Spoilers All Star Superman #12: Discussion and Review Thread

[Binker]

By Nathaniel Ruff (also known as Binker, Binker2 and Nate on many forums)

ALL STAR SUPERMAN #12

Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Frank Quitely and Jamie Grant
Cover by Frank Quitely
Edited by Bob Schreck

PLOT:
The Man of Steel has faced twelve super-challenges. Now, as Lex Luthor's brilliant, criminal machinations come together, what fate awaits the doomed Superman? This is the final, dramatic chapter of the incredible, award-winning 12-issue run of ALL STAR SUPERMAN by Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely and Jamie Grant – don't miss it!

REVIEW:
Let us skip the introduction with a simple sentence: here it is, the final issue of ALL STAR SUPERMAN!

If any of you thought that Grant Morrison was not going to kill off Superman, or your what-if thoughts suggested that maybe Superman will die, or Clark's Kryptonian cells would die, but Clark would still be alive, and be with Lois, with scientist Mister Quintim creating a second Superman for the world, then you would be wrong. Yes, Superman DOES bite the dust. While it does suggest that maybe, just maybe, he will return, at the end of this story, he's gone. The final story goes to the original and classic Superman vs. Lex Luthor routine as Superman's one final battle. What was different here, as seen back in the previous issue, was that the brain vs. brawn was reversed. Lex always considered himself THE smart guy where Superman was with his strength. Now, with Lex having taken the 24-hour super powered pill, and Superman powerless, that's all it is reversed. I didn't know what to think of this issue, as most final issues don't seem to crack the beat like all the others had, but that didn't seem to affect me as much here. Because while readers could offer their view on the Lex vs. Supes thing, this whole issue is touching from the beginning where Clark believes into thinking of Krypton's "heaven" with Jor-El, to the hope Jimmy and Lois have that Superman will come back. Add that with a little tease that Quintum is ready if the world needs Superman, as he looks at a door with the Superman Shield, with the "S" replaced by a "2". All in all, Grant accomplished what he wanted to do: a great final story for Superman that is also a great send off for the character. The fact that he did actually kill off Superman makes you think more of what he is doing with Batman on "R.I.P.", doesn't it?

Overall, since 2005, "All Star Superman" has been highly reviewed, highly received, and has gained many awards, all for very good reasons. This was such a great series that a writer and an artist could create. And we know it when we say "there won't be anything else like it." I might be going ahead here, but that's how I feel about this series. In fact, everyone felt the same way I did, when we felt so good about everything once a brand new issue came out, whether it was the first, second, even the tenth issue. We felt so good, that the fact that this series did all of that, made us feel that, says something. And now, that has come to an end. Well, actually, we don't really have to complain that we won't see anymore of Grant and his All Star Superman. Unless things have changed, or we just have to wait as Grant has been busy lately, we still have those specials coming at some point. I want to see them already, even badly. Especially the one where I believe we would get a more Siegel-Shuster Superman fighting the Devil. Issue #12 will be the last we'll see of this Superman! Thank you Grant and Frank for this incredible series!

RATING: Yay

[mas-el]

Anyone else think that 10 should have been the last issue? I mean, 12 was great, but 10 was the best!!

I will miss this book

[rpi]

Two thoughts came to mind when I was reading it. First, hats off to Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly for making the best superhero comic of the past decade, maybe longer, and possibly the best Superman ever.
Second, I wish Morrison showed even a fraction of the affection he's shown Superman in this title to Batman in Batman's title. Superman gets mind-blowing adventures and a glorious finish. Batman gets nothing but his ass kicked and the red/purple/yellow of Zur En Arrh. Ugh.

[General grievous]

I heard they will do superman specials together?

good news that frank will stay at DC and await his next project

[booyah]

My LCS didn't have any of these in this week.
Ah well, I guess it's the price I pay for getting a recalled issue of All Star Batman last week.

[Simon DelMonte]

Wow.

[CaptainMarvel78]

The whole series was top-notch but issue #12 just felt a bit of a let-down. I would have wished for a slug fest between Superman and Luthor before he used his gravity gun - but I know, what for right?

Also, anyone care to answer some of my questions about this series:

1. What happened to earth Q (?) that Superman created? Or was it just to show that Earth can live with a Superman?

2. Did Superman lost his powers? It felt like that when he was battling Lex...

3. Whats wrong with a blue sun? I thought a blue sun is a younger star compared to a yellow and to a much older red star?

[komikboy]

i read it read it few time...

and yes... what's wrong with blue sun? is it meant to be like a dim star?

what is artificial heart of the sun, anyway... ?

[Jake1823]

Just a joy. I need to re-read the whole thing again, just to experience it all together.

I hope they do specials. I'm gonna miss this book.

[PyroTwilight]

A blue sun would destroy the world agriculture and thus everyone on the planet cause the plants dont convert blue energy well if at all.

The 2 presumably stood for Superman Secundus.


As for Earth Q that's a good question. I guess just to have a fun Superman made Siegel jab.

[superboy650]

I was blown away by this issue. While I do think issue 10 was the best issue in the story, 11 and 12 were necessary. I'm pretty sure Superman had his powers when he fought Lex, but he didn't use them for the reasons he says at the end. And I'm sure Grant used the Blue sun as a method to get the fact that the sun was poisoned across, and that if Superman hadn't fixed it, it would have imploded on itself and destroyed Earth and the solar system.

[Eric Q]

Damn...February seems like forever from now...

[Marky*]

Nice end to a great series, I wanna see volume (or project!) 2!!!

[Lukecash]

Binker....

Superman didn't die. He transformed into something better than the hero he was. Solar superman showed up at Pa Kents death. As Lois pointed out, he's coming back. It's tied into DC 1,000,000

Strangely enough, Blue Sun actually gave Humans "Super Powers"

It was a good issue, and a fitting end for his love letter to the Silver Age. Had this been in the regular series, I wouldn't have enjoyed it. Probabbly why I don't get Morrissons Batman

[jafabian]

In fact, didn't Morrison all but confirm that Supes is immortal?

I like how open ended this is. Grant and Frank can easily revisit this sometime down the road.

[mpjedi2]

Meh.

I'm not a fan of Quitely's art.

And the whole series has been middle-of-the-road for me.