Comics What's the appeal of All Star Superman?

[Cain]

It took the one aspect the naysayers always grab onto "Superman is a god there is no suspense or emotional connection with him bla bla bla" and flipped it on it's head. Not only did it have Superman face the last days of his own mortality in a very emotionally humane way (Superman's last line to Clark Kent = perfection). It also accomplished it by seamlessly consolidating over 60 plus years of history, which is something many claimed to be an impossible feat at one point. That's the appeal it took the best of everything and blended it up into one fine package in an era where it was deemed unachievable.

 

[Kurosawa]

It's one of my favorite Superman stories ever and it's certainly the best overall story Post-1986. It is actually an update of the Virus-X story from Superman #156, "The Last Days of Superman". It was a great idea to do a modern take on that story and the results were stellar.

 

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

This is the Superman story. If you don't like it, then Superman just isn't for you.

 

[The Batman]

It's the best Superman story of the post crisis era...which is ironic, cause it's the ultimate love letter to pre crisis.

The thing about Grant Morrison is that he's not afraid to make Superman powerful. This story absolutely proves that even if superman moved planets, his world is still interesting. It pretty highlights the wonder and fantasy of Superman that has been lacking for a long time. The characters are excellent. And the art totally fits the fantasy theme.

 

[Motown Marvel]

i think its one of the best superman stories i've ever read. i love the wonky imagination that was put into it, but its still completely engaging and engrossing and very touching.

i was first exposed to frank quitely's art when he did new x-men. and i thought his art was atrocious as well. but at some point something snapped and his art suddenly made sense and the sheer brilliance of it became so obvious to me. he's one of the best artists in the industry.

 

[C. Lee]

i think its one of the best superman stories i've ever read. i love the wonky imagination that was put into it, but its still completely engaging and engrossing and very touching.

i was first exposed to frank quitely's art when he did new x-men. and i thought his art was atrocious as well. but at some point something snapped and his art suddenly made sense and the sheer brilliance of it became so obvious to me. he's one of the best artists in the industry.

I never read any of the XMEN he did, but as you mentioned, at the time the pics from it I saw I didn't like. Then I picked up ALL STAR SUPERMAN and fell in love with his work.

 

[Keyser Soze]

From the Superman thread on the DC Boards:

All-Star Superman Saves a Life

An event in Grant Morrison's All-Star Superman, which becomes the subject of an animated DVD movie in February, has actually been revealed to save someone's life.
Check out this post from bspcn.com under the title "Why Superman is My Hero":

"I have struggled with depression ever since I was ten years old. It had crippled me emotionally. I was 27 years old, no college degree, no job and no will to live. I decided to kill myself after Christmas.

"And then my sister's boyfriend loaned me these comics. Superman is dying of radiation poisoning and is trying to complete all of his tasks before he dies, but he still takes the time to save a young girl who is about to jump off a building.

"I cried for hours after reading this. I identified with that girl so much, and I could almost hear Superman telling me that I'm stronger than I think.

"Now every time my depression starts to rear its ugly head, I just repeat his words and imagine him hugging me when I'm standing on the edge. It works better than any medication or therapy I've ever had.

"Now I'm in college and top of my class. I have friends. I have a life. And I don't care that he's a fictional comic book character. He still saved me."

 

[The Sage]

That story there answers the question about All-Star Superman's appeal.

And here's the link to the original article: http://www.bspcn.com/2010/10/16/this-is-why-superman-is-my-hero/

 

[SuperDaniel]

Meh...I like All-Star but I personally think that Superman for all seasons, Kingdom Come and Superman #775 are MUCH better Superman stories...

 

[DrMylesOBoogie]

My dad has tons of the old comics that inspired this so I got what Morrison did and loved it.

 

[Naked Shia]

That story there answers the question about All-Star Superman's appeal.

And here's the link to the original article: http://www.bspcn.com/2010/10/16/this-is-why-superman-is-my-hero/

this gave me chills. It perfectly illustrates the magic that is all star superman. Superman is the hero that will do good no matter what. He will never let people down.

He's someone you can look to and be inspired by. We should all try our best to be like superman. this is essentially what comics mean to me. And why, while I do love and respect comics like watchmen of the dark knight returns, they are not my favorite. Deconstruction is interesting. It just doesn't make me want to be a better person.

 

[The Batman]

IMO, this book is the definitive Superman story.

 

[BH/HHH]

It's such a wonderful story and it has everything.

Now funnily enough when I read the first trade I wasn't blown away but when I got the second trade I read the whole thing together and it was amazing.

It's truly in many ways the greatest of the worlds greatest hero.

 

[Naked Shia]

it's basically everything that makes superheroes great.

 

[AnneFan]

IMO, this book is the definitive Superman story.

I agree with that. It's practically everything one would possibly want in a Superman story.

 

[titansupes]

Flat out the best there is.

 

[Naked Shia]

if they make a live action out of it one day, they need to take Shia Labeouf as superman. He's someone who really inspires hope.

 

[Mightmitenot]

Well, Superman is so heroic in this he gets Luthor to reform.

 

[Czar Colossus]

When it came out I read it issue by issue and I liked it. After it was complete, I saw an interview with Morrison. I then read it again in one sitting, with Morrison's insight and intentions in my mind and it was a new experience. I absolutely love it now and strongly feel that it is one of my favorite Superman stories ever! It seems all the more outstanding in comparison to the garbage that's come since New 52 (yeah I know Morrison did the early run of Action, but under this New 52 edict). I intend to get the Absolute Edition as soon as I can because along with Kingdom Come, New Frontier, Justice, and Watchmen, I hold it in the highest regard in the comics medium.

 

[Naked Shia]

It's even better when you also read Dc one million.

 

[BH/HHH]

It's even better when you also read Dc one million.

Good point, to many try to say that [BLACKOUT]Lois imagined him fixing the Sun at the end[/BLACKOUT] but DC One Million shows that's wrong.

 

[AnneFan]

I saw this review from a fan - and it hits a lot of the right notes as to why All Star Superman works so well:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/948465215

 

[BH/HHH]

I saw this review from a fan - and it hits a lot of the right notes as to why All Star Superman works so well:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/948465215

I really like the animated adaptation but it needed the Pa Kent death and the scene where he stops the girl trying to commit suicide. If only it had been given the two part treatment that it deserved.

 

[Czar Colossus]

Absolutely!

 

[KryponsJedi]

I think that the appeal is in the type of story that it is and in what light it casts the character. In All-Star Superman, Superman is not treated as a hero in the modern sense as one that must struggle with all his might to overcome some foe, but in a more mythic sense, where he does not struggle but performs great and mighty deeds. It doesn't treat him as much as the archetypal superhero, but as a god trying who for so long tried to be a man. It also unabashedly revels in the absurdity of the character and his world, without trying to make sense of anything but lets the readers imagination run wild as it follows it's hero from one impossible dead to another. In both of those senses, it captures his essence of the character in a powerful way.