All-Star Superman Paperback – July 2, 2024

(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.

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.

This is definitely one of the best Superman stories that I’ve read. There is some filler that I could’ve done without, but each filler story plays a role in the overarching story that’s being weaved together by Grant Morrison. I also enjoyed the art by Frank Quitely and Jamie Grant. They make for a great team.