Superman! Superman! Superman! The world echoes with the iconic name, set to the soaring strains of John Williams’ legendary score. A hopeful new dawn for the DC Cinematic Universe is unveiled in the first trailer for James Gunn’s Superman film.
On July 11, 2025, James Gunn’s Superman, starring David Corensworth, will soar onto the big screen. Gunn serves as both writer and director, a role he initially hesitated to take on, focusing first on crafting the screenplay.
Gunn’s script draws its inspiration from the acclaimed All-Star Superman comic book, a twelve-issue miniseries penned by the visionary Grant Morrison. This graphic novel masterfully portrays Superman revealing his secrets to Lois Lane while confronting his own mortality. Gunn, a lifelong comic book enthusiast, has openly acknowledged the comic’s influence.
Based on arguably the greatest Superman comic ever created, what can we expect from this faithful adaptation? Let's delve into what makes All-Star Superman so exceptional:
Table of Contents
- One of the greatest…
- Grant Morrison is a skilled and frugal storyteller
- The door to the Silver Age of superheroes
- This comic is an inventively told good story
- It's a comic book about people
- A story about our relationship with the past and the future
- This comic breaks down the boundaries between the narrative and the reader
- It's a story about boundless optimism
Image: ensigame.com…Among the greatest, if not *the* greatest, Superman comics of the 21st century is Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s All-Star Superman. For those unfamiliar, let's explore its appeal, especially in the context of the new DCU era. And for those who've read it and shelved it, let's reignite that enthusiasm.
Warning: I won’t shy away from discussing All-Star Superman's plot points. The excitement lies not in the suspense of the unknown, but in the masterful storytelling. While I'll avoid unnecessary retellings, accompanying images and examples are drawn from across the series and may contain spoilers.
Here's why All-Star Superman resonates so deeply:
Grant Morrison is a skilled and frugal storyteller
Image: ensigame.com
Morrison masterfully unveils the plot, humanizes the characters, and even depicts Superman's sun-flight in the very first issue—all while encapsulating the essence of the Superman mythos within a remarkably concise space. This economy of storytelling is a key element worth examining.
The first page, with its eight words and four illustrations, encapsulates Superman's origin story with breathtaking brevity and impact. It's a perfect blend of love, a new home, hope, and faith in progress. Eight words, four images—a testament to the power of concise storytelling. The subsequent expansion adds depth and complexity to these foundational elements. Compare this to a film adaptation to see the challenge of maintaining this lightness of touch. In some film adaptations, for example, the merging of two scenes can inadvertently portray Superman as responsible for deaths, highlighting the skill required in the comic's narrative.
Image: ensigame.com
Morrison's minimalist approach continues throughout. In issue #10, Superman's encounter with Lex Luthor in prison, where he offers a simple "Lex, I know there's good in you," is rendered with stunning economy, encapsulating a decades-long conflict in a few panels. Similarly, the difference between Jor-El and Superman is brilliantly conveyed in two panels—one showing Jor-El carelessly handing a heavy key, and the other showing Superman instantly assisting his struggling sidekick. This underscores Morrison's precision with language and imagery.
While not always the most concise dialogue writer, Morrison, at his best (and All-Star is a prime example), avoids unnecessary words. He's particularly proud of the "haiku about unified field theory" spoken by a quantum scientist in issue one and Lex Luthor's closing remarks in issue twelve.
The door to the Silver Age of superheroes
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Recent decades of superhero comics have been a journey to escape the shadow of the Silver Age, and the challenges of that legacy. The Silver Age, with its sometimes outlandish villains, fantastical pets, and improbable escapes, presents a unique challenge for modern storytelling.
All-Star Superman acknowledges this legacy, recognizing that we stand on the shoulders of giants, even if we find some of their work amusing today. Understanding the past—be it Dostoevsky or Dickens—enriches our understanding of the present. Similarly, understanding the Silver Age's context informs our appreciation of modern comics.
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We cannot return to the Silver Age, but we can learn from it. Morrison and Quitely don't simply replicate; they translate the Silver Age into a language we understand today. The Silver Age's influence is evident, but subtly woven into a modern narrative.
This comic is an inventively told good story
Image: ensigame.com
Superman comics face a unique challenge: Superman, by his very nature, rarely needs to *fight*. Most superhero stories utilize physical conflict to express various themes, but Superman's overwhelming power renders such conflicts anticlimactic. This forces writers to be more inventive.
Morrison cleverly navigates this. Many conflicts are resolved quickly, focusing on the emotional and intellectual challenges rather than physical battles. The tension arises not from the certainty of victory, but from the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by Superman. In the "new defenders of Earth" storyline, the challenge is not defeating Kryptonians, but saving them. The confrontation with Lex Luthor focuses on redemption rather than destruction. Solaris is the only opponent simply defeated, reflecting established continuity.
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Morrison's genius lies in his ability to condense the grandeur of Superman's mythology into a concise narrative. Superman saves people, competes with other heroes, and solves mysteries—all within the confines of a single, brilliant story.
It's a comic book about people
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What occupies Superman's thoughts as his life nears its end? Not his accomplishments, but his friends and loved ones. The narrative dedicates more space to these relationships than to his superhuman feats. This focus on human connection is central to All-Star Superman.
The story often shifts perspective, exploring the experiences of Lois, Jimmy Olsen, Lex Luthor, and other supporting characters. We see Superman's impact on their lives, and their reactions to him. Even his friendship with Batman, a significant element of Superman's mythology, is subtly woven into the narrative through conversations and references. This approach mirrors our own relationship with Superman: we connect with him through his impact on the lives of others.
A story about our relationship with the past and the future
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All-Star Superman explores the interplay between past, present, and future. Superhero comics inherently deal with chronology, building upon established narratives. Morrison demonstrates that neither escaping the past, nor clinging to it, provides true liberation. Instead, we must learn from the past and build upon its foundations.
This comic breaks down the boundaries between the narrative and the reader
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Morrison masterfully blurs the lines between narrative and reader. The comic directly addresses the reader, creating a sense of immediacy and intimacy. This interaction begins with the cover of the first issue and continues throughout, drawing the reader into the story in a unique way. The final issue culminates in a powerful moment where Lex Luthor, with tears in his eyes, seems to look directly at the reader, questioning our perception of the universe.
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This isn't just about characters looking at the reader; it's about experiencing the world through Superman's eyes. By the twelfth issue, the reader has, in a sense, become Superman, sharing his perspective and understanding. This immersive experience is a hallmark of Morrison's storytelling.
It's a story about boundless optimism
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All-Star Superman reflects on the process of canon formation in superhero comics. The twelve "feats" Superman undertakes aren't explicitly outlined, but become a reader-created canon. The comic itself becomes a "variant canon," adding another layer to the Superman mythos. These feats—defeating time, traveling to another universe, creating life, conquering the sun, and curing cancer—are not just plot points, but symbolic representations of hope and possibility.
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Morrison's All-Star Superman isn't just a story; it's an epic testament to the power of hope and optimism. It's a story that deserves to be reimagined for the big screen, and Gunn's vision promises to be a bold and exciting addition to the DCU.
