All-Star Superman, Vol. 1

All-Star Superman, Volume 1

• author:  Grant Morrison  http://www.grant-morrison.com/
• illustrators: 
• pencils, Frank Quitely  "no author website"
• Digitally inked & colored by Jamie Grant  "no author website"
• year of publication: 2007
• city of publication:  New York, NY
• publisher:  DC Comics
• ISBN: 978-1-4012-1102-8
• Eisner Award - Best New Series - 2006

Annotation:  Rescuing astronauts on the first mission to the sun, Superman is genetically enhanced with new powers, but is also suffers cellular damage and is slowly dying.  Facing mortality, the man of steel interacts with original characters reinvented by Grant Morrison.

Personal Thoughts:  No kidding:  All-Star Superman is a fantastic read.  I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I don’t even like Superman comics.  I always thought an invincible alien-born goodie two-shoes was boring, lacking the dark complications of a human vigilante like Batman or Spiderman.  But Grant Morrison has presented Superman in such an interesting way, giving him mortality and the consequences of death.  On top of that, he and artist Frank Quitely have re-invented original characters into new interesting renditions of themselves.  Lois Lane, now looking like J-Lo/Michelle Rodriguez car model, is fierce and strong and given Superman’s powers for a day.  Jimmie Olsen is presented as a go-getting reporter, suave and kind of “metro” whose reporting specials get him into major trouble leading to a fistfight with the man of steel.  Lex Luthor is physically redone, making him a testosterone fuelled body builder who devised a plan to kill Superman, involving the first manned flight to the sun.

Quitely & Grant’s artwork is great.  The character design is light and attractive, with an edgy, brawny look to the heroes and villains, but also given a futuristic edge that translates so well to comics.  Metropolis, Atlantis and Superman’s Arctic Lair have a colorful, science fiction designed look that’s part Wizard of Oz, part Blade Runner. 

Seriously, like I said, I’m not a fan of Superman, but Grant Morrison’s All-Star Superman storyline is worth a read, even if this will be the only Superman comic you will ever read.  Highest recommendation!!