Publication
Imprint: New York, N.Y. : DC Comics, c2007. Context: Originally published in magazine form in All-star Superman 1-6.
Responsibility: written by Grant Morrison ; pencilled by Frank Quitely ; digitally inked & colored by Jamie Grant ; lettered by Phil Balsman ; introduction by Bob Schreck ; Superman created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster. OCLC Number: 225593916. Physical: 1 : 153 pages : color illustrations ; 27 cm.
Call number
Graphic / Morri
ISBN
9781401209148
Original publication date
2006-01
2013-08 (Special Edition)
Collections
CSS Library Notes
Description: The last son of the doomed planet Krypton rocketed to Earth. A sci-fi savior raised in America's heartland; embracing and embraced by what's best in humanity. Lex Luthor, the criminal mastermind misguided by his own personal shortcomings. Lois Lane, the dynamic investigative reporter who reminds you that there are enigmas in life that baffle even Superman. You've seen it before. Now see it again as though for the first time.
FY2017 /
FY2017 /
Physical description
153 p.; 27 cm
Awards
Eisner Award (Nominee — 2006)
British Fantasy Award (Nominee — 2009)
Description
Comic and Graphic Books. Fiction. HTML: The amazing creative team of writer Grant Morrison (BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM) and artist Frank Quitely (WE3) join forces to take Superman back to basics and create a new vision of the World's First Super-Hero. Witness the Man of Steel in exciting new adventures featuring Lex Luthor, Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, Bizarro, and more. Collects ALL-STAR SUPERMAN #1-12.
Language
Original language
English
User reviews
LibraryThing member PhoebeReading
In this DC Superman revamp, Superman contemplates his mortality and some absolutely goofy stuff happens. While Frank Quitely's art is downright gorgeous--he expertly presents us with a cuddly Clark and a steely-muscled Man of Steel--Grant Morrison's writing isn't quite up to snuff. A few of the
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episodes, namely "Superman's Forbidden Room" and "A Funeral in Smallville", have both scatter-shot moments of- and an enormous potential for great tenderness, but Morrison intermixes the emotional elements of the Superman mythos with Silver Age goofiness. This wouldn't be so bad if his pacing allowed us to digest this strange combination fully, but every chapter feels short and frantic and Morrison seems loathe to frame tone changes with narration. I have a feeling he has a good understanding of many of the characters in this universe, particularly Clark/Superman and Lois, but it's hard to detect at first read because he seems so distracted, and lets his readers get likewise sidetracked from the human side of the story. Show Less
LibraryThing member jmourgos
Lex Luthor creates a problem for Superman -- he creates an emergency very close to the sun (Sol) the energy of which is where Supes gets his powers. But he gets overcharged and gets his version of cancer! Now in the 70 years of Superman, I don't think anyone but Morrison came up with this. Quite a
Loved the Frank Quitely art. The way he draws the teeth and extremities is so realistic. And his women, especially Lois Lane, are drawn proportionately rather than the Barbie look that I see too much of, such as on Image Comics covers. :P
Favorite scenes:
Lois Lane is granted powers for a day. When she kisses Supes on the moon, now that was fun. What's even more hilarious is that she does not believe him when he reveals he is Clark Kent. Opening the Fortress of Solitude with a small house key made of dwarf star material that only he can lift was fun too.
Jimmy Olsen becoming Doomsday to defeat Superman who gets tangled up with Black Kryptonite!
Superman's descendants pay him a visit with unpredictable results.
All in all, a good graphic novel... Can't wait for Vol. 2!
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novel idea. Loved the Frank Quitely art. The way he draws the teeth and extremities is so realistic. And his women, especially Lois Lane, are drawn proportionately rather than the Barbie look that I see too much of, such as on Image Comics covers. :P
Favorite scenes:
Lois Lane is granted powers for a day. When she kisses Supes on the moon, now that was fun. What's even more hilarious is that she does not believe him when he reveals he is Clark Kent. Opening the Fortress of Solitude with a small house key made of dwarf star material that only he can lift was fun too.
Jimmy Olsen becoming Doomsday to defeat Superman who gets tangled up with Black Kryptonite!
Superman's descendants pay him a visit with unpredictable results.
All in all, a good graphic novel... Can't wait for Vol. 2!
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LibraryThing member theforestofbooks
Another book with the pairing of Morrison and Frank Quietly’s art. The half dozen or so stories are all self contained pieces of fiction though the first two kind of book end each other. The stories involve Superman/Clark Kent and the ancillary supporting characters. Particularly enjoyed The
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Gospell According to Lex Luthor. The artwork is sumptuous; glossy and punchy yet still controlled. Good use of space on each page and breaking away from the customary use of panels. And Superman looks as he should. A book worth reading again, to saviour the subtleties of the writing, and before I launch myself into volume two. Show Less
LibraryThing member drewandlori
This was one of the most critically praised Superman stories ever, and it definitely lives up to the hype. It reminded me a lot of the "Supreme" series, one of Alan Moore's more underrated books. I'd highly recommend both series to anybody.
LibraryThing member schatzi
Even though my introduction to comics were DC, somehow I ended up becoming a Marvel zombie. A friend had been trying to convince me to read some DC titles as well, and this was one of the trades she recommended to me. I decided to give it a spin, and wow.
I had practically no knowledge of Superman
However, I really like how he was written here. Even though he's been given an essential death sentence, he's still thinking of others instead of being overtaken by fear. I especially liked the issue "The Gospel According to Lex Luthor," in which Clark Kent visits Lex in prison, and he manages to save Lex's life numerous times with his "bumbling." And this is in spite of the fact that Lex Luthor is responsible for his impending death and keeps talking about how he's finally killed Superman!
The art is also very good. I've never been much of a fan of Quitely, but it worked for this one.
I've already ordered the second volume of All-Star Superman, and I'll definitely be picking up more to read about this character.
I had practically no knowledge of Superman
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before reading this trade, except for some vague "oh, wasn't he played by Christopher Reeve in a movie" kind of way. So I know nothing about how he's been written in the past or even in the present. However, I really like how he was written here. Even though he's been given an essential death sentence, he's still thinking of others instead of being overtaken by fear. I especially liked the issue "The Gospel According to Lex Luthor," in which Clark Kent visits Lex in prison, and he manages to save Lex's life numerous times with his "bumbling." And this is in spite of the fact that Lex Luthor is responsible for his impending death and keeps talking about how he's finally killed Superman!
The art is also very good. I've never been much of a fan of Quitely, but it worked for this one.
I've already ordered the second volume of All-Star Superman, and I'll definitely be picking up more to read about this character.
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LibraryThing member brakketh
Interesting but somehow unsatisfying
LibraryThing member hazzabamboo
Some quirky elements which are fun, and the art is excellent, but the tangents and gimmicks give it the feeling of a sideshow when it should be building a narrative.
LibraryThing member BrynDahlquis
I'm not an expert on Superman (yet), but I definitely enjoyed it.
LibraryThing member LoftyIslanders
Ok some of the stories in this volume were awesome. Others were less so. Superman gives Lois superpowers for a day...... and what does she do???? she sits around while Superman Samson, and Atlas do feats of strength to impress her. LAME!
LibraryThing member Disquiet
Even getting past the fact that I would read Frank Quitely drawing the phone book, this is some of Grant Morrison's best work. I think he is often at his best with work-for-hire, because the conceit, the structure of work he does not own, focuses his imagination. I think I have mentioned this
He seems, at least for much of this two-book series, to have constrained himself. Eventually, as with his great run on the X-Men, he blows the whole thing up, gets baroque in the meta-complexity, but until then it is quite enjoyable. More than anything, this is one of the best Lois Lanes I have read. The issue that coincides with her birthday is probably the single best episode in this series. The Jimmy Olson stuff is funny, but the Bizarro stuff just goes on for too long. Bizarro is a useful tool, but after awhile it all just becomes pig Latin,
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elsewhere, but I wonder if part of what makes his Superman so good is that he realized that in order to bring the all powerful superhero into some semblance of believable scope, he also had to limit himself. Superman is historically boring because he is so powerful that, well, there isn't much he can do. I often find Morrison to be the same way. He seems, at least for much of this two-book series, to have constrained himself. Eventually, as with his great run on the X-Men, he blows the whole thing up, gets baroque in the meta-complexity, but until then it is quite enjoyable. More than anything, this is one of the best Lois Lanes I have read. The issue that coincides with her birthday is probably the single best episode in this series. The Jimmy Olson stuff is funny, but the Bizarro stuff just goes on for too long. Bizarro is a useful tool, but after awhile it all just becomes pig Latin,
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LibraryThing member nesum
I know I'm supposed to like Grant Morrison's work. I don't. I've tried very hard to do so, but out of every five stories I read, I only really like one.
So it is with this collection. I know I'm supposed to like this one too, since it was so critically acclaimed and won two Eisners, but I didn't. Of
I realize I'm in a minority here, which is probably why I have tried so hard to like Morrison. But to me, he usually only succeeds in creating stories without a single likable character. I guess that's what passes for "post-modern" these days. But I just don't think that dark equals good. Dark has to have some substance, but Morrison just very rarely has any.
So it is with this collection. I know I'm supposed to like this one too, since it was so critically acclaimed and won two Eisners, but I didn't. Of
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the six issues here, only the one where Lois gained super powers for the day really seemed fresh. Otherwise, the characters were paper-thin (especially Luther) and the stories banal. Frank Quitely's art has never really appealed to me except for his work in Sandman: Endless Nights.I realize I'm in a minority here, which is probably why I have tried so hard to like Morrison. But to me, he usually only succeeds in creating stories without a single likable character. I guess that's what passes for "post-modern" these days. But I just don't think that dark equals good. Dark has to have some substance, but Morrison just very rarely has any.
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LibraryThing member poonamsharma
A sweet comic - Superman in trouble. Trying to tell Lois that he is Clark Kent and dealing with Lex Luther. And birth of Superman generations and time travel. Interesting what lays ahead.
Artwork is unobtrusive and beautiful. :)
Artwork is unobtrusive and beautiful. :)
LibraryThing member Stevil2001
Finally, this series has been released in a format that I can afford to buy. Well, half of it has. Whither volume 2? I need it now because Morrison's take on the Man of Steel is picture perfect. Fun, brave, and upstanding, this is exactly what I need from Superman. In these six issues, Superman
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gets supercharged with solar radiation, which gives him new powers but will ultimately kill him. So, he tells Lois Lane the truth he's been hiding from her all those years-- Lois, in one of the book's funnest moments, still refuses to believe that he can possibly be bumbling Clark Kent! After some gratuitous Lois fanservice, Superman gives her a potion that makes her Superwoman for a day. This results in a fun story involving Dino-Czar Tyrannko and his dinosaur people at the Earth's core, but the idea is squandered as it focuses more on Superman, Atlas, and Samson competing for Lois's affections than Lois's new abilities. Still, Lois remains strongly written throughout the book, as does Jimmy Olsen, who gets a chance to shine in his own story, "The Superman/Jimmy Olsen War!" Lex Luthor is also on top form, as "The Gospel According to Lex Luthor" shows us a Lex who has been condemned to death for his crimes, has built an escape route, and will not use it because he doesn't care what happens to him, because he's managed to ensure that Superman will die first. Awesome. The only story that didn't work for me was "Funeral in Smallville", which just didn't engender the emotional reaction it was obviously going for. Frank Quitely's artwork is magnificent throughout. Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
I had always heard that Lois Lane took a turn as Super Woman and wondered where that was. I was psyched to finally read about it here and for that alone I liked the book. The rest of the book was okay. It's definitely a return to the old style of comics and it was a funny/sad read. Glad I took the
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time to check it out. Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
I had always heard that Lois Lane took a turn as Super Woman and wondered where that was. I was psyched to finally read about it here and for that alone I liked the book. The rest of the book was okay. It's definitely a return to the old style of comics and it was a funny/sad read. Glad I took the
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time to check it out. Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
I had always heard that Lois Lane took a turn as Super Woman and wondered where that was. I was psyched to finally read about it here and for that alone I liked the book. The rest of the book was okay. It's definitely a return to the old style of comics and it was a funny/sad read. Glad I took the
Show More
time to check it out. Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
I had always heard that Lois Lane took a turn as Super Woman and wondered where that was. I was psyched to finally read about it here and for that alone I liked the book. The rest of the book was okay. It's definitely a return to the old style of comics and it was a funny/sad read. Glad I took the
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time to check it out. Show Less
LibraryThing member rickklaw
In perhaps the most enjoyable Superman comic ever, the cerebral [author:Grant Morrison], whose prodigious output varies from mediocre to sensational, successfully creates a story full of scientific wonder, multi-reality excitement, and diabolical evil. [author:Frank Quitely]'s delicate, expressive
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art perfectly compliments the intricate, intelligent tale. If Warner Brothers has any sense, All-Star Superman would be the basis for the next Superman film. Show Less
LibraryThing member quinton.baran
A very interesting overview of Superman, with his interactions with Lois, Jimmy, Lex, and others. I found myself going back to re-read sections, as they became more clear as I read on.
LibraryThing member bdgamer
Absolutely awesome Superman stories. The best there was, is, and ever will be.
LibraryThing member wanderlustlover
Graphic Novel Book Club: July 2016
(Putting this review on all related reads from the day in this series)
This was a truly awesome read. I was so glad to fall into it, and so glad to see each issue focused a little more specifically on a ton of side characters especially. The story was lovely, from
(Putting this review on all related reads from the day in this series)
This was a truly awesome read. I was so glad to fall into it, and so glad to see each issue focused a little more specifically on a ton of side characters especially. The story was lovely, from
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the lie, the reveals, and the ending hope, with not ever believing it was over. It was, also, hilarious to see Lois never once believe that Superman was Clark Kent. Ever. Show Less
LibraryThing member rodhilton
(Note, this review refers to the entire run of 12 All-Star Superman issues, but Volume 1 is only issues 1-6)
This book is... weird.
All-Star Superman is something of a "reboot" intended to be self-contained, but pulling from the great history of Superman mythos. The book contains re-imagined and
By pulling in so much material to work with, the book can get really damn weird sometimes. It involved characters I'm not even familiar with as a casual Superman fan, which made some of the book quite confusing. And when Superman went to Bizarro world and met Zibarro, a smart Bizarro-superman in a world of idiot Supermen, the book kind of went full retard.
This book did a lot of stuff right. Lex Luthor is fascinating and evil as all hell, as an example. My favorite thing is the overall concept; in the infamous Death and Return of Superman story arc, where Superman fought Doomsday, it was page after page of Superman and Doomsday smashing into each other. Completely brainless, and utterly missing the point of Superman dying. Superman is invincible, so having a giant monster show up and kill him was a missed opportunity to have Kal-El face his own death. All-Star Superman fixes this, as the entire arc is Superman selflessly cleaning up loose ends before what he believes to be his own death. This story is fascinating and, at times, touching. Really well done stuff. I also really enjoyed the slight nod at explaining why nobody mistakes Clark for Superman - the extremely large man wears loose-fitting suits and uses his posture to basically make himself look like a doofy fat man, and the way it's drawn completely works.
The book also did a lot wrong. First of all, Lois Lane is far, far too sexualized - almost every frame she's in has her drawn suggestively for no good reason, and it makes the entire book come off as immature. Her stint as Super-woman (don't ask) goes virtually nowhere, and fails to really explore any of the interesting points it raises. Additionally, Jimmy Olsen might be more annoying in this book than any other version of Olsen I know of, the guy is just grating.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and I think it brought a lot to the table in terms of Superman mythos. I was wary of the All-Star moniker after Frank Miller's Batman abortion, but this was worth a read and pretty enjoyable, even if it did occasionally go off the rails.
This book is... weird.
All-Star Superman is something of a "reboot" intended to be self-contained, but pulling from the great history of Superman mythos. The book contains re-imagined and
Show More
repurposed versions of Superman, Lois, and Luthor, as well as new versions of Bizarro, Doomsday, and, most interestingly, a completely rethought Mr. Mkzyplk (no I'm not going to bother looking up the spelling). By pulling in so much material to work with, the book can get really damn weird sometimes. It involved characters I'm not even familiar with as a casual Superman fan, which made some of the book quite confusing. And when Superman went to Bizarro world and met Zibarro, a smart Bizarro-superman in a world of idiot Supermen, the book kind of went full retard.
This book did a lot of stuff right. Lex Luthor is fascinating and evil as all hell, as an example. My favorite thing is the overall concept; in the infamous Death and Return of Superman story arc, where Superman fought Doomsday, it was page after page of Superman and Doomsday smashing into each other. Completely brainless, and utterly missing the point of Superman dying. Superman is invincible, so having a giant monster show up and kill him was a missed opportunity to have Kal-El face his own death. All-Star Superman fixes this, as the entire arc is Superman selflessly cleaning up loose ends before what he believes to be his own death. This story is fascinating and, at times, touching. Really well done stuff. I also really enjoyed the slight nod at explaining why nobody mistakes Clark for Superman - the extremely large man wears loose-fitting suits and uses his posture to basically make himself look like a doofy fat man, and the way it's drawn completely works.
The book also did a lot wrong. First of all, Lois Lane is far, far too sexualized - almost every frame she's in has her drawn suggestively for no good reason, and it makes the entire book come off as immature. Her stint as Super-woman (don't ask) goes virtually nowhere, and fails to really explore any of the interesting points it raises. Additionally, Jimmy Olsen might be more annoying in this book than any other version of Olsen I know of, the guy is just grating.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and I think it brought a lot to the table in terms of Superman mythos. I was wary of the All-Star moniker after Frank Miller's Batman abortion, but this was worth a read and pretty enjoyable, even if it did occasionally go off the rails.
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LibraryThing member mktoronto
I liked it but I don't think it is the greatest Superman story ever like it was billed to be.