, that's all. This is an example of Quitely doing his job of looking beyond what others have drawn for decades (mostly improperly, I might add).

I am not the biggest Grant Morrison fan by any stretch of the imagination, but this is Superman done right. This kind of storyline should have been kept alive rather than the incredible suck known as the New 52. That killed it for me. I'm pretty much done with DC. And now that Comcast owns it, I can sleep just fine at night knowing that I'm not giving those dingdongs any more of my money. But I still have my copy of All-Star Superman and it stands out as a shining paragon of modern comics and what was possible when someone cared enough to give fans more than they expected.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a long-time Grant Morrison fan, I avoided 'All-Star Superman' for years, despite owning it since its first collected edition. Subconsciously, I think my reluctance stemmed from a bias against out-of-continuity stories. The inner fanboy in me resisted anything outside official lore, even though, as Alan Moore once pointed out, “these are all imaginary stories anyway.”

Having finally read it, I now see that dismissing 'All-Star Superman' as merely out-of-continuity misses its brilliance. This isn’t just a Superman story—it’s the Superman story. Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely have created a quintessential distillation of the character, capturing his essence in a way that is accessible to newcomers and deeply rewarding for longtime fans. Whether you’re a casual reader or steeped in Superman’s mythology, this is a must-read.

The second and final volume, which concludes the 12-issue maxi-series, stands out even more than the first. While Volume 1 offered brilliant, self-contained stories, Volume 2 ties everything together into a cohesive, emotionally resonant finale. If you can, read the entire series in one go with the single-volume edition—it’s the ideal way to experience this masterpiece.

Simply put, 'All-Star Superman' is one of the best comics I’ve ever read. It’s a timeless, definitive take on the Man of Steel.

[Jonathan Ruh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second half of the All Star Superman storyline. As I mentioned in my review for Vol. 1, I don't normally like many Superman stories. Grant Morrison hit all the right marks in this book though. It really sums up the essence of what Superman is really all about. It's not just some guy that wants to save the world with his incredible strength and powers, but someone who draws his strength through his fundamental belief in humanity. Chapter 10 quite possibly has one of the best pages that illustrates this when, in the midst of completing his Herculean labors, Superman suddenly stops to console a suicidal little girl about to jump off the top of a building. Those panels really bring home the message of this story. And for my money, there's one single panel on that page that may quite possibly one of the best things I've ever seen in comics. I'll just refer to it as "the hug." Literally brought tears to my eyes. Just read it.

[Sumit Singla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a very compelling read, and rather choppy.

I've never been a great fan of Superman, but I don't think that's clouding my judgment on this one. Frank Quitely does a good job of drawing Clark Kent but his Superman is pudgy and the only thing that stands out from his face is his massive jaw - I think I'd probably look more 'Supermanly' in Spandex than Quitely's version.

Lex Luthor looks like a cheap sidekick of a two-bit villain in a B-flick. Nowhere close to the evil genius, and the epitome of villainy.

I thought the ending was decent, but overall the story doesn't deserve more than 2 stars.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but disjointed stories. The worst part was enduring Bizarro-speak for pages and pages. The older I get the more painful and annoying reading things that are poorly written becomes (even when, as in this case, it is intentional).

[Pturingan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, just a terrific volume and a great way to end the series. Also, I just want to say that I finally get Frank Quitely's art now. I wasn't that fond of it (from what little I saw in X-Men) but now, I get it. And I like it.

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

all the heartfelt absurdity I could ever want from a superhero comic

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2 1/2 stars) For being one of the quintessential Superman stories, I have to say this was a let down. I loved the art, overall, but otherwise there were only a few moments I really liked. The first two parts are Bizarro stories — these have always been terrible and unpleasant to read, no matter the author. After that we finally start solving the problem established in Vol. 1, namely Superman's cells killing him.
At this point it started to make a bit more sense: he's on a countdown to his own death and must accomplish certain tasks before he dies. Unfortunately, this does not unfold in a totally clear way. Towards the end, I just wanted it over, and when it was I can't say I was happy.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

As far as I know this is THE Superman comic to read and as someone pretty unfamiliar with his comic history i liked it. Some parts I felt like I was missing a lot of context (anything involving jimmy olsen) but otherwise I was fine. It’s like a character study of Superman so the story bounces around challenging different aspects of him which also makes the pacing kinda not what I was expecting. It reads like a 50s retro futurist Greek myth.

Also the pencils and inks are beautiful but I don’t know how I feel about the airbrushed colors