All-Star Superman

Lore & Background

The narrative establishes that Superman's cells are overwhelmed by massive solar radiation after he rescues Dr. Leo Quintum from a sabotaged mission, giving him one year to live while temporarily boosting his powers. Grant Morrison defines the character through two distinct acts: "Superman" as an act, and "Clark Kent" as another, where the true Clark is the confident man raised by Ma and Pa in Kansas who knows how to drive a tractor, distinct from the bumbling disguise. Artist Frank Quitely visualized Superman as a relaxed deity perched on a cloud, contrasting with a 1940s-style slumped posture for Kent. The lore also touches on a hidden history where Superman subtly guided human evolution, recontextualizing villains like Lex Luthor as twisted reflections of the hero's psyche, and includes plans for one-shots paying tribute to Golden Age versions, the Super-Sons, and the 853rd Century.

In Their Own Story

Superman reveals his secret identity and impending death to Lois Lane, gifting her a liquefied DNA formula that grants her superpowers for 24 hours. She becomes "Superwoman" to help him stop Samson, Atlas, and an Ultra-Sphinx, ending the day with a kiss on the moon before her powers fade. While Luthor is convicted of crimes against humanity, he survives his execution using a similar formula and rages against Metropolis with Solaris, a red-corrupted artificial star. After defeating Solaris, Superman falls dead at the Daily Planet but awakens in Krypton to meet Jor-El, learning his body is converting into solar radio-consciousness. He returns briefly to defeat Luthor using a gravity gun that accelerates Luthor's power exhaustion, causing the villain to weep before seeing Earth. One year later, Lois admires a monument as Superman lives inside the Sun maintaining it, while Quintum unveils a new P.R.O.J.E.C.T marked with an "S" replaced by the number "2".

Reader's Guide

The series launches in November 2005 with a rescue mission to the Sun where Lex Luthor sabotages Dr. Leo Quintum's team, exposing Superman to lethal radiation that grants him new abilities but sets a one-year death timer. Readers follow Superman as he keeps his condition secret from the public while revealing it to Lois Lane, whom he prepares for life without him through gifts like her temporary superpowers and a costume. The plot tracks his completion of twelve heroic tasks designed to help humans and Kryptonians, including confronting Luthor in prison where the villain admits his dream of killing Superman is fulfilled. As the series concludes, Luthor escapes execution with stolen powers and deploys Solaris, forcing Superman to return from death as a solar consciousness to defeat him. The final issue shows Lois one year later believing Superman will return if an artificial heart for the Sun is created, while a new project bearing a "2" emblem hints at future endeavors.

Did You Know?

• The series originated from a rejected pitch called 'Superman Now' after Grant Morrison and editor Dan Raspler had a 'shamanic' encounter with a man dressed as Superman outside San Diego Comic-Con.
• Grant Morrison identified three versions of the character: the act of 'Superman', the bumbling disguise of Clark Kent, and the confident real Clark Kent who knows how to drive a tractor.
• Frank Quitely designed the visual style by contrasting Superman relaxing on a cloud with a 1940s Will Eisner-style slumped posture for Clark Kent to show he was 'completely laid back'.
• The animated adaptation of the series was released in 2011, and the 2025 film Superman takes inspiration from this comic book series.
• In the finale, Dr. Leo Quintum unveils a new P.R.O.J.E.C.T with an emblem where the usual 'S' is replaced by the number '2'.