Absolute All-Star Superman (New Edition)

(SPOILERS WITHIN) My favorite comic book story of all time. It was the first and best story to give me a sense of why Superman is a great character. Like many millenials, I was drawn to Batman: Year One, DKR, and I even liked in its own way the Dark Knight Strikes Again. I saw Superman as a boy scout, as boring, overpowered and too hard to relate to. And in the Frank Miller sort of way, Superman is a shill for authority, someone who never really questions the premises of American political or economic culture, never actually addresses big picture injustice like systemic abuse of power, ecological destruction, etc. etc. All of that is still true in a way, but this story captures an even bigger element to Superman: the ability to inspire to greatness, and the reminder that we have an ideal to aspire to, and a reason bigger than ourselves to persevere. The book goes off the rail a bit in some of the middle chapters- the Bizarro world issue I still don't get, and some of the wonkier mythology I just read past. But it's all worth it for some of the big payoff moments. When Superman comforts the would be jumper, the look in her eyes carries so much weight; can you imagine what it would be like if Superman showed up behind you in a moment of despair? I want a world where Superman exists, and inspires. The weight of the loss of him in his final days is palpable. You realize at a certain point that there's no easy fix, there's not going to be an 11th hour deus ex machina that brings him back. That because this story is self contained in an alternate universe, this is really happening, and as Superman becomes more frantic toward the end accomplishing his end of life work, we feel frantic and worn out too. When he says goodbye to Lois at the end, we feel the loss ourselves. Plus there's the art- the beautiful, emotive art. For the first time perhaps anywhere it's plausible that Superman and Clark are not the same person, that Clark really is just a lumbering farm boy in the big city, and not an obvious pretense for Superman. There's a hidden suggestion running through the length of the book that Lex is Leo Quintum, gone back in time after seeing the world as Superman does. Though Morrison has discounted this himself, I continue to hold stock in that theory. Superman wins ultimately, reforms even Luthor. What more to say really? This is my favorite comic of all time, one of the very few I've ever bought, after having borrowed and read it from the library a half dozen times. It's now in the hands of colleagues and friends, who, I can only hope, will get as much from this book as I do every time I read it.

Fantastic story. Lots of these stories helped form the latest movie.

And I do really enjoy ALOT of Grant Morrison's stuff but sometimes it can be out there and TO ME, a little confusing or just off. However this I did enjoy and thought the writing was solid and more impressive to me was the artwork. The drawings, the coloring, lettering and the way certain scenes are laid out makes the panels really pop. Would recommend to any Superman fans and those who enjoy Grant Morrison. A key story in the Superman saga and seems to also be an inspiration for the upcoming James Gunn Superman movie.

This is a great graphic series and an enjoyable read. Plenty of action and interesting episodes that captivate the reader. Would highly recommend to anyone looking to read an exciting, fast-paced Superman series. With that said, I was troubled by the thought that children may read this particular series. I would not recommend for parents wanting to get their young children acquainted with America's finest super-heroes, e.g., Superman. There are a lot of graphically depicted violence scenes (which in all honesty make the book interesting, raw, and more dramatic) that may be inappropriate for young children. Similarly, pages 38-52 depict Lois Lane in a skimpily worn dress. Notably, page 38 depicts Lois Lane in her underwear. On page 63, in the middle of an episode, Samson and Atlas appear each attempting to woo Lois Lane; to quote Samson's enticements of a good time, he concludes: "We'll dine al fresco on Triceratops Bourgignon in the twilight of the Cretaceous Era, THEN END THE EVENING WITH DRINKS AT THE CRUCIFIXION." I'm not casting any judgment on the statement itself, however, it does make a mockery of the death of Jesus, one of the most influential Men in history . . . and likely the center of many young readers' familial religious identity. Lastly, page 79 depicts Jimmy Olsen holding a wig, wearing (in drag, i.e., transvestite) nothing but heels, short-shorts, and a bra. Some parents may find this inappropriate for their children to see at a young age when their philosophical opinions of the world are still forming. Admittedly, it is a rather hilarious part of the story for that episode. This particular depiction is authentic to the history of Superman Comics, and in keeping with Jimmy's outrageous disguises. But, again, something parents may want to consider before purchasing for their children. To be fair, it is very likely younger children will not understand the significance of the events discussed supra. And to give credit to the authors, a lot of the depictions make the book a much more exciting and invoking read; excepting the part of Samson's equivocally anti-Christian remark. Likewise, the authors' focus on the integrity and impeccable morals of Superman ultimately creates the perfect, level-headed role model for people of all ages to enjoy.

All-Star Superman is excellent and iconic for a reason. Definitely worth checking out.

When I was growing up, I was of the camp that Superman was a lame hero with a bad design. Peer pressure tends to do that; other people who hate on the Blue Boy Scout are a dime a dozen, always citing his red underwear and his dumb hair and so on and so forth. I tended to agree with them; what makes Superman so worth keeping around when Batman has a far deeper story, or how Dragon Ball Z's Goku is a character with a far better design aesthetic? Then I read All-Star Superman. My whole perspective on what makes Superman great changed, and with it I gained far more respect for him. The thing that makes Superman special in these comics is the one thing few writers get right about him at all outside of comics. Superman isn't just an overpowered alien, and he isn't all about what he can do and how much more powerful he is than anyone else. Superman, at the end of the day, is still a man. He's a farmboy from Kansas who loves his parents and fell in love with a city girl. He's a guy who, no matter the cost, no matter what gets in his way, always wants to do the right thing. He's easy to get along with, always looks out for those who cannot look out for themselves, and never leaves those in need behind. Superman isn't just a super-man, he is the embodiment of hope itself. If you want to read something that will help you understand what all the hype behind Superman is, or if you're a long-time Super-fan who hasn't picked this up yet, I highly recommend this book. Trust me, it is the quintessential Superman story that must be read to truly appreciate the Man Of Steel and what he stands for.

Wow. Just wow. This is a breathtaking version of this book, it was already one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) Superman stories of all time...but to present it in this format, in this quality, it takes it to another level .

I have really mixed feelings about this one. It is a recommended reading by many, and actually considered a must-read, but in the end I did not enjoy it that much. Past the first few issues that I enjoyed a lot (I found the Lois/Clark relationship and dialogues quite touching), Morrison throws in a lot of silver age weirdness which made it really hard for me to follow. I had a tough time with some of the ideas (Zibarro, Samson, etc.) as little to no explanation is given. I have to admit I have a limited knowledge of Superman, so I have the feeling this book was actually written for long term fans, not for beginners in the Superman mythos. I do like the way the story is built though, a kind of “twelve works of Superman”, and I find the art is really great and consistent throughout the book. In the end, this book remains the most enjoyable book from Morrison that I’ve read (I might get flamed for this, but I really disliked his batman run), which tells you how much I appreciate this author…