“All Star Superman” Ends. Thoughts?
Author: Daniel Brooks
September 19th, 2008
So much has been written about All Star Superman (both here at KFR and around the InterWeb), Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s continuity-free, back-to-basics Superman story, that the book has already gained an almost mythic stature. The series drew to a close with the release of issue #12 on Wednesday, and with it, much debate has been borne: Is this the best Superman series of all time? Is it actually overrated, with us mistaking Morrison pretension for narrative depth? Should the title continue on with new creators?
I was charmed pretty much from the get-go with this book; I still think that issue #1 is the best single issue Supes story ever written, and that the series overall maintained an unparalleled level of excellence. I actually can’t wait to read the thing all over again in one sitting. But what the hell do I know? What say you?
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7 Responses to ““All Star Superman” Ends. Thoughts?”
September 19th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Please, if possible, try not to spoil the series too much here, guys. I’m holding out for an Absolute collection (yeah, I know, I know…) and I also have to moderate the comments, so…
September 19th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Spoiler Free: Best thing ever.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Ive enjoyed AS Supes A LOT from the get go. Ive always liked the Superman character but never enjoyed much reading the regular series. Every story seems to be the same for the most part and the baddies generally are either played out or not convincing enough to truly stand up to Supe’s abilities. I think Morrison had a great premise and was able to deftly merge old school sensibilities with a modern touch. I’m a few issues behind and am eager to read to the finale.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Yeah I loved it…I raised this question awhile back in a separate post, but I really do wonder if they could somehow canonize this story. Though whether or not that would take away from it (part of AS’s allure is that it exists on its own, naturally) is up for debate. I think Andrew pointed out that it might end up like Dark Knight or Killing Joke: pieces of it will end up in continuity naturally, just because of its impact.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Gotta say;
It’s like a condensed hit of Super-Ecstacy. Thirty years of all the magical-tragical Supes moments wrapped up in twelve issues. The yester-year innocence with the subtle ‘he knew/knows it all along’ intelligence. The homages to the old Superman Annuals, the robots, the Kryptonite, the references to stories that happened in comics that never existed (yet you feel like you got cheated by not reading it), all pretty good stuff. Even so, you can’t tell if Grant is just that talented or it’s banal and esoteric and we’re putting in pieces ourselves to fit the blanks.
F#*@ it. It was genius.
That’s all I gotta say ’bout that.
Funny how AS Bats has to stoop to profanity to get any press…
(yeah I’m SURE the printer made an error covering the potty-mouth language)
September 19th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I really enjoyed the book as well. Not the best thing I’ve ever read by any means, but a good read throughout and those are tough to come by.
September 20th, 2008 at 10:05 am
I’d also add one thing I thought was strange: DC’s lack of hype and marketing surrounding this issue. I dunno…you’d think the final issue of the most critically acclaimed series in a long time for the world’s biggest superhero would warrant some kind of PR push. Very odd…but not surprising.