Superman među zvijezdama

All-Star Superman #1-12

by Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely (Artist), Marko Merćep (Translator)

Antiverzum kojim vladaju Bizaroi. Kronovora koja proždire vrijeme. Jimmy Olsen - superjunak?

Ništa nije nemoguće u SUPERMANU MEĐU ZVIJEZDAMA.

Osim činjenice da je Superman... na samrti.

Sada kada mu vrijeme ističe, Čovjek od Čelika mora privesti kraju sve nedovršene poslove i pobrinuti se da Zemlju ostavi u boljem stanju nego kad ju je zatekao.

Nezaustavljivi kreativni tim scenarista Granta Morrisona i crtača Franka Quitelyja još se jednom udružio kako bi Supermana vratio osnovama. Kroz emocionalno i vizualno zadivljujući crtani roman koji se poziva na zlatno doba stripa, SUPERMAN MEĐU ZVIJEZDAMA stvara novu, a u isto vrijeme i poznatu interpretaciju prvog superjunaka na svijetu. U ovom se suvremenom klasiku pojavljuje slavna postava likova Supermanovih stripova, među njima Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, Bizaro, Perry White te, naravno, Supermanov najveći neprijatelj, Lex Luthor.

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

328 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

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

[Paz · Rating 3 out of 5]

You guys, after nine years hating this story I finally decided to re-read it! And guess what, I low-key liked it? Well, no, that's too far. I had a pleasant time, I guess, reading some parts.
I still deeply hate the beginning. Lois rejecting Clark being Superman (the whole volume), going all paranoid at the fortress shooting him with a deadly gun while thinking, "if he's brought me here to be the mother of a race of deformed superhuman horrors, he has to be stopped" . Yeah, I hated it. Later on, Samson and Atlas wanting to win Lois with their macho man competition, "Single girls with brains, beauty and super strength are rare in any century, Lois Lane. We heroes are always willing to go the extra furlong in our quest for the perfect mate" . Excuse me, did he say perfect mate? Like, what the fuck am I reading bro.
Anyway, the beginning? Rough. I thought I was gonna hate it again, but then I actually had fun with Jimmy becoming Doomsday, I once again absolutely loved the Smallville chapter, I was invested in bizarro world, and I thought Lex was okay here. In the midst of a narrative I still don't truly enjoy, there are good scenes that make it feel classic Superman. I just think the idea of this book is so good, and it pains me when some elements are so badly written, or so shallow, or just too underdeveloped. However, Superman's characterization? It was actually really good. I just think that Morrison is the worst writing Lois Lane lol.
Anyway, I'm surprised as a bunch of you that I actually enjoyed myself enough to change my rating from 2 stars to 3.25 (and the crowd goes wild!). I still don't understand the praise, I still don't believe the hype, and I still chuckle a little reading my original review, oh boy that disappointment truly hurt me at the time.
Rating (2025): 3.25 stars


Original review (2016)
2 Stars
Was this the book with all the hype? With all the praises? Did I really read the same book that everyone else loves? Well... Disappointing is one word I'd use. Boring is another one. Disconnected is pretty much the one that defines me reading this book.

Apparently All Star Superman is the book that will make you love Superman! Doesn't matter if you aren't familiarized with the character, doesn't matter if you're new to comics. This is the one title that is always recommended as one of the best Superman stories. Well, my friends, what can I say? It was only a pretentious, flat story to me. Did I see some of Morrison's attempts to reinvent little pockets of Superman's history? Yes, even though this was only my third Superman story, I did see what Morrison was trying and I didn't find it brilliant like almost everyone else does. I didn't find this story to be remarkable, even though the premise is one that will grab your attention. I just didn't connect with this. I was pretty much annoyed with all of the characters, I found the changes of tones from every chapter to be choppy and jarring and it was just, overall, a boring mess.

But let's start with the beginning. The plot of All Star Superman revolves around the fact that Superman is dying. Lex found a way to poison him, so now, he's left with only one year of life. In this last year Superman must accomplish several tasks and through them we will see the Superman mythos being rebuilt, reinvented and expanded.

Interesting, right? But almost since the beginning, not the first two pages those were stunning to see, I lost my interest. See, Lois Lane here? The worst Lois Lane I've ever read or ever seen in any kind of media. Awful, awful character. She only helps the purpose of showing around the fortress and to draw her wearing super short dresses. Annoying, useless character, and because of Lois, there's a weird competition between Sups, Atlas and Samson trying to show who was the best contender, who was the best macho man for Lois. A dick competence between guys who were only dicks. I can't tell you how fucking cringy it was to read. Not the best beginning for what it's supposed to be one of the best Superman stories.

Listen, I could go on ranting about... well, many things. How annoying was this Jimmy (Really, I-want- to-punch-this-character-in-the-face level of annoying.) I don't care if this was a homage to the silver age Superman stories, or if Jimmy was this smart to make it a more worthy best friend of the man of steel. It didn't work for me.
I could rant on how over-the-top was Lex, how petty, how... disappointing. I was about to say this is my least favorite interpretation of this character, but then I remembered BvS...
I could tell you how boring I found the whole underworld trip in our hero's journey. I could complain about how every problem, every task was resolved too easily and quickly and I was left only with how badly executed was the idea of this bigger-than-life kind of story. How, at the end, this epic story didn't feel epic at all. I'm sorry I just didn't find it brilliant as, apparently, everyone and their mother did.

I could rant, yes, and I love to rant, but I'd rather focus on the two things I did like. The artwork was overall pretty nice, it was one of the reasons I kept reading this story. I wasn't really a fan of the character designs, but I really enjoyed the coloring and there are some great illustrations in this book. One star for the artwork!

Then, there's the one thing that I absolutely loved in this comic. And that is, (it is a minor thing in this book, it doesn't really play a big role in the big arc of the story so I don't see it as a big spoiler) the death of Jonathan Kent. It's such a little moment, but it played beautifully. How sad, how inevitable was this. Superman is the man who can save everyone in the world, that is, except for his father who dies of a heart attack. It was devastating, but a great contrast to everything else in the life of this mythical figure. It was all so utterly mortal, so human. That heartbreaking moment is the only thing I truly enjoyed, that I truly cared about in this 300 page comic book. So that's why I gave this two stars.
EDIT: To the one guy who read my review a year after and got mad I rated this 2 stars and tried to mansplain Superman to me and started his coment with a "girl", dude, relax, I saw Donner's Superman, I get the reference, doesn't take away anything from this. The one moment I truly enjoyed reading and that was executed beautifully here.

Do I lose my geek cred here? Giving two stars to one of the most popular and beloved titles out there? Yeah, I'm not going to lie, this was painful to read. I wish I could have loved it. I wish I could have understood the brilliance that everyone else sees in this title... maybe I'll revisit this story when I have a deeper grasp in Superman's history and I will find more value. But right now? I just don't see the greatness. Still, so far I've read four Supeman stories. One I liked, two I loved and one, this one... I disliked. Not a bad number.

[Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stunning achievement that fans and non-fans of Superman will enjoy. It’s quiet, nostalgic, and gorgeously illustrated.

I don't know what is and isn't considered a spoiler for this book, so I'll err on the side of caution. Superman is delivered some fateful news involving a situation orchestrated by his arch nemesis (how's that?), and he proceeds to reflect on his life, his choices, and the people that are close to him. As he does this, events unfold beyond his control which lead to increasingly exciting adventures. While each chapter almost feels self-contained, one begets the other and you realize that in fact they're all leading to a purposefully unified ending.

As a standalone mini-series, All Star Superman is kind of its own world. Frank Quitely, at the top of his illustrating game, creates this vintage, Golden Age-inspired Superman. At one point, even the very first Superman logo makes an appearance. Which is why going back and reading these characters through comic history will help you spot Easter eggs placed by character history obsessed writers like Grant Morrison. Much like his epic run on Batman, Morrison draws from Superman's long history, incorporating various villains, characters, objects, designs and plot points for a truly unique reading experience.

Morrison writes these characters extremely well, with maybe the exception of Lois Lane. She is such a classic and vital presence in Superman stories, and I just didn't love her characterization here. She's often rude, sarcastic, cold, yet capable of warmth, kindness, and love. My Superman knowledge is limited but this doesn’t feel "true" to character, and I think she should have been written more moderately.

Lois Lane aside, Morrison's Superman is by far the most dynamic version I've ever seen. He's smart, strong, humorous, subtle, altruistic, sad, angry, weak, and full of regret. The most human I've ever seen him, which is so great because that's exactly who he tries to be. Then there's quirky, desperate, funny, cross-dressing (gay?) Jimmy Olsen. Bullheaded Arthur White. Manly jokester Steve Lombard. And kind, simple Jonathan and Martha Kent.

And of course we come to the also well-written Lex Luthor. Arrogant, sharp, witty, thirsty for revenge. While he has that "evil for evil's sake" facade, he's really fleshed out, a man who's been defeated one too many times and devotes his entire life to destroying his natural born enemy. You have to admire his dedication, and he's pretty ruthless despite his congenial appearance.

I also really enjoyed the cerebral moments, even if I didn't fully understand them. The whole Bizarro Cube World, Zibarro (not Sbarro in the food court), and the Bizarro Supermen and the crazy opposite way they talk. I no hated no that part! Then the Underverse. P.R.O.J.E.C.T. and their strange experiments. The strange pink world at the end. And all the crazy gadgets like the Doomsday Gun. Morrison has an appreciation for the wacky sci-fi stuff and I just love it.

Some quotes:
"...The measure of a man lies not in what he says but what he does."
"Fear is the sauce on the steak of life...!"
"Question: What happens when the unstoppable force meets the immovable object?"
"Call me nasty..."
"After bodily death, as neoconlab studies confirm, individual awareness persists for a time and builds for itself thought-palaces or complex hells to inhabit..."

It's focused yet epic, light yet deep, new yet old. Somehow Morrison takes everything you know about Superman, everything classic, gives it a slight twist, shoves it into the staggering artwork of Frank Quitely, and out comes this one of a kind, are you ready for it masterpiece.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like it that much this time around.



It's ok, but I'm kind of shocked that I gave this 5 stars when I read it years ago.
I'm flipping through it thinking, goddamn. this is just kind of depressing. and now I don't trust that young(er) me knew what the fuck she was talking about. And I probably would have gone on thinking this was something great if someone hadn't told me this was required reading for the newest Superman movie.



The skinny gist is that Superman finds that Lex Luthor has poisoned him and he's only got X-amount of time to live.
So, this sets off a series of Herculean tasks that he needs to complete before he dies.
Womp, womp.
WHHHHHHAAAAT?
Why did I like this? The entire time on the Bizarro world made me want to tear the eyeballs out of my head. God. That ridiculous, backwards, upside-down speak is like literary nails on a chalkboard, and should only be used in incredibly teeny-tiny doses.
Also, I don't like Frank Quitely's chubby art. Fight me. If the radiation doesn't get Superman, the diabetes will.



I thought I would go back and read this beloved classic, and it just made me realize that I'm now a bitter old bitch.
Thanks, Morrison & Quietly!

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Morrison and Quitely's multi Eisner Award winning stand alone superman tale, which although most splendidly drawn, did not tick that many boxes for me, after a very promising start. 6 out of 12, Three Star read.

2011 read

[Nicolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grant Morrison returns Superman to his Silver Age sci-fi roots as he pens this timeless superhero story.

After saving humanity’s first attempt to land a mission on the sun which was sabotaged by his long-time nemesis Lex Luthor, Superman has become more powerful than ever due to his overexposure to yellow light at the heart of the sun. His powers have been amplified and has also gained new ones but at the cost of imminent death. He sets out on his own Herculean labors to cement his legacy before he dies.

Superman is beyond human, and he deserves challenges that can task his immense power set and creativity. Morrison writes to make the reader realize that though other beings may the same abilities and even the same DNA, there is only one Superman. Even without powers, he will always do the right thing even at the cost of his own life. A Christlike figure, even if he is a creation of two Jewish boys from Cleveland, Ohio.

Frank Quitely aids Morrison in crafting greatest Superman story with his art and storytelling. Quitely has a great eye for design and quirky detail and gives the art a feel that is both retro and futuristic that would help it give a contemporary edge even if it is read decades from now.

The Absolute format is perfect for this story. The oversized pages give the reader ample opportunity to enjoy Quitely’s art and marvel at the detail and his impeccable design sense. It comes with a slipcase and this is a classy and pricey book to have.

This book is highly recommended and should be essential reading for any comic book fan worth his salt.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

All-Star Superman is one of those titles I return to every few years to re-read. It's Superman at his finest. While he's more powerful than ever due to a trip to the sun, it's his humanity that is his greatest strength. Like Morrison's run on Batman, this is Morrison's ode to the Silver Age. It's packed with odes to classic goofy Superman stories from the 50's and 60's. Yet, when Morrison gets through with them, they aren't goofy at all. He's put a super science spin on them that I delighted in. This is Morrison at his finest. It's not so weird, you can't understand it. It's just strange enough to make the stories work, especially with Frank Quitely's sublime art. He's one of the best artists in comics today and this showcases his tremendous talents.

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

I read this as it was recommended reading for the new Superman film.

The basic summary is that Superman is dying and he has 12 "feats" he wants to achieve before then. Each feat is 1 issue. There were 3 issues that had Lex Luther as the main character and they were fantastic (I'm hoping these are the required reading). There are a couple of other issues that were really well written and then there's 4 or 5 that were pretty boring (and Bizarro will never not be an irritating character). Also some stories are quite confusing if you haven't read a lot of Superman before.

Overall I enjoyed this but I didn't love it as much as other readers as this is regarded as a classic but I've read far more entertaining Superman stories

[Dan Schwent · Rating 4 out of 5]

After being overloaded by solar radiation on a trip into the sun, Superman is dying and has some loose ends to tie up...

This book had some strikes against it from the start. It's one of those hyped books that everyone talks about and it stars Superman. Apart from the Dini/Timm animated series, Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow, Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes, and DC Comics Presents when I was a kid, I've never been a tremendous Superman fan. To top it off, Grant Morrison wrote it. Will it suffer from Morrisonian complications and weirdness?

Nope. It wound up being Superman, boiled down to his essentials, racing against time to safeguard the world before he dies. The All-Star label on the book is fitting. Grant Morrison cherry picked various aspects of Superman lore from the golden age through the present day and put his own spin on them, capturing the essence of Superman. We get Bizarro, Krypto, Superman robots, the Fortress of Solitude, Metropolis, Smallville, and the Daily Planet.

Superman dying from an incurable condition removed the one obstacle I normally have for enjoying Superman stories. Once the safety net is gone, the rulebook goes out the window. Superman puts his affairs in order while battling threats to earth, all the while heading toward a big showdown with Lex Luthor.

Frank Quitely wouldn't have been my choice for a big Superman story but his art really grew on me. The way his Clark Kent and Superman contrast goes a long way toward making me believe people couldn't tell they're the same person.

The conclusion was satisfying and brings me to my biggest complaint: I wanted the book to keep going. I'd read another 12 issues of All-Star Superman, no problem. All-Star Superman is right up there with Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow for me. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

"You have given them an ideal to aspire to, embodied their highest aspirations. They will race and stumble, and fall and crawl, and curse . . . and finally . . . they will join you in the sun, Kal-El. In time you will no longer be alone." -- Jor-El (Kryptonian daddy-o of Kal-El, a.k.a. Superman, regarding earthlings)

Based on reviews - and quite a few of them are from GR friends - I was ready for the saga of All-Star Superman to rock my world . . . and then, frustratingly, it didn't quite get there. Still, it was a good book with some indelible scenes (such as a the one-page wonder with Superman stopping a suicidal teenager) and some intriguing supporting characters (such as Nasthalthia Luthor, or "Call me Nasty" as she purrs, the niece / assistant of super-villain Lex who deserved a larger role). The problem was that some of the chapters in the middle - such as the one involving Bizarro - slowed down the plot too much. However, when Lois Lane or Lex Luthor were directly involved it was up, up and away.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

It seems the gushing reviews of All Star Superman are from people who are able to compare it against the older material. This Superman does away with this, it improves on this, it reinvents this, etc. The excellence of this work seems to stem from how it experiments with or tweaks that which precedes it. In other words, its success relies on past knowledge of the canon whether it stands in DC continuity or not. But without knowledge of the purportedly inferior work that All Star Superman is working with, what is the book? Since its advantages are primarily referential, what's the experience like to someone with a minimal frame of reference?

Well, since I grew up with X-Men and Batman and basically zero Superman (no idea why), reading All Star Superman is like reading a love letter to someone you don't find terribly interesting. There's passion and vibrancy, but then you think to yourself, "For this? For her? Really?" It's like Michael hearing George Michael gush about Anne. I loved everything I read of Morrison and Quitely until now. What a disappointment.

For a Superman n00b, a lot of the back-story for the many, many, many components of the story is jam-packed, condensed, written in short-hand, or outright disregarded. That's fine. This is meant to be outside of the DC continuity, I understand that, but lifts a lot for the sake of homage, of tribute. But how much are you going to get out of a tribute album to a band that never grabbed you in the first place?

I empathize with the notion that hating on Morrison and Quitely's a bit taboo. I get it; they are really quite something. Consider this their Biograph.

(1) Maybe Superman's just not for me. The high dramatic stake here for Superman is impending mortality, which is probably the highest stake you can give the dude. Unfortunately, it's pretty much the basis of all struggles captured in drama and books and everything human, so it doesn't make for a compelling foundation here.
(2) Lex Luthor's too infantile, petty, and his arc's insanely trite. There's a shot of him with a popped collar and a weird lip-curl thing going that was really bizarre. He deceives his captors, duh, but is still outwitted, duh, what else is new.
(3) There are two annoying sub-plots here: one is the Atlas/Samson dick-measuring contest, which flew by with zero consequence and offered nothing, and the other is the Bizarro descent into the underworld. It turns into a one-joke opposite-day running gag with little behind Zibarro beside a little 'side-thought' contrivance. Who's Zibarro, anyway, and why's he kinda named after a pizza place?
(4) these things are introduced and resolved so quickly (and episodically) that it's difficult to really empathize with the stakes or figure out why to connect to those stakes. Issue 9 comes to mind, when two fellow Kryptonians get into a brief squabble and then are waved all-too-conveniently into the Phantom Zone.

So really, the book's not for me. I thought its tangents went too far off the rails, and played with a lot of source material to various effect. Some parts are touching - Superman's visit home, his rescue of a suicidal girl is truly great - but all of the humanity's immediately quashed by Morrison's incessant yet dead-serious (did I mention kinda incomprehensible?) fucking around.

Also, I felt like the finale of All Star Superman was also too reminiscent of the resurrection at the end of New X-Men, which really bummed me out. How deep does Morrison's inventiveness go if both runs of two separate comics kinda end in a, you know, solar radio-consciousness-type-time-bend thing? I know Morrison's not a one-trick pony, but good goddamn, if he was, that'd one incomprehensibly tricked-out fucking pony.

Disclaimer: This review isn't really delving into Quitely's merits. Suffice it to say Quitely's still mighty good even if that doesn't seem to reflect so well in my overall evaluation.

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not really big fan of Grant Morrsion's writing and I up till now I haven't yet encountered particularly good story involving Superman in any medium so I'm kind of surprised with myself that I picked up this comic and even more surprised that I loved it.

[Jim Ef · Rating 5 out of 5]

8.5/10
87 years (and counting), tons of stories from different creative teams, yet there are few ones that stand out. The ones that immediately jump into your mind when you hear the name Superman. With "All-Star Superman", Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely give us such a story.

Morrison's writing isn't always the easiest to read, as it can be a bit too complex. Here he keeps fairly simple but without sacrificing his style. I like the way he writes the character both as Superman and Clark. I also enjoyed how menacing Luthor is here.

Quitely provides some of the best artwork ever. That might sound like an exaggeration, yet it isn't. The composition in each panel, the body language, the facial expressions, the panel to panel storytelling.. everything is done to perfection.

One of the biggest achievements of the team is how they managed to make Clark and Superman feel like teo different people. It might be the only time that i actually don't question the fact, that people don't realise that Clark is Superman.

Definitely a must read for Superman fans.

[Molly™☺ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quintessential Superman? Quintessential Superman! For anyone who says that Superman isn't a relatable superhero, please read this. Morrison does an incredible job when it comes to the characterisations of both Superman and Clark Kent. It's such a touching, heart wrenching and raw experience which really explores what it's like to try and accomplish / achieve everything in your life when on a ticking clock. I find the art to be extremely charming, but it did take me a while to get used to it as it's such a unique style which, admittedly, isn't for everyone. Perhaps the one real gripe I have is Lois Lane who, whilst not being a badly written character, isn't as likeable as she usually is, and can come off as rather rude, cocky and a little entitled at times. Everyone else is really well written, it's just Lois who can feel a little off at times. There are also sections which feel rather sluggish and dip into the realm of being boring filler arcs. Overall, it's a good read and one that's particularly appealing if exploring Superman's character is of interest to you.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a long time to pick this up because 1) I am not all that interested in Superman as a superhero. . . the usual: too perfect, not complex enough, as usually depicted; 2) I am not that into Grant Morrison as a writer and 3) that stupid title (and I don't care that it is a geek homage to something in 1965 or whatever, it is a dumb title that would only attract superhero geeks). Not inviting or evocative of anything. But I was encouraged by several of you to read it via rave reviews I skimmed. One of the five best Superman comics ever, I was told, which for me wouldn't mean that it was still all that great. Still, I had read Superman: Secret Identity and liked it a lot, and had read a couple others high on that list already, though never this, so I took a chance. First glance, I am not encouraged: Superman looks like Hulk or Thor or any guy in Sin City, the super-pecs square-jawed male standard among superhero comics for the recent decade or more. Yawn.

But then I read into it and liked the look and feel of it, and it wasn't too Morrison-crazy, didn't call too much attention to him as a writer for once. For Morrison it was almost subtle. And respectful of the Silver Age traditions, and it appeared he and Frank Quitely took time and reflection to be true to the comic's roots, and also have some fun with it, inject it with some enthusiasm. I love the beautifully done art of Quitely the most here, I think. The feel of it is spacious and also carefully detailed in rendition. It has a good balance between action and thoughtful introspection. I like the Clark-Supe-Lois interactions, great dialogue. I like their Luthor. The premise in this volume is that Lex has gotten the means to kill Our Hero, and though this is typical fare, a lot of it is nevertheless entertaining and clever and smart. The plan to replace Superman in case he dies is sorta inventive. Overall, I liked it quite a bit, considering the mountain it had to climb to warm me up to it.

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decided to read some Superman comics ahead of the movie, and I'm so glad I chose these because they made me so emotional, I was literally crying. They took me back to when I was a kid watching the 1940s cartoon which I loved so much. The art style was great, and obviously the storyline was too.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I’m mad this took me 3 days to slog through. This was a chore to read. Taking away time I could have been reading something else. I hate to bad mouth any comic since I love reading them but I found most of this boring or kind of dumb. Although I tell myself I’ll never do it, twice this book made me want to close it and never open it again. The first time was when Samson and that other dude pulled up treating Lois like an object. Telling Superman let’s battle for her and Lois was going along with it. That part really got under my skin. But I told myself I’m not a quitter and I’ll finish this book. The second time was on that Bizzaro planet with all the broken English and backwards talk. 🤦🏾‍♂️ Man I was ready to frisbee this book out the window. Needless to say this book wasn’t for me.

[✔️ JAVI ®️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

8'5/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tras una trampa de Luthor, Superman se ve obligado a rescatar a los componentes de la primera misión tripulada al sol. Como consecuencia de tal exposición a niveles críticos de radiación estelar, las células de Superman han comenzado su apoteosis o muerte celular. De este modo solo puede haber un resultado, incluso para él. Superman se está muriendo a causa de una sobrecarga masiva solar...
Grant Morrison al guión demostrando una imaginación fuera de lo común. He disfrutado de un amplio número de personajes secundarios que han atrapado mi atención por su originalidad. Dibujazo de Frank Quitely materializando la imaginación de Morrison de una manera soberbia. Eso si, la cara tan "cuadrada" de Superman al principio me chirriaba un poco.
Obra completa de 12 números en 288 páginas en esta edición DC pocket, perfecta para acceder a grandes obras a un precio reducido.

[Rory Wilding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up, my love of superheroes came from watching cartoons from the 90s. Whilst I love Batman and the Marvel heroes like Spider-Man and the X-Men, I never had a keen interest towards Superman. Part of it may have to do with his look (notably the outside red undies), and perhaps his abilities in which he is almost indestructible and isn't really the bad-ass that Batman is. In the mid-noughties, Superman was coming to my radar after watching the first two Christopher Reeve films and eventually seeing Superman Returns in the cinemas. However, as I got more into comics and based on other people's recommendations, I bought the Absolute edition of All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely.

Launched in 2005 under DC's 'All-Star' imprint – the first being Frank Miller and Jim Lee’s All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder – this 12-issue series is seen as a tribute to the Man of Steel that would celebrate this timeless character, but also make the reading as universal as possible for newcomers. While saving the crew of the first manned mission to the sun led by Dr. Leo Quintum and his team from P.R.O.J.E.C.T., Superman is poisoned by solar radiation. Dying, he decides to fulfil his lifelong dreams, while still saving the Earth from various threats.

Instead of retelling the origin story which has been told in various versions over the decades, we get an abbreviated version of Superman's origin told in four wide panels on the first page. Afterwards, we jump right into the action with Superman flying near the sun. The main plot of the book is Superman dying of cancer which sounds a bit doom and gloom, but there is something uplifting about the presence of Superman, who is not seen as some action-centric superhero who is looking to pick a fight, but is a relaxed, non-conflicted individual as seen on the cover of the first issue where he is sitting on a cloud looking down at Metropolis. However, he may be warmhearted but can still pack a punch.

Each of the twelve issues have their own subplot, from the best birthday present that Lois Lane could ever have, to Superman struggling to escape from the Bizarro world. Influenced primarily by the Silver Age Superman, All-Star has one or two iconic moments in each of the issues, while Mr Morrison revamps the whole character through his imaginative writing. With each issue being jam-packed as Superman fights enemies that seem to come out of nowhere and taking place in bizarre environments – the beginning of the last issue is a highlight – the series could've been seen as episodic. However, Morrison's original writing towards his characters are such a pleasure, whether it's the love story between Superman and Lois Lane – who refuses to believe that Clark Kent is Superman, despite the Man of Steel's confession – the nuanced villainy of Lex Luthor or even the brief introduction of Jimmy Olsen in drag.

Being a fan of science-fiction, I love the sci-fi aspect of All-Star which through Frank Quitely's stunning yet nostalgic artwork has a 50s/60s feel, notably the Kryptonian suits. Speaking of Frank Quitely, the level of detail he brings to the characters and the environments is breathtaking. While Superman is not depicted as the constant "poser" as he can take a seat with his cape draped, the physicality of Clark Kent is a highlight as the idea here is that he is a farm boy who is used to a lot of space due to being raised on Smallville, and now living in Metropolis he is clumsy and insecure (as the artwork shows his shoulders slumped, his spine curved and his belly stuck out).

For those who aren't familiar with Superman and his world, Morrison's ideas can go over readers' heads, but having re-read this book numerous times, what Morrison and Quitely brings is a unique and epic celebration of a character who is over seventy-years old and is still a part of American culture. Growing up, the Man of Steel was never a favourite, but now having read this and several other Superman stories, I love the Man of Tomorrow.

PS Check out this short documentary on Youtube, in which Grant Morrison and DC co-publisher Dan DiDio discuss the origins of All-Star Superman.

[Drew Canole · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful story, I can see why this is touted as an essential Superman story - perhaps even the essential story.

The end matter has Morrison explaining some of his decisions with the characters and I really enjoyed seeing his rationale. Really, I think I should have read that part first! It explains why his Jimmy Olsen is different than other comics I've read. His Lex Luther isn't as clearly brilliant as in other comics, but Lex here certainly believes he is. Here he gives of vibes of many public billionaires we may know: brilliant, successful but never happy and not quite as brilliant as they may think they are.

I loved the way Quietly depicts Kent/Superman. As Kent, he's bumbling but uses that as a way to save people. He slouches and appears overweight.

The color gets super annoying. The colorist uses these digital gradients on everything. It dates the comic in my opinion. That's the issue with using digital effects, after a few years you can really start to spot them.

As much as I liked the 12-issues, 12 tasks, 12 little story format - perhaps this would have been a better experience (for me) if Morrison just focused on the Lex Luther conflict. But I know that's not his style. My favourite issue was when Clark Kent interview Luther in jail. I needed way more Luther!

[Cosmin Leucuța · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asta e cartea care m-a transformat într-un fan al lui Superman (și mi-a confirmat pentru a nu știu câta oară că Grant Morrison își merită statutul din industrie).
De ce nu eram fan Superman?
Pentru că, în general, prefer eroii umani, cu cât mai puține superputeri, cu cât mai multe defecte și probleme umane. Iar pentru mine, cineva ca Superman era la capătul opus al spectrului. După cum chiar el recunoaște la un moment dat unui alt personaj, el e toți ceilalți super-eroi DC combinați într-unul. Așa că ce pericole și drame ar putea înfrunta cineva ca el?
Well, cartea asta mi-a arătat destule și... now I'm a believer!
Recomand tare de tot!
4,4/5*

[Luthfi Ferizqi · Rating 4 out of 5]

All-Star Superman is the first Superman graphic novel I've read.

This story is often described as timeless, remaining relevant and impactful across generations.

The story begins with one of Superman's missions that puts him in danger, exposing him to solar radiation and giving him a form of cancer. This disease leaves Superman with only one year to live.

From here, the narrative unfolds towards Superman's extraordinary death.

I found the story quite interesting. Although I lack experience with other Superman graphic novels, this one has certainly piqued my interest to explore more.

[ScottIsANerd (GrilledCheeseSamurai) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sooooo...weird. I always thought that I had read this. I mean - its Frank Quietly, an artist I absolutely adore. Not to mention that it's written by Morrison.

And then I figured out that I hadn't ever actually read it. For whatever reason, I always confused it with Superman: Secret Identity

Yeah, I dunno how that happened.

So anyways, upon this realization, you can bet your milk & cookies that I ran out and got me a copy of this right fucking quick!!

And you know what? Meh. Kinda disappointed.

Don't get me wrong, All-Star Superman was good. The idea is really freaking cool - Quietly is an amazing artist so if anything the artwork is insane awesome! Still, overall, I just found the whole thing kinda weird and over the top (but not in a good weird and over the top way). Things felt stretched and at times a little too forced, I found it all a little disjointed and unrelatable.

I don't know. I guess the real problem is that I just liked Superman: Secret Identity a whole lot more and so this one just kind of crumpled under its shadow for me.

Still...there was some really cool parts in here. I'm glad I own it and I am especially glad that I have finally read it. I have to admit I was kind of embarrassed when I discovered that I hadn't ever actually read such a big work of superhero history.

Pffft. And I call myself a comic book fan.

What a poser. :p

[Pablo Mejia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just don't understand why this is so popular. Every plot line gets solved in a very vague and unsatisfactory way. Was this a budget issue? Maybe they didn't have enough time? Most plot lines feel incomplete or rushed, with conflicts getting solved from one frame to the other. We never see Superman doing great feats of heroism, or solving issues in a smart way. Most of the time he just stumbles upon solutions and everyone just gives him credit for it.

Speaking of the rest of the characters, everyone is just SO STUPID. The worst offender is Lois Lane. Her treatment here borders on the offensive: she's supposed to be this sharp and sophisticated journalist, but every time she opens her mouth is just to say some dumb thing or to apologize to Superman for doing some dumb thing. Early in the book there's this event where three meatheads want to fornicate with her court her, so they start challenging each other to physical challenges, and she actually loves it! Has Morrison ever talked to a woman before?

Anyway, don't waste your time with this. Not even Frank Quitely's art makes is worth it.

[Richard · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is considered to be one of the very best Superman stories ever told, if not the greatest. The idea of Superman discovering that he's dying due to solar radiation over-exposure and his subsequent attempt to wrap things up is a fine one, but I was pretty underwhelmed by the whole thing. It's a bit too episodic and "adventure-of-the-week" to really be as effective emotionally as a story about the imminent death of the greatest hero deserves to be, and leaves everything feeling a bit directionless and disconnected.

The whole thing feels underdeveloped and haphazard, like the author threw darts at a wall of Superman stories and tried to string them together around a cool concept. The silly Bizarro issues were a real chore, and the stupid, dick-swinging competition for Lois Lane's heart with Atlas and Sampson only served to cheapen the story further and was an unnecessary distraction from the things that should be important. I was looking forward to this because of its reputation but it turned out to be a big, labored disappointment.

[Vinicius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grandes Astros Superman, apesar de ser um quadrinho do Maior herói de todos os tempos, ela não se resume a ser apenas mais um gibi de hominho, pois Grant Morrison, ao longo das edições que compõem essa série, escreve uma homenagem ao Superman, ao mesmo tempo que um resumo dos 80 anos do personagem. Assim, é importante destacar que essa HQ não possui grandes cenas de ação, tendo como seu ponto forte o texto do Morrison desenvolvendo o Superman como o alienígena altruísta que se preocupa com as diferentes formas de vida.

Na trama, o Superman está com os dias contatos, logo morrerá por cair em uma armadilha de Luthor, que fez com que o Superman se aproximasse muito do sol, a ponto de que suas células não conseguissem mais absorver os raios solares, sobrecarregando seu corpo. Ao mesmo tempo que isso se torna uma doença fatal, o Superman atinge seu potencial máximo no que tange seus poderes, ganhando alguns novos e reforçando alguns já presentes.

Após descobrir que está morrendo, o Superman inicia uma sequencia de 12 testes/desafios que vão desde contar sua identidade secreta à Lois, resolver a questão de Kandor, até mesmo outras situações envolvendo o mundo bizarro e Jimmy Olsen.

É valido destacar que nem todos esses desafios, que são praticamente separados nos doze capítulos, são histórias excepcionais. Contudo, a trama preza por ressaltar diálogos que destacam a bondade e o símbolo de esperança que o personagem representa, sendo que algumas vezes o texto fica maçante e a história fica estagnada.

Um dos destaques da trama como um todo, é o arco de desenvolvimento do Lex Luthor, que fora muito bem apresentado e trabalhado por Grant Morrison, pois o roteirista conseguiu abordar Lex como o ego maníaco que ele é, expondo que o mesmo, se quisesse, poderia ser um Superman e salvar a população com sua inteligência, mas ele não aceita que alguém possa ser mais poderoso do que ele.

Ademais, o quadrinho é bom e serve para demonstrar o quanto o Superman é aquele herói que inspira os demais, pois mesmo quando está morrendo, ele prioriza os demais do que ele mesmo.

[Ozan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so larger than life and epic as Superman should be... it has been a while since i read it but the gods and superman's competition for Super Lois's hand was epic. I really loved it. i really liked how Jimmy Olsen was Doomsday... it's such a hommage to silver age Jimmy Olsen book and so dramatic. Superman's best pal would be one of his worst enemies. May be even they would kill each other... The conversation between Clark and Lex in prison was just briliant. And Superman was all powerful, like really really ridiculously powerful. Just as i like him to be, Superman is the epitome of power, he should be always depicted as powerful as in this book. Best Superman book ever, everything about it was just fantastic.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn this was something else. I’ve been sitting on this for a while and finally decided to read it, and I don’t really think I can do it justice here. It basically tells us who superman is as a character through a series of stories over a year and it was amazing. Never been drawn to read superman that much but after this it makes you appreciate the character more than just a strong invulnerable guy.

[Jesse A · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book. One of G.M.s absolute best.

[Pat the Book Goblin · Rating 5 out of 5]

“...The measure of a man lies not in what he says but what he does.”

One of the best Superman comics I’ve read. I loved it!

[Carlex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars