All-Star Superman (Comics) | Review

What happens when you strip away decades of continuity and focus purely on what makes a character legendary? All-Star Superman attempts to answer that question by delivering perhaps one of the finest modern-day Superman story ever told.

This twelve-issue masterpiece refines decades of mythology into something pure, hopeful and profoundly moving. It's a love letter to the legendary DC Comics' character that somehow manages to feel both nostalgic and completely fresh.

The premise is deceptively simple; Superman's cells are overcharged with solar energy, granting him incredible new powers but slowly killing him in the process. With roughly one year to live, he sets about completing his greatest deeds and saying his goodbyes.

Writer Grant Morrison (JLA: New World Order, Wonder Woman: Earth One) stripped away decades of complex continuity to focus on Superman's essential nature. What follows isn't a tale of tragedy but one of triumph— a celebration of what it means to be truly heroic.

This isn't about his latest enemy or a world-ending cosmic threat but about his relationships with Lois Lane, his compassion for everyone from everyday criminals to cosmic beings and his unwavering commitment to helping others at any cost.

Lois Lane receives some of her finest characterization in years, portrayed as intellectual and emotional equal to Superman rather than simply his love interest. Her investigation into Clark Kent's identity and her reaction to learning the truth feels inevitable and surprising.

Even supporting characters like Jimmy Olsen and Perry White feel fully realized despite limited page time. Morrison understands these characters aren't just plot devices but essential parts of Superman's world that he's sworn to protect and cherish.

Lex Luthor appears genuinely brilliant and dangerously charismatic, his hatred for Superman feeling both petty and profound in ways that make him genuinely threatening. Morrison's portrayal also avoids Lex's typical megalomaniac tropes.

Artwork by penciller Frank Quitely (JLA: Earth 2, New X-Men: New Worlds) demonstrates his understanding of how comics work as a medium through panel layouts. His attention to detail in everything from clothing to architecture feels both fantastical and believable.

At its core, this is a story about what we leave behind and how we choose to spend our final moments. Superman's approach to his impending death— focusing on others rather than himself, provides a template for heroism that transcends the superhero genre entirely.

Morrison explores the idea that Superman's greatest superpower isn't his strength or speed but his decency and unwillingness to give up on anyone. Whether he's rehabilitating criminals or inspiring others, his actions stem from genuine compassion rather than duty or obligation.

The story also examines legacy and inspiration, showing how Superman's example ripples outward to affect everyone around him. His influence on people like Jimmy Olsen and even Lex Luthor demonstrates that heroism isn't about having powers— it's about choosing to help others even when it's difficult or thankless.

Morrison's plotting feels effortless despite its incredible complexity. Each issue tells a complete story while advancing the larger narrative and seemingly minor details from early issues pay off to audience in surprising and emotionally satisfying ways.

The pacing allows for both intimate character moments and spectacular superhero action without either feeling shortchanged. The dialogue feels natural and unforced, avoiding both the overwrought drama and quip-heavy banter that plague many superhero comics.

What makes this work so special is how it captures everything essential about Superman while feeling completely fresh. It's simultaneously a greatest hits collection and a completely original story, honoring the character's history while pushing him in new directions.

Morrison and Quitely understand that Superman's appeal isn't really about his powers but his choice to use those powers to help others, even when it's difficult or costly. He faces genuine challenges not through physical strength but through unwavering compassion.

Frank Quitely's artwork elevates every page into something approaching visual poetry, turning even the simplest scenes into moments of genuine beauty. His ability to convey Superman's essential goodness through subtle facial expressions and body language borders on miraculous.

His character designs feel both timeless and thoroughly modern, capturing the essence of classic Superman while making him feel fresh and contemporary, while his panel layouts guide readers through complex emotional beats with remarkable clarity.

Quitely's art deserves extended praise for its technical brilliance and emotional intelligence. His Superman looks powerful without being intimidating, alien without being distant. The costume redesign feels both classic and contemporary.

Jamie Grant's coloring work complements Quitely's line art perfectly, using a bright, optimistic palette that reinforces the story's hopeful tone. The colors feel vibrant without being garish, cosmic without losing their grounding in reality.

Morrison's Superman feels genuinely alien yet completely human, godlike yet entirely relatable. His dying doesn't make him bitter or desperate— instead, it focuses his compassion and drives him to accomplish even greater acts of kindness.

All-Star Superman represents superhero storytelling at its absolute peak. It's a work that justifies the entire genre, demonstrating how stories about people in colorful costumes can explore profound themes about mortality, legacy, hope and what it truly means to be heroic.

This is essential reading not just for Superman fans or comic-book enthusiasts but for anyone interested in exceptional storytelling regardless of medium. Morrison and Quitely have created a perfect Superman story that reminds us why the Man of Steel has endured for over eight decades.

Despite drawing on decades of Superman lore, the story remains completely accessible to new readers. Morrison includes everything a newcomer needs to understand without overwhelming them with continuity, while long-time fans will appreciate the references to classic stories.

All-Star Superman series has rightfully been praised as one of the finest superhero comics ever created, influencing many creators and redefining what Superman stories can accomplish by showing that superhero comics can be both entertaining and meaningful.

Pick up All‑Star Superman in trade paperback or hardcover here on Amazon, or enjoy a digital edition via ComiXology or DC Infinite.