It's that time again! It's time to join the Man of Steel in what looks like his final adventures! Last time, Superman wrote his last will and testament, while performing some grand epic deeds. He helped some sick kids, laid the groundwork for the future, all that good stuff. Even though he's on his way to meet the Grim Reaper, he still has some unfinished business to attend to. You'll see what I mean, when we look at All-Star Superman #11!
The cover is a Frank Quitely and Jamie Grant piece. It's pretty unique, depicting Clark Kent sitting at his computer, the screen showing the headline "Superman Dead". It's a cover that would stand out from the more dynamic action covers you expect from superhero comics.
"Red Sun Day"
Writer: Grant Morrison
Penciler: Frank Quitely
Inker: Jamie Grant
Colorist: Jamie Grant
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Editors: Bob Schreck, Brandon Montclare
Editor-in-Chief: Dan DiDio
The story begins with Lex Luthor getting put in the electric chair. He's finally going to pay the ultimate penalty for all the evil deeds had committed over the years. He scoffs that Superman isn't here to see this, which again, shows his seeing everything through the filter of his ego. If the positions were reversed, Luthor would have moved heaven and Earth to watch it. He taunts a guard at the switch, asking how he feels about killing the man who could have cured cancer? The guard doesn't care. He flips the switch.
But it turns out Luthor had a trick up his sleeve.
Page 250, Panels 4-5
"...why does everything smell like copper?"
Yeah, remember Luthor having that book on how to mix cocktails in the last issue? Well, it turns out that he wanted more than to just enjoy a drink. He had created a serum that gives him superpowers for 24 hours. For the next whole day's worth of time, he's essentially as powerful as Superman.
Over at the Fortress of Solitude, Superman is making some final preparations. He's closing up the Fortress and giving instructions to his robots. He looks back on his various mementos of his career, like an example of Zibarro's poetry, Lois's Superwoman suit, and various other knick-knacks. Like all of us, Superman loves his knick-knacks. I bet he has the coolest Transformers collection. But that's not important right now. Superman's cells are decaying faster, and he still has things to do. But he'll get them done. There's always a way.
Luthor returns to his lair, where Nasthalthia is waiting for him. A bit of a funny moment occurs when she asks when she can have powers, and Luthor tells her that she can when he's able to trust her with the car. Lex is a bit high on his powers, building a robot at super-speed. He lets Nasty have his devices, as he won't need them. She announces she has been planning her wedding. It'll be a simple affair, her and her undead groom on an asteroid hurtling towards earth, ritual suicide, and bringing out mass species extinction. You know, the classic wedding stuff. The two come up to the streets, the city being bathed in red sunlight. Remember, Superman loses his powers under red sunlight. This is thanks to Solaris.
Speaking of the Man of Tomorrow, he's got himself on a new suit to take on Solaris. He and his Superman Robots, except for one, who will guard the Fortress. Superman's new suit is meant to protect him from the red solar rays. He and the Robots engage the Tyrant Sun. Superman tells the robots to save themselves, as their memory banks will get wiped. This is presumably thanks to all the radiation and electromagnetic energies floating around. One robot, 7, refuses. 7 reveals that Solaris hacked its neural net (Remember, Solaris is also a machine. It's essentially a big mean angry computer) and from there, it was able to give Luthor the formula to give himself powers.
Superman also gets some extra help.
Page 263, Panel 1
"Where's my money, Solaris?!"
The baby Sun-Eater that he released comes by to help. It tries to consume Solaris. Thing is, it's not a fully-grown Sun-Eater, and Solaris is far too powerful for it, so the Sun-Eater gets blown up.
Superman in enraged, and starts beating on the Tyrant Sun. Back on Earth, a commotion erupts in Metropolis. Jimmy and Lois end up meeting the cause of it: Nasthalthia Luthor.
Page 265, Panel 5
"Anybody know where the McDonalds is?"
And yes, she has a tank.
Luckily, Lois and Jimmy are saved by Superman knocking Solaris into Earth. Superman yells for everyone to take cover. He points out that in the 24th century, Solaris will have been rehabilitated and works with humanity, presumably another reference to DC One Million. And that rehab is beginning now. Solaris begs for mercy, and Superman tells him this.
"You'll live."
Superman than hits Solaris with a Mighty Punch, and there's an explosion.
When the smoke clears, Solaris is knocked loopy...and there's an empty solar suit. Superman has seemingly been vaporized. Nasthalthia declares this the first day of a new world, a world without Superman. Yeah, babe, the world did have to go without Superman before he came to Earth. And if the Bizarros are any indication, they'll do alright without him.
But it turns out Clark isn't really dead, but he got knocked loopy too, as he stumbles into the Daily Planet offices and then collapses at his desk. The other members of the staff try to revive him, but them they get a surprise guest: A superpowered Lex Luthor.
I enjoyed this comic. We're well on our way to the full climax here. Superman is on his last legs, Luthor is at his most powerful, and Nasthalthia is funny. I mean, I found it amusing when she talked about the "World Without Superman". After all, it's not like we can assume that he's the only superhero running around. Superman has mentioned Batman a couple of times, including in this very issue. We've also seen Bizarro versions of Green Lantern, Flash, and Wonder Woman, so we can assume they're also running around. I'm just saying, Nasty. If they find out about all of this, and you're potentially involved in Superman's presumed death...they'll come down on you and Lex like the angriest ton of bricks ever.
We get a bit of everything in this issue. A bit of action, a bit of character stuff, a bit of tragedy.
As for Frank Quitely's art, I've said everything I've had to say about it before, so I will not repeat it here.
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