All-Star Superman #12

It's that time again! It's time to join the Man of Steel in his final adventures! Last time, Lex Luthor managed to escape the electric chair thanks to a serum that gave him the powers of Superman. Superman also had to deal with Solaris seemingly getting himself vaporized taking down Solaris the Tyrant Sun. So, where do we go from here? Let's take a look at All-Star Superman #12!

The story begins with Kal-El, seemingly alive and in one piece.

Well, no. He's dead.

He's essentially in the Kryptonian version of the afterlife. And he's united with his biological father Jor-El. Jor-El explains that because Kryptonians' bodies absorb and store solar energies, it had an effect on how they die. You know the old adage "Matter and energy cannot be created or destroyed"? It's a similar principle here. They only change. And that is what is happening to Superman. His consciousness, his soul as it were, is ascending into a new form, building itself "thought-palaces" that can be either their heaven or Hell. And Superman has two options: Stay in this thought palace...or turn and face evil one final time. It's not hard to guess which option Superman chooses. After all, there's still a job for Superman...and it looks like there's a big one for him.

Page 276, Panel 1

The floating Luthor sneers at the Daily Planet staff. They were the ones who put him in the electric chair, so he figures they should decide which of them lives or dies next. Perry White points out that the truth put him in the chair, all the Daily Planet staff did was basically report it. Luthor mocks the concept of truth as it's something that can be seen or touched. Lois tries another tactic. She's had experience with being as powerful as the Man of Steel. She has a good idea of the rush he feels right now. Just think about it.

Luthor admits he could use a propaganda spokesperson. So, back to the thought-palace!

Jor-El tries to convince Kal-El that his time is over. After all, he's helped build a future for the Kandorians and Earth. He's given them something to aspire to, showing there is always hope, there is always a chance at a better future. Kal screams as what appears to be Krypton exploding.

Back at the Daily Planet, Steve Lombard tries to wake up Clark, apologizing for all the pranks he's pulled on Clark. Jimmy shows Luthor a photo from the Planet's Singapore newsdesk. The photo shows that the Sun has turned blue. Solaris poisoned the Sun, taking advantage of Luthor's vanity. Being the vain sort, Luthor doesn't like being told he's been made to look stupid. He blows Lois away with some super-breath. That's when Clark wakes up.

After tossing Jimmy Olsen aside, Luthor's all like "Alright, who else wants to take on the strongest man in the world?" Clark asks if Luthor is maybe a bit too...unstable for the kind of power he has. Luthor notices that Clark is grabbing something out of a drawer. 

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What? You don't have a Gravity Gun? I have a Gravity Guns are great. And this is the DCU. I can imagine in Texas, people stockpile Gravity Guns. Jimmy provides an extra Superman costume, thinking he was posing as Clark. He assures everyone Clark is fine, and he's got Luthor handled. The Man of Steel hits Luthor with a truck, hiding with his Gravity Gun. Luthor can find him, though. But that is not a problem. You see, Superman had planned for this.

(huh)

Yes, he had suspected Luthor was involved with this whole thing since Robot 7 malfunctioned when he was creating that Exo-Gene serum for Lois. Over the years, he's had to confiscate some very deadly weapons from all over the Milky Way, including the Gravity Gun. Thanks to being under the effects of it, Luthor has to work fifty times harder to stay in the air. But that's not why he chose the gun. An enraged Luthor then beats the tar out of Superman, screaming he will not die until Superman does first. The mad scientist manages to knock our hero from a bunch of loops. Nasthalthia proclaims that this is Science Year Zero, the new era. She notices Luthor is acting weird.

(what's wrong with you)

Thing is, Superman's powers are also having a little side effect, in a way. Lex is starting to see the world as Superman sees it. He sees the forces binding the universe together. He can see the machinery of the universe. He realizes that humanity is all it has. It's all we got. And it's why Superman is the force for good that he is.

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Superman reveals the real reason he used the Gravity Gun on Lex. Lex's powers have to compensate harder to withstand the gravity he is under. And it makes his powers burn out and wear off faster. Yup, Superman outsmarted one of the smartest men in the entire DC Universe.

(smart)

Superman gives Lex a Mighty Punch. Luthor has another vial of the serum...which is now in Superman's hands. The mad genius rants and raves that he could have saved the world if it weren't for the Man of Steel. Superman decks him with another Mighty Punch and cuts through all of Lex's self-aggrandizing whining and BS with one sentence.

You could have saved the world years ago if it mattered to you, Luthor. 

I love this line. More on that later. Lois runs into the Man of Tomorrow's arms like the rescued princess into the knight that saved her. Superman still has to repair the sun. His body is transforming into energy...and information. He only has seconds to do this, his final labor. He kisses Lois and tells her he loves her. And he always will. Until the end of time. And he flies off, Lois proclaiming her love for her Metropolis Marvel. In his last moments as a mortal man (seemingly), Kal-El of Krypton flies into the sun, changing it back from blue to yellow. 

A year passes. Jimmy asks if Lois is sure she doesn't want to speak at Superman's memorial service. Makes sense she'd be asked. After all, like Jimmy, she was close to him. She is sure. After all, she believes Superman is not dead. He's repairing the sun. And when he does, he'll come back. He knows where to find her if he does. True to her belief, the Man of Tomorrow is there, doing exactly that. 

Over at the P.R.O.J.E.C.T, Leo Quintum talks to his assistant Agatha about the ceremony. He found it very moving. He also notes that Luthor seemed to find closure in it. After all, he seemingly got what he wanted: A world without Superman. Quintum finds it a unique challenge to human ingenuity. Agatha wonders what if Superman never does return. Quintum isn't worried. After all, there is a plan for that. The miniseries ends with him looking at a blue door with Superman's iconic shield insignia on it...only the "S" is replaced with a "2"...

I really enjoyed this comic, and the miniseries as a whole. 

All-Star Superman #11 (July 2008)

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.

All-Star Superman #10 (May 2008)

It's that time again! It's time to join the Man of Steel in what appears to be his final adventures.

The story begins in Egypt. It's 7:02 AM. What's going on there? Well, if you were at the pyramids on this day, you may have seen a flying school bus. 

Page 225, Panel 1

Nothing sinister going on, it's just Superman taking a bunch of ill children on a little field trip. They love his visits. Last time, he took them to see that Moonbase. Got to see some moon rocks. It was neat. 

The time? 11:25 PM. Superman is hard at work composing something he thought he'd never have to do...at least, not at this point in his life: writing his last will and testament. And because he's Superman, he doesn't do it with a pen and paper. He has a laser write Kryptonese on a slab of metal, the laser attached to an apparatus that reads his thoughts. Because he's Superman. He recalls that the time-travelling adventurer known as Samson told him he'd complete Twelve Challenges before he died. So far, he has accomplished seven. Every one of these tasks has brought him closer to meeting the Grim Reaper himself. And he has no time to waste.

The time? 10:25 AM. Yeah, we're moving back and forth through one day. Leo Quintum has headed towards the Bottle City of Kandor. He's there because he believes he has found a solution to Kandor still well, being shrunk. He also heard that Kandor has some great restaurants. Mmmm, Kryptonian mac and cheese...

The time? 12:01 AM. Superman wanted to study what a world without him would be like. So, he made a universe.

Page 230, Panel 5

"Yeah, how did Bizarro DNA end up in it?" 

The time? 4:35 PM. Superman is stopping a bullet train that ran amuck. 

Page 231, Panel 2

Remember that man screaming on the phone there. This'll be important.

He's investigating a rampage, caused by someone looking for what appears to be a time capsule from the far future. Then he spots the cause of the whole mess.

Page 232, Panel 1

"The Power Rangers just had to be on vacation today..."

That is one angry giant robot. And even worse, it has Lois Lane in its grasp. This is a Tuesday for her. Superman smashes the robot's head, revealing it's actually a giant mech piloted by an old mad scientist named Mechano-Man with Alzheimer's. And he's after Luthor for some reason.

Superman is able to calm that situation down, and Lois reveals she got herself captured because she's been unable to get Superman's attention any other way, and she really wants to talk to him. She knows that he's dying from the events of issue #1. Leo Quintum accidentally slipped it out to her, but he also feels that he shouldn't burden this alone. 

Lois begs Superman to find a way to save his own life. He has always found a way out of situations like this before. Superman points out to Lois that there is no way to stop this by telling her that they can't have children (Kryptonian and Human DNA being too incompatible). Again, she says there has to be a way. After all, that's what he himself says. Superman then hears the man from earlier screaming to a girl named Regan to not put the phone down and that he's on his way. He has to take care of something. On a building, a young woman gets ready to jump off it, but Superman arrives. He assures her that the doctor did get held up. She's a lot stronger than she thinks, and things are not as bad as she believes.

Page 236, Panels 3-4

This moment has become a rather iconic one from this miniseries. More on this later. The time? 11:00 AM. The Kandorian Council is debating Quintum's proposal. The Kandorian Emergency Corps have made up their minds after hearing Quintum's proposal. And they have a plan to save Superman's life.

Page 237, Panel 5

"And we're going to look real spiffy doing it, too!"

The time? 1:36 PM. Superman is repairing the world's bridges. Meanwhile, on the artificial Earth-Q, its version of Australian Aboriginals is making rock paintings of gods. 

The time? 3:27 PM. Superman is reciting his genetic code. On Earth-Q's India, a man is carving a statue of one of the many gods of Hindu mythology. In particular, Krishna. 

The time? 5:13 PM. Superman goes to visit Luthor, who has started reading up on making cocktails. Gotta find some way to pass the last weeks of your life, I guess.

 Superman tells Luthor he has won. The world is his for the next three weeks before he is executed. As such, Superman gives him a challenge. Since Lex likes to say that his big brain could have saved the world if Superman would just stop getting in the way by existing, this is his chance to do so. Luthor responds by hocking a loogie at him. It's a nice subtle way of showing that Luthor's talk of how he could have made the world a better place is exactly that: All talk. 

Meanwhile on Earth-Q, that Earth's undergoing its own Renaissance. Its version of scholar and philosopher Giovanni Pico della Mirandola is giving a public discourse that would be known as the Oration of the Dignity of Man. This oration would become known as the "Manifesto of the Renaissance". In real life, it was never delivered due to Pope Innocent VIII canceling it and having it investigated for heresy.

The time? 9:10 PM. Superman opens the "time capsule", revealing that it contains a message from the 24th century. The message is from a scientist known as Roo Mac2. Roo wants to warn Superman that "Solaris" is coming. He's forbidden from doing this, but he feels he has to as well, he owes his life to Superman. Why? Because if it weren't for the Man of Tomorrow, Roo wouldn't exist.

Remember that girl Superman managed to save earlier? Well, it turns out that she is an ancestor of Roo's. Yeah. One act of kindness, a life being saved has a very big impact. 

The time? 11:20 PM. Superman is at work making a new supersuit. The 8th Challenge is coming. 

The time? 4:30 PM. Superman and Leo Quintum are placing the Bottle City of Kandor on Mars. Superman has to go, as he's seeing Mechano-Man on a rampage. Before he leaves, he gives Quintum a couple of gifts: A book that records his entire genetic structure (Quintum has never been able to develop a successful clone of Superman without it becoming a Bizarro), as well as instructions on how to combine it with human DNA, basically allowing a hybrid to exist. A little something for Lois. 😉

Over on Earth-Q, Friedrich Nietzsche is developing his concept of the Ubermensch. 

The time? 6:45 PM. The Kandorian Emergency Squad has some bad news. Despite their superhuman abilities, they can't stop the solar overdose from killing him. That's fine, though. They were able to buy some time, which is something Superman needed. And it's not like they can't still do some good. Remember those sick kids Superman took to Egypt? Well, Kandorian super-doctors may not have been able to cure Superman...but there isn't any Earth disease they can't tackle. So, yeah. Those kids are going to be a-okay. 👍 

And on Earth-Q, in Cleveland, Ohio, a Canadian immigrant is sketching something. Something that'll become a big hit.

Page 245, Panel 3

The time? 11:49 PM. Lois Lane finds an article open on Clark's computer. It's another gift he gives to her: the Headline of the Century.

Page 246, Panel 4

"God, even in death, he beats me to the punch!" 

Morrison has long stated that they see superheroes as modern mythology. It's not hard to see why they would come to that idea. I mean, think about it. Superhero stories often feature beings with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal man, having grand adventures while interacting with mortals, and their stories have been told and retold in various forms over the decades. It's hardly an unreasonable conclusion to make. The point of Earth-Q is meant to show that even in a world without any of the fantastical elements we think of in a superhero universe, Superman can still come into existence in some form.

The main meat of the story is basically a day in the life of a Superman reaching the end of his life. We see him make plans for a future without him. The Kandorians have a new home and potential for a new golden age on Mars. Leo Quintum has a chance to make new protectors to take over for the Man of Steel. This amused me as this seems to imply that outside of Batman, there are no other superheroes running around...which makes no sense to me. We've seen Bizarro versions of Wonder Woman, Flash, and Green Lantern, which seems to imply that they exist as well. I get not having them appear (this is a Superman-focused story, after all), but 

All-Star Superman #9

It's that time again! It's time to look in on the Man of Steel in his supposed last adventures!

The story begins right after the events of the last issue, in which Superman managed to free himself from Bizarro World/Htrae with the help of Zibarro. He ends up landing near a circus tent. And naturally, being Superman, he's more worried about accidentally scaring people than any injuries on his part.

Page 201, Panel 4

He flies off, unaware that he's been...replaced.

(uh oh)

Superman flies back to Metropolis, and notices something...odd. The damage that Metropolis endured during the Bizarro rampage seems to not only have been repaired, but the city looks better than ever. Among its skyscrapers of concrete, steel and glass are crystal spires. Even the Daily Planet has got itself a makeover.

Page 203, Panel 1

Superman is...understandably confused.

(huh)

He could not have been gone that long. But time dilation can be a pain. He switches back to his Clark Kent clothes and is confronted by Perry White, who wonders where he's been in the last two months. 

(what)

Turns out in the hiatus, two new heroes have popped up in the City of Tomorrow. But they're not in the city at the moment. They're busy preventing a volcano from erupting and giving the nearby villages a lava bath. However, these two new heroes had another purpose behind it.

Page 205, Panel 5

Meet Bar-El and Lilo. Like Superman himself, they survived the destruction of Krypton. And much like Supes himself, the yellow sun has given them great power. Bar-El thinks this area would be a great spot for a capital city of a New Krypton. It's a nice spot. It's scenic, climate is nice, and there are some great views of the ocean. Lilo disagrees, thinking they could have just cleared the people out of Metropolis and started there. Less work. 

Superman spots them and asks if they need help. Showing their arrogance, they think it's the wind. Our man recognizes them. Bar-El and Lilo, Krypton's first astronauts. They were believed to be lost in space for decades. That's how they survived Krypton's destruction. The two are familiar with Superman, as his deeds have made him into a legend on Earth. They wonder why he never returned to Earth. That's because it's Superman's home. He was raised here. Clark mentions Jor-El, and they remark they have heard of him. A young dreamer, an ineffectual man. They're not surprised Kal-El takes after him. He could have made Earth into a new Krypton, instead of leaving it like this. Clark points out that he had no right to impose Kryptonian values on anyone. Also, he was a baby when he arrived on Earth. He had no values to force on anyone. As he was a baby.

(I'm just saying)

They head back to Superman's Fortress, where to his shock, they've taken over the place and redecorated it. As they show him around, Bar-El and Lilo remark that they have the right to conquer this world as on this planet, thanks to its yellow sun and weaker gravity, they may as well be gods to the Earthlings. They mock the Kandorians trapped in their Bottle City, even say that the criminals trapped in the Phantom Zone have more dignity than the Earthlings. Bar-El is disgusted with Clark, as he sees him as just as much of a softie as Jor-El. At least Jor-El never went native. Bar-El then starts laying Mighty Punches on the Man of Steel.

(fight fight fight)

They toss Superman into the Moon so hard it threatens to crack the Moon in half. Keep in mind, at this point, Superman is far more powerful than that. Scary, huh?

(scary)

Anyway, the two Kryptonian astronauts seal the moon by stealing some bridges and using them as essentially giant staples. The next day, Clark Kent arrives at the Daily Planet. Steve Lombard uses a lighter to literally light a fire under his butt, because he thinks it's funny.

(roll eyes)

But like in the Bronze Age comics, Clark gets a bit of payback by lighting Lombard's toupee on fire with his heat vision.

Page 215, Panel 2

Not that's comedy. Bar-El and Lilo find Superman there, and the arrogant astronauts are rather disgusted by his living among the humans as if he's one of them. Lombard, ever the brilliant intellect, thinks they're talking about him. But before they can expose Superman's secret identity to his Daily Planet coworkers, Lilo suddenly feels...weak. She starts to fall to the ground. Superman catches her. He examines her and notes that the minerals in her body are turning into Kryptonite.

(how)

You see, Kryptonite (at least the green variety) as we know it came about thanks to shards of the planet Krypton passing through a radioactive cloud in space. The radiation in the cloud altered the molecular structure of the shards, turning them into radioactive rocks of death. Bar-El and Lilo must have traveled through the cloud in their years in space. They're literally being poisoned to death by their own bodies. Superman asks them to let him help them. They may have been jerks, but they're still Kryptonians. They're still Clark's people. 

He takes them to the Fortress of Solitude, where they can interact via a device called a "thoughtscreen" (the Kryptonite poisoning has made them blind). Bar-El is shocked by this, as after all he's done, Superman's been nothing but kind. Superman explains that's because of his Earth parents. He may have been a child of Krypton, but he's just as much a child of Earth. Kal-El is the best of both worlds. 

Bar-El finds himself feeling proud of Kal-El. His heart grows three sizes this day, telling Clark that Krypton's heart lives on in the Man of Tomorrow. Clark admits that Bar-El was right about one thing: he's the son of a scientist. It's his nature to observe and learn. Maybe he could be more active. But now is not the time to dwell on that. His kin are dying.

There is a way to keep them alive. Like Mon-El before them, putting them in the Phantom Zone can do this, but it has to be their decision. Bar-El just asks Clark to put his hand in Lilo's. They agree to go, seeing this as another adventure. And like all their adventures in the past, they'll undergo it together. As Superman activates the projector, he promises to find a way to save them. But until then, the Zone will have some law and order. The last panel is of the two astronauts arriving in the Zone, a smirking Bar-El cracking his knuckles. Welcome your new wardens, skels.

I enjoyed this little one-off story. If I have one real criticism of the writing, it's that Bar-El and Lilo's humbling came about a bit quickly. But this is a one-off tale, so it can be forgiven. As for the art, well, I've talked about Frank Quitely's art in the past, and I don't feel the need to repeat it. My views on it have not changed. Great storyteller, but his renditions of people are very uncanny valley to me, yada yada yada.

When I think about it, I think Bar-El and Lilo inspired the portrayal of Jor-El and Lara in James Gunn's Superman movie. I mean, it does make a bit of sense. Gunn has credited All-Star Superman as one of the inspirations behind his movie, so I can see the slight resemblance.  

  

All-Star Superman #8 (August 2007)

It's that time again! It's time to join Superman in what looks like his final adventures! Last time, the planet got invaded by Bizarros, this new take on them being more like zombies than in the traditional Silver Age comics. Superman ended up trapped on Bizarro World, and his powers are weakening, only to end up meeting a strange new being called Zibarro. How will Superman get out of this mess? Let's find out in All-Star Superman #8!

The cover is a Frank Quitely and Jamie Grant piece.

"Us Do Opposite"
Writer: Grant Morrison
Penciler: Frank Quitely
Inker: Jamie Grant
Letterer: Phil Balsman
Editors: Bob Schreck, Brandon Montclare
Executive Editor: Dan DiDio

The story begins on Htrae, aka Bizarro World, where Superman ended up after the events of the last issue. Superman can't escape because Bizarro World is shifting into a place called the "Underverse". It's causing the sunlight to shift in color from yellow to red, and being a Kryptonian, Superman is powerless under a red sun.

Zibarro, the imperfect Bizarro clone we were introduced to in the last issue, starts lamenting how alone he is, the only intelligent being in a world of backwards mindless Bizarros. And it still won't matter in the end, as when the All-Night comes, he'll be subsumed into the sludge like everyone else here. Superman can't possibly understand how lonely his existence can be.

Yeah, that's hilarious. But that's tabled when Superman hears a voice.

Page 4, Panel 1

Yup, that's Le-Roj, the Bizarro version of Jor-El, Superman's biological father. Which makes sense. Bizarros are all about being opposite to Earthlings. Jor-El got blowed up real good, Le-Roj lives. Anyway, Le-Roj grumbles about some blueprints not making sense (In Bizarro terms). Superman exclaims that it can't be hopeless. There has to be a way to escape Bizarro World...and then he gets an idea.

If a spaceship can be built, Superman can escape this place like he escaped Krypton as a baby. Zibarro thinks that is impossible. The Bizarros are idiots, and they'll just be consumed when Bizarro World goes fully back to the Underverse.

Back on Earth, Leo Quintum briefs Lois on the situation. Once Htrae goes back completely into the Underverse, even Superman won't survive there for long. This understandably has Lois rather confused. After all, the Man of Steel seems to have become more powerful than ever in recent months. Leo realizes that Lois isn't aware Superman has actually been dying since the vents of issue #1. Lois puts it together and realizes that Luthor caused that space disaster as a way to finally achieve one of his life goals: Killing Superman...and he used the very thing that gave the Man of Tomorrow his power to do it.

Leo assures her that P.R.O.J.E.C.T has been busting their butts to try and cure Supes. So far, they've failed. Not to mention when they looked at the data from the solar probe that Luthor sabotaged, they discovered that something was hiding in the sun. 

Back to Htrae! Superman tries to get the Bizarros to help him, but they won't. Zibarro points out that it's useless, but Superman realizes something: Bizarros think in opposite to humans. For example, a Bizarro will describe something a human finds boring as "interesting". Using this, Superman convinces the Bizarros to help him build the rocket, saying they can be "lazy" and the rocket will be "useless". In Bizarro speak, they can work hard and build the useful rocket! 

Bizarro not only agrees to help, but he brought his own help: The Unjustice League!

Page 12, Panels 1-4.

Yeah, the Bizarro JLA is hilarious. Sadly, in the Bizarro tradition, they're as useless as the Justice League is effective. Zibarro notices the plans for the rocket indicate there is only room for one person. Superman explains that the rocket will be subjecting him to some imaginable stresses, and there's no guarantee that he will survive, much less Zibarro. After all, Zibarro seemingly has no powers. Superman does promise him that he'll try and help Zibarro.   

Zibarro screams he'll gladly take the risk, as he's desperate to get off Bizarro World. He doesn't fit in. He's a flaw, a failure, an imperfection. But Superman points out that Zibarro is unique. He's special. He's not a freak, or an imperfection. He's a sign. He's proof that Bizarro World can be better. After all, why else would this world make him? 

The All-Night is coming. The Bizarros are getting ready to launch the rocket, and they're not willing to wait until Superman is on it. However, Superman has weakened very badly by this point. He's struggling to even stand. Zibarro muses that he wants what Superman has: love. Respect. A home where he belongs. But he muses that maybe in his own way, Superman is as lonely as he is. After all, he's seemingly the last survivor of Krypton on an alien world. He helps Superman to the rocket.

When he's on it, Superman calls Zibarro a friend, which seems to genuinely touch the copy's heart. He isn't able to light the rocket, so Superman insults his Bizarro counterpart, who angrily tosses him off of the planet. Back on Earth, Leo Quintum reports that Htrae has been completely absorbed into the Underverse...and Superman is seemingly gone. The story ends on a hopeful note: Zibarro smiling and waving goodbye as Bizarro World retracts into itself. 

I enjoyed this issue. It was an interesting one-off tale. The concept of Zibarro is actually pretty brilliant. A planet of copies upon copies upon copies? One is bound to end up not quite right by Bizarro standards. The idea of a Bizarro that is much saner than his fellow Bizarros is rife with story-telling potential. The ending is bittersweet for Zibarro, but I like to think that it's more sweet than bitter. After all, as Superman said, Zibarro is proof the Bizarros can become better than what they are now. Things can improve for them. There will be bumps and forces will cause stumbles and backtracking, but ultimately, Zibarro is hope the Bizarros can grow beyond their current state.

I did find the Bizarro Justice League hilarious. It also implies that the rest of the JLA does exist. I know issue #2 mentioned Batman, but I like that this implies that the other members of the JLA exist as well. I would have liked to have heard their thoughts about Superman dying. Yeah, I know this is Superman's tale, but I would have been fine with a cameo of them reacting to it in various ways. 

I've said it before, and I'll say it again about Frank Quitely's art. I'm not a fan of it. But I think it really works well for the Bizarros and Bizarro World. His tendency to make people look rather "uncanny valley" really helps make the Bizarros look like pale imitations of humans. It works here. 

If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2011 trade paperback All-Star Superman. Thanks for reading 

All-Star Superman #7 (June 2007)

It's that time again! It's time to join the Man of Steel on his grandest, and possibly his last adventures! Last time, we got a nice little heartwarming tale of Superman getting to see his father, the late Jonathan Kent, for one last time. We also got a tie-to DC One Million, so that was nice for those who have read it. I haven't, but I want to. So, where do we go from here? How about a new take on a classic Superman rogue? Let's look at All-Star Superman #7!

The cover is a Frank Quitely and Jamie Grant piece. I like it. It depicts Superman and Bizarro brawling in the streets of Metropolis. It gives the impression that we are in for a fight, and I am excited for it!

"Being Bizarro"
Writer: Grant Morrison
Penciler: Frank Quitely
Inker: Jamie Grant
Colorist: Jamie Grant
Letterer: Phil Balsman
Editors: Bob Schreck, Brandon Montclare
Executive Editor: Dan Didio

The story begins...somewhere very yellow. Leo Quintum and one of his assistants are looking for a missing Bizarro technician. They're near a micro-singularity. A little too close to one for comfort. They manage to flee, but something managed to follow them. Something alive, and it's growing.

"Alright! About time I got an arm!"

Elsewhere in the cosmos, Superman is dealing with this alien tentacled squid-like creature.

"For the love of GOD, stay far away from Japan!"

This creature is a Sun-Eater, presumably the very same one that we saw Superman feed in issue #2. The little guy is getting a bit big, and he's ready to go out on his own...and potentially go Galactus on some alien race's sun. 

But that aside, Superman finds himself getting attacked by...Clayfaces?

"Wait, I owe you guys money, too?!"

Well, not quite. They're sending Superman towards what looks like another Earth. One that is shaped like a cube.

Over at the Daily Planet, there's a Christmas party going. Jimmy Olsen spots the "Clayfaces" crashing into Metropolis. And then they attack the party, claiming one expendable staffer who talked a lot.

"Bizarro hate you face! Bizarro not take you face!"

The staffer rants that that she is Bizarro and attacks the others, but Steve Lombard sends her out the window like she was Axel Foley after meeting Victor Maitland.

Lombard didn't change when touched, and he's amazed by it. The Daily Planet gang flee to the roof, hoping Superman will come to save them. Over at a library, Bizarro arrives. Superman then arrives and tells the people to get inside. Bizarro blasts at the Man of Tomorrow with his fire breath, but our man responds with a new trick.

Superman showing why he's DC's Most Electrifying Superhero.

Superman notices that this is new. The Bizarros of Htrae ("Earth" backwards, if you don't get the joke) have never been this hostile before. What is going on? Bizarro, in his own way, explains that he wants everyone to become Bizarros like him. Meanwhile, the Daily Planet crew is boarding a futuristic blimp. Superman knocks Bizarro into orbit. Jimmy contacts P.R.O.J.E.C.T. with his signal watch, and Leo Quintum gives some exposition.

What they're dealing with right now is a planet-eater. I wonder if it's related to Galactus?  Anyway, it crudely disguised itself as Earth as a way of appearing less threatening. As for the Bizarros and what happened to that poor Daily Planet employee? Well, that's part of the planet consumption process. There is good news and bad news, though. Good news? They're sickened by sunlight. Bad news? In Metropolis right now, it's 9:30 PM. In December. WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GET SUNLIGHT?!

Perry White points out to Superman that Steve Lombard is immune to the Bizarro infection. Superman examines him and it's discovered that he takes certain...performance pills. 

Since sunlight weakens them, Jimmy has an idea.

He suggests that a giant space mirror could be used to reflect sunlight to Metropolis. He admits that it's a nutty idea, and in the real world...he would be laughed off the roof. But this is a world homaging Silver/Bronze Age-era Superman, so it'll work here. But where can we get said big mirror from? Why, Htrae, of course!

Bizarro World has big oceans. If Superman could move the planet in the right position, the oceans can be used as a mirror. Supes is going to have to be fast. Bizarro World's presence is also causing further problems. Its position is affecting tides and the weather due to its gravity field. Bizarro World is a basically a big organism. Lois hopes Superman comes back to her, and he assures her he will as soon as he's done on Htrae. He gives her a card that contains an experimental formula for a Bizarro repellent. He gives her a little kiss on the head, wishes her a Merry Christmas, and flies off. 

The Metropolis Marvel heads towards the cubic planet and smashes a large mountain on it. A red light starts to appear over the planet. Olsen explains that Superman hurt it, so it's going back to the Underverse to lick its wounds. Superman tells Bizarro it's over and not to bother Earth again. Bizarro, in his own Bizarro way, says he doesn't want to go back to the Underverse, back into the cold and darkness of it. Superman notices that the gravitational pull of the planet is increasing as Htrae heads back, and the sunlight is turning red. The conditions of this world are becoming...like Krypton. Which means Superman...has lost his powers.

Superman is going to die here, and his world will be left in danger without him. Yeah, Supes, you mentioned Batman in one issue, and I think we can assume that other superheroes do exist here, even if it's only the classic Justice League roster. 

A new voice tells Superman that Bizarro will be no help. But he can, as he is a flaw. He's something that appears in every 5 billion copies of Bizarro. He's unique, self-aware, and suffers in a world that nothing is right to him. He introduces himself as...Zibarro. 

"...I am not cut out for architecture."

I enjoyed this issue, even though it is primarily set-up. It's one of those issues that is best read as part of All-Star Superman as a whole instead of on its own. That's something I have seen plenty of in my experience looking at 12-issue maxi-series like these. That is not a bad thing. This was still a good read. Morrison and Quitely provide a rather interesting, unique, and a terrifying take on the Bizarro concept, a giant organism that basically wants to make everything just like it. And the reveal of Zibarro being a "flawed copy" makes a, well...bizarre bit of sense. If so many copies get made at once, flaws are going to pop up. I also got a good laugh out of how Steve Lombard ended up immune to the Bizarro infection. 

I have talked about Quitely's art in the past, and my views of it. I think his style does work for the Bizarros, though. 

DC Comics Presents #85 (September 1985)

When you're a superhero in the DC Universe, one can say you did not have it made until you got to team up with the "big guns". In said universe, that usually means meeting with a member of the Justice League, like say, Green Lantern, or Wonder Woman, or perhaps...Superman.

Superman teaming up with other heroes is nothing new. The DCU is full of them, and Superman even had his own book dedicated to his teaming up with other superheroes: DC Comics Presents. Going from 1978 to 1986, the book lasted 97 issues and got four Annuals. 

The issue we're looking at this week is a rather...unusual team-up. After all, Superman and the Swamp Thing are two characters that really did not have a lot in common. After all, one is an alien refugee (Yes, Superman is a refugee), and the other was a scientist-turned swamp monster. But that doesn't really matter when it comes to facing a common threat. This is DC Comics Presents #85!

The cover is a Rick Veitch piece. It depicts what looks like an angry Superman blasting away at the Swamp Thing with...white energy circle vision? I think it's meant to be depicted as using maybe his X-Ray or heat vision, but they tend to not be portrayed that way. The cover has that painted look to it. I like that. It gives the impression I'm looking at the cover of an old paperback novel. 

"The Jungle Line"
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciler: Rick Veitch
Inker: Al Williamson
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Editor: Julius Schwartz
Executive Editor: Dick Giordano

The story begins on Interstate 55, a road that goes from Illinois to Louisiana. A car is making its way southwards, the hot sun baking it like it was a delicious muffin. Mmm...muffin...

A man is driving down this road, sickly and sweating. But this man is no regular driver with a bad head cold. This is a man who should not get sick. Who should be immune to all Earthly disease. 

The Man of Steel swore he would never go on a bender on Thanagar ever again.

As Moore himself said, the Man of Steel is heading down south to die. As he drives, he starts seeing bizarre hallucinations. He sees blood-soaked forests, with all sorts of strange animals. So, what is going on here? How did one of the mightiest heroes in the DCU end up in this state?

No problem, you're getting one. We go back a bit earlier, when Clark Kent and Lana Lang were sent to cover a discovery made in a meteorite.

"The fungus seems to enjoy cursing us out..."

The meteorite itself is not the big deal. After all, they hit Earth all the time. But this particular meteorite has a strange alien fungus on it. It's quite a find, even though they're in a world that has its fair share of contact with alien life, Superman being one of the main examples of it. However, unlike the Man of Steel, this fungus won't resist thorough research. As Lana asks the scientist, a Dr. Everett, about the fungus, Clark secretly uses his microscopic vision on it, discovering that the fungus is Kryptonian. He feigns dizziness to leave the conference. Using his superhuman memory (remember, this is pre-Crisis Superman), he identifies the fungus.

"By Rao, Thanagarians used to make cheese with this stuff!"

The Kryptonian scientific name for it was avarel uthotis, but its common name was the bloodmorel. Native to the Scarlet Jungle on Krypton, it's a dangerous little fungus. It can permeate the skin and grows in the bloodstream. Symptoms of exposure include fever, bouts of incapacitation, hallucinations, chronic overexertion...and in 92% of all cases of infection...death.

The next day, Clark notices his powers are going haywire. They fade in and out. He takes the subway home instead of flying because of this. That night, he starts having hallucinations.

"Your underwear kept making dirty jokes, so we didn't invite them."

Yeah, imagine your clothes arguing over what you should do about your fate. Dr. Everett lets Superman take the meteorite to examine. I can imagine that Superman told him he wanted to make sure the fungus wasn't dangerous to humans. Superman tries to examine the meteorite with his microscopic vision until it cuts out. He accepts he's a dead man walking and tries to head somewhere to let the illness take its course, so...he goes down south. According to the comic, there are no superheroes based in the Southern US. That sounds so weird to me. He also takes the meteorite with him for...some reason. 

Clark falls asleep at the wheel, causing the car to crash. Thankfully, our man's invulnerability was working, so he survives it. He stumbles out of the car, still clutching the meteorite. He hallucinates that he's in the Scarlet Jungle on Krypton. Hey, this was supposed to be a teamup between Superman and Swamp Thing, right? So, where's the other half of this teamup? Where's ol' Swampy?

"Alright, who's making all this goldarn noise in my goldarn forest?!"

There he is! Swampy notices that Clark seems to still be alive after all of that which leads him to wonder who this man is. Meanwhile, Superman's long strange trip takes a turn for the darker.

"We're actually the most beautiful creatures here!"

Yup, the creatures taunt our man, saying that he's lived too long. He was supposed to have died on Krypton. He should not have outlived his world. Which is hilarious as by this point in the pre-Crisis continuity, he's not the only survivor. Supergirl, all the criminals in the Phantom Zone, etc. The creatures become skeletal and demand he join them in death.

Back in the real world, the former Alec Holland examines the alien fungus on the meteorite. Naturally, he doesn't recognize the species. He tries to establish contact with the fungus, only to get painful sensations. Sensations of a burning red sun. Sensations of crushing gravity. He realizes, "Yup, this thing ain't from Earth". Swampy looks at the downed Clark and realizes he may know who this man is.

Back in Hallucination Land, Superman tries to fight the skeletal monsters, screaming that he is not dead, nor does he belong there. They can't keep him here, as he is Superman. Swamp Thing opens Clark's jacket, revealing the Superman costume underneath. It's then that the Man of Steel wakes up and gives Swampy a warm greeting.

"AUGH! MY GLUBOK!"

Thankfully, the ex-Alec Holland is made of swamp muck, so he'll live, and the hole Superman blasted in him will heal up. While he heals, he watches the feverish Superman yell and scream, lost in his hallucinations. His screams knock trees down, wild heat vision melts boulders. His body is going into overdrive, which will burn him out and kill him.

Swampy has to help Superman, calm him down, and find a way to cleanse his system. But the fungus got the Metropolis Marvel all messed up. There's no way to get through to him, unless...the fungus!

Swamp Thing touches Superman's shoulder with one hand, and the fungus with another. This allows the former Alec Holland to get into Clark's mind, see his hallucinations.

"Oh man, Lois is going to murder me for forgetting to clean this basement."

Superman crushes his hand, naturally thinking that Swampy is another hallucination. He tells Superman he is dying. The Man of Tomorrow tries to fight Swamp Thing, but Alec is able to get through to him, pointing out that he's overexerting himself, burning himself out. Alec tells Superman to touch his hand and uses...the color green to heal him.

Ecto Cooler can cure anything! Even alien fungi!

His job done here, Alec leaves to let Superman rest. He's going to be just fine now. Yeah, the forest looks like a warzone, but he'll be fine.

Superman wakes up, feeling right as rain. The fungus has been purged from his system, and his powers are back in working order. He flies off, feeling refreshed and renewed. Swamp Thing is happy about this, the story ending with him wandering back into the swamps, as the sun rises to signal a bright new day. 

I did enjoy this issue. What I did like about it is that it's not your typical team-up story. Yes, it does use the formula of old-school team-up stories (The heroes meet, fight, then join forces), but it uses them in a unique way. 

The one main thing about the story that confuses me is how Superman got infected by the Kryptonian fungus. He didn't touch the meteorite, he presumably did not breathe any of the fungus, so how did he get infected? And also, how come nobody else was infected by the fungus? Did it just ignore humans? Also, how exactly did Swamp Thing heal Superman? Did he just...use the color green? Yeah, the story is a bit vague in places, if you couldn't tell. I did get a good chuckle out of the scene with the Clark Kent suit and 

I also liked the artwork. It had a good sense of storytelling, and the renditions of the hallucinatory monsters are terrifying. 

If you want to read this for yourself, check out the 2011 trade paperback DC Universe by Alan Moore. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Se you next time!