Spoilers for All-Star Superman!DC Comics’ flagship hero,Superman, has been reinvented, refreshed, relaunched, and rebooted more times than fans can count. With Big Blue returning to the big screen in 2025 and his comic counterparts charting new paths forward in both DC’s recent All In andAbsolute Universe initiatives, there’s one Superman story, in particular, that deserves to be revisited: auniversally acclaimed tale that’s the perfect entry point to the Man of Steel no matter your knowledge of the character.
Released in 2005,All-Star Superman, written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Frank Quitely, was a standalone series (and eventual DC Black Label story) that pulled ideas and concepts from across Superman’s decades-long history as a leading DC Comics hero.
Tackling themes of mortality, love, sacrifice, and what it means to leave behind the world in a better place than you found it,All-Star Supermantracks the final days of Kal-Elafter being overexposed to the Sun’s usually rejuvenating energy, setting the stage for a poignant yet action-packed tale perfect for fans unfamiliar with Superman outside of his live-action portrayals.
All-Star Superman- 2005 (Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely)
Putting Superman’s compassion, resilience, determination, and strength front and centerthroughoutAll-Star Superman’s award-winning 12-issue run, Morrison tasks Superman with completing the “Twelve Labors of Superman,” a set of feats that give new fans a comprehensive look at how he operates as a guiding influence and hero. Also featuring an epic battle with a vengeful Lex Luthor, a sweet side-story of Lois getting superpowers for 24 hours, Superman mourning the late Jonathan Kent, and eventually, Superman sacrificing himself to reignite the Sun, these moments do a great job of distilling the character down to who he is at his core.
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Previously revealing they wanted to create a Superman story that was universally accessible, relevant, and real-feeling for anyone picking up the book out of the blue, Morrison made sure to weave in the most notable aspects ofSuperman’s characterization and lore, painting an incredibly authentic picture of a character who’s as much a simple man as he is an invincible superhero. Sure, there may be a few deep-cut lore details, characters, and other referenced events that may puzzle the most casual of new readers, but overall,All-Star Supermansuccessfully hits almost every facet of the hero with clarity and purpose.
All-Star SupermanFeatures Characters and Ideas From the Man of Steel’s Long Comic Book Legacy
It goes without sayingAll-Star Supermanshould be enjoyed in the medium it was originally created for, but should fans prefer another way to digest this seminal superhero story, the DC Universe Animated Original Movies label releasedan animated adaptationof it in 2011 — a mostly solid but heavily pared down version of the comic story that thankfully still retained the heart, relatability, and overall hopeful messageAll-Star Supermanconveyed on the page. It’s hard not to recommend this incredibly influentialSupermantale, so regardless of howAll-Star Supermanis experienced, it’s a story that simply needs to be experienced.
All-Star Supermanis available from DC Comics.
Superman
The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.
