All Star Superman, Vol. 1
by Grant Morrison
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Book Summary Information
Author: Grant MorrisonIllustrator: Frank Quitely
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-09-02
ISBN: 140121102X
Number of pages: 160
Publisher: DC Comics
Book Reviews of All Star Superman, Vol. 1
Book Review: A Brilliant Mix Of Art & Story
Summary: 5 Stars
With decades of stories for characters, the world of comics can often seem daunting. Occasionally though, there are stories that require little or no knowledge of those characters to be read and appreciated. If ever there was an example of this type of story, where both outsider and fan alike could come together, then the twelve issue run from 2006 to 2008 of All-Star Superman would have to be one of those. This, the first of two volumes collecting the twelve issues of the series, brilliantly mixes both art and story together to create a fascinating and thrilling read.
Grant Morrison's story is simple, episodic yet effective. Starting off with a simple four panel back-story of Superman's origin, the story picks up quickly from there as Superman races to save a mission to the sun in crisis. It all turns out to be an elaborate plot by his arch-nemesis Lex Luthor, The results of this plot are simple to understand: Superman is stronger then ever, but his cells have been over saturated by the sun and he's dying. From there we see Clark Kent (a clumsy yet likeable one akin to the characterization of Clark from the Christopher Reeve Superman films) reveal his secret identity to Lois Lane, Superman give Lois superpowers for a day, Jimmy Olson run the ultra-high tech think tank P.R.O.J.E.C.T. for a day, Clark interview Luthor on death row and look back in time at Superman's Smallville days. While each story is very much self contained, there is an arch throughout of Superman being a man living with a ticking clock over his head. The individual chapters themselves float, like the volume overall, effortlessly from the comedic to the emotional as perhaps no better illustrated (so to speak) then in the opening and closing chapters of this volume. The result is a tale that is fun yet effective at the same time.
The other part of the equation is the artwork from artist Frank Quitely and colorist Jamie Grant. From the simple four panel back-story we get a simply beautiful two page spread of Superman in flight that leads us into the fine artwork of the story. The artwork is simple yet surprisingly detailed ranging from the timeless look of the man of steel himself to Lois, who, the artwork makes both a throwback to the past yet modern at the same time, to the oddness of the members of P.R.O.J.E.C.T., to Luthor is all his (both menacing and, as the tail end of chapter five shows, comedic) glory. The characters and the settings they are in show off the world of Superman superbly by showing off a simple truth of the comic book universe: real world elements existing side by side with the fantastic and absurd. Last but not least is the cover art of the individual issues used at the beginning of each chapter each of which are superbly rendered pieces that summarize the chapters to come brilliantly. As a result the artwork superbly serves the writing and the two act in harmony with one another.
All-Star Superman Volume 1 is a superb read. It begins with Morrison's simple, episodic yet effective writing that gives that sends the reader off on a journey with a hero living with a ticking clock over his head. The artwork from Quitely and Grant superbly gives the writing a visual sense that places the real side by side with the fantastic and absurd. The overall result is that this is the first part of a story that brilliantly mixes both art and story together.
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