Comic Book Review: All Star Superman

 

All Star Superman

Issues: 12

Written by Grant Morrison

Art by Frank Quitely

Published by DC Comics

Obviously whoever visits this site knows who my favorite comic book character is - yes, the Big Blue Boy Scout, the Last Son of Krypton, the Man of Tomorrow... Superman. 

He's been in the comics industry for 70 years and counting, and his enduring popularity is the stuff of legend. You could see him almost everywhere and anywhere: to tshirts, dvds, toys, internet, comic books, books etc. Hell, i even see the iconic Superman "S" shield painted on jeepneys and tricycles.

So since I love Big Blue, I picked up this book, All-Star Superman.  At first I thought it was a Superman story with all big DC characters such as Wonder Woman, Batman, etc.  But no,  there was no Batman or any of the Justice League members, except for Lois Lane of course, his arch-nemesis Lex Luthor, and a couple of other supporting characters like Jimmy Olsen! Not only that, it also features characters from Krypton and Superman's history that I've never heard of before who gets their their own shot at the Man of Steel.

Superman is living the last year of his life after being diagnosed with a fatal dose of radiation poisoning. This raises up a whole bunch of questions like: "What your days are numbered? What would you do to make it all worthwhile?"  Morrison plays on the hero's mortality here which sets up a very beautiful and touching story with Superman trying to accomplish 12 tasks, including one last attempt to save mankind before he dies - that I believe is one of the greatest accomplishments he has ever done in his 70 year existence.

Colorful, heartwarming stories and plot devices will sometimes rip your heart out while some chapters will make you smile and make you feel so good that you just want to read it all over again. Grant Morrison concocts perfect mix of Golden and Silver-Age-esque storylines partnered with Modern-Age Superman sensibilities that wonderfully works wonders.

Another great thing about this book is that everybody almost gets his/her own spotlight , from Supes himself,  up to Jimmy Olsen who actually gets to become a big-bad-ass monster! In addition to that, you will also get to see a Superman co-creator draw his greatest creation, relived for the very first time in modern comics, and many more.

 The essence of Superman.

There is action, drama, romance, heart-stopping scenes,  and of course, an incredible finale (against Solaris and Lex Luthor) and that would make even the most hateful Superman guy out there love him.  A simple story made from years of collected Superman tales and masterfully weaved by Grant Morrisson tells us exactly why Superman is the greatest superhero of all time.  Add Quitley's refreshing art, and it gives us more than we could ask for a Superman novel.

To me this is one of the best Superman and DC comic books/stories of all time. It is an epic that would be remembered forever as arguably the greatest - if not the greatest - Superman tale ever told. If you haven't read this yet, go pick it up and savor the adventure of a lifetime with the hero who started it all.