All Star Superman #5
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Frank Quitely
Company: DC Comics
The second book to bear DC’s All Star logo, All Star Superman is easily the best so far. A throw back to the Silver Age era, a time where Superman books could be hokey and far-fetched, where in one issue Jimmy could be Superman himself or where Lois can change into a black woman for a day to better write a column for the Daily Planet. Grant Morrison (Seaguy/New X-Men) has taken these outlandish and fantastical ideas, these lighter days of super heroism, and has re-imagined what Superman and Clark Kent can be. So far, he’s saved the world, probably offed himself by extreme sun exposure, given Lois his powers for a day and had an Olympic-like challenge with characters of old Atlas and Samson. In issue five, we have our first glimpse at some rational continuity within the series as Lex Luthor is found guilty for crimes against every living thing on the planet and is sentenced to death. And you know, Lex couldn’t be happier about it.
With this issue, excellently titled “The Gospel According to Lex Luthor”, we get a glimpse into who All Star Lex Luthor is and what makes him tick when clumsy reporter Clark Kent is sent to Stryker’s Island to interview him. It’s a bit on the dark side, considering Lex is awaiting his own death, but there’s plenty to laugh at as well. Morrison’s take on the character of Lex Luthor is a hoot. Think Gene Hackman on a bottle and a half full of speed, all long winded rants and run-on ideas that are all surprisingly human. I chuckled several times, especially at his dissection of Clark Kent and how he could have the same physique as Superman if only he’d start a heavy workout regimen.
One of the best things, however, is the simple fact that the famed red and blue tights never once make an appearance. That’s an odd thing to say since Superman is the title of this book, but Morrison is able to pull it off, making for an interesting character study of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor. I’m not saying that there isn’t action though. What would a Superman book be without action? It’s there, but not in the normal sense of the word. It’s more along the lines of comical events that have to do with a prison break and an old vendetta that the Parasite, another inmate, holds against Luthor.
Still, with these kind of stylized ideas that go against most of what fills comic shop shelves, I can see how some people would have a hard time enjoying All Star Superman. Its a book that does have a certain cheesiness to it and though it does have action in it, it certainly doesn’t beat you over the head with it. Also, Frank Quitely’s (WE3/Authority) style of art is something that always leaves people a bit divided. He’s one of those artists that you either like or you don’t. There are a few anomalies out there who have learned to love him, me being one of them. It took me some time, at least half of his New X-Men series, to really get into it and understand its eccentricities. He’s a very detailed artist, one who’s style has a flabbiness to it which makes the characters seem chunky and out of proportion. Not necessarily the penultimate style you’d think of when running down the list of Superman artists, but it works.
In the end, this is a book that I truly enjoy and would recommend it to anyone looking to get in on the ground floor of a re-envisioning of one of the most popular characters in the world. Absolutely brilliant!
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I got tremendouly nervous after reading All Star Batman and Robin and seeing how terribly written that book is in every aspect and feared All Star Superman would suffer the same if it was anything like ASBR. Thank goodness that hasn’t turned out to be the case. I absolutely love the old school types stories they are telling.
Morrison and Quitely work well together. They know one another. Frank Miller and Jim Lee were only thrown together for quantity and Morrison/Quitely for quality.
25 Sep 2006 at 4:12 pm
QuoteThe latest issue was simply brilliant, in a few deft strokes Morrison got to the core of Lex as a character, brilliant genius, egotistical, even charming and completely insane, my favorite issue in what is hands down my favorite book out their right now.
25 Sep 2006 at 5:53 pm
QuoteAll-Star Superman is the greatest comic being made by Marvel of DC right now. It even beats awesome gems like Runaways and Nextwave.
25 Sep 2006 at 8:03 pm
QuoteHere’s an interesting question… does it matter that this book is late? I’m no fan of late books, and with books like Ultimates that rely on you remembering the over-arcing plot or Civil War where the entire publishing line is tied into it, I think it’s remarkably unprofessional and a detriment to the stories.
But with All-Star Superman… the books are self-contained in a remarkably throw-back way, they deliver on each issue whether you’ve read any of the other issues or not… does it matter that the book is late? I’m genuinely curious, because my general feeling is that comics should ship on time, and if they don’t, it’s a failure on the creators’ part (to some extent) and the editorial side (for the most part) for not bowing to the realities of scheduling and work pace, but it doesn’t bother me that All-Star Superman ships whenever, because I always enjoy it when I get it.
26 Sep 2006 at 12:13 am
QuoteI would probably agree that ASS is the best superhero book DC is putting out right now. I’m not sure I could say it’s my favorite comic from them right now..that is if you take into account Wildstorm books and Vertgio books.
Runaways is probably my favorite book Marvel is putting out right now. It’d be a debate between Runaways, Daredevil and Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane for my favorite Marvel book. I haven’t been reading Nextwave so I can’t really speak to that.
ASS is definitely rocking right now.
26 Sep 2006 at 12:14 am
QuoteIt bothers me Randy but I’ve come to expect books like this to be late. I mean look at Morrison and Lee’s Wildcats. It was suppoused to be out the first week of the month and what do you think the chances are it or issue number two gets resolicited?
I will say at least it’s not coming out as late as ASBR. I only keep up with that books lateness solely from an amussment standpoint.
26 Sep 2006 at 12:19 am
QuoteI actually think the lateness of the Morrison/Lee Wildcats could kill not only that book but the entire Wildstorm relaunch.
Seriously, the first book out of the gate for that launch sets the tone. That tone was supposed to be Morrison and Lee, instead it’s Mike Carey and Whilce Portacio. That’s going to have an effect on the line, especially when they’ve had so many unsuccessful revamps in the past, and when the awareness of how late the books are probably going to be is already in peoples’ minds, and they’re facing big competition from hyped events like Civil War and 52.
Shame if that does happen, as I’m really looking forward to some of the other Wildstorm books, like Tranquility and Stormwatch PHD.
26 Sep 2006 at 12:47 am
QuoteThe only problem I’ve with this book shipping late is that I want more ASS to read. I absolute love the writing and the art on this book. Morrison has written one of the most distinctive superhero comics on the shelf these days. And Quitley’s pencils take the litte bit of mainstream superhero feeling that there still was away, which in my opinion is an absolute pro.
If only we didn’t have to wait so long for a new issue to be released…
26 Sep 2006 at 3:37 am
QuoteLate on All STar Superman means a fairly good comic will be late.
Late Civl War messes up time throughout Marvel. That said I’d be more than happy if Civil war’s lateness casued it to quietly die.
26 Sep 2006 at 2:19 pm
QuoteHas All-Star Superman been late? I know it’s on an every-two-months schedule, but I hadn’t noticed any lateness. Maybe that’s due to what you were talking about, Randy.
26 Sep 2006 at 11:35 pm
QuoteFunny you should ask:
http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=85515
If I remember right, the book used to be on a monthly schedule, but then was made bimonthly? Not sure. Anyway, All-Star Supes has been very enjoyable. I was a bit thrown at first by some of the more Gene Hackman-like traits Grant Morrison gave Luthor (I enjoyed Hackman’s Luthor, don’t get me wrong; I just thought Morrison’s Luthor was the pre-Crisis mad scientist with the post-Crisis personality), but it grew on me pretty quick. I think what I liked the most about this issue is how Lex Luthor, the “greatest criminal mind of our time,” never once suspected Clark was Superman, despite how many hints were thrown his way.
“I actually think the lateness of the Morrison/Lee Wildcats could kill not only that book but the entire Wildstorm relaunch.”
This worries me too, for the reasons you stated. I know Lee’s got a lot on his plate, what with All-Star Batman, that DC MMORPG he’s been working on, Wildcats, and of course, running Wildstorm, but if ‘Cats becomes a persistently late book, this could hurt both the title and the other Worldstorm books. Though maybe Grant Morrison’s “The Authority” could keep Worldstorm afloat if that happens.
Say, did anyone see the preview pages for “Tranquility”? I loved “The Emoticon,” hehe
27 Sep 2006 at 9:31 am
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